Peonies are among the most cherished perennial flowers in gardens worldwide. Known for their lush, oversized blooms, captivating fragrance, and extraordinary longevity, peonies can thrive for decades.
I love peonies because they often outlive the gardeners who plant them. With hundreds of cultivars available, peonies offer an impressive diversity of flower forms, colors, growth habits, and bloom times.
In this comprehensive guide, I will explore all the wide varieties of peonies, including herbaceous, tree, and intersectional types, along with classifications by bloom form, color, and season.
Whether you’re designing a landscape bed, planning a cutting garden, or choosing a single specimen plant, understanding peony varieties will help you make the best selection for your garden.
Introduction to Peonies
Peonies belong to the genus Paeonia and have been cultivated for over 2,000 years. Originating in Asia, Europe, and western North America, peonies were once prized for medicinal purposes before becoming ornamental garden staples.
In China, peonies are known as the “King of Flowers” and symbolize wealth, honor, romance, and prosperity.
Gardeners love peonies because they are extremely long-lived, often thriving for 50–100 years. They produce large, dramatic flowers with minimal maintenance, wide varieties are highly fragrant, and they are also cold-hardy and resilient.
Peony varieties are generally grouped into three main types, each with distinct growth habits and characteristics.
Main Types of Peonies
Herbaceous Peonies
Herbaceous peonies are the most common and widely grown type. They grow as non-woody perennials, dying back to the ground each winter and regrowing in spring.
Key characteristics:
- Height: 2–4 feet
- Blooms in late spring to early summer
- Cold-hardy (USDA Zones 3–8)
- Ideal for perennial borders and cutting gardens
These peonies require a winter chill to bloom well, making them especially popular in temperate and cold climates.
Tree Peonies
Tree peonies are woody shrubs rather than true trees. Unlike herbaceous peonies, their stems remain above ground year-round and slowly become woody over time.
Key characteristics:
- Height: 4–7 feet
- Massive blooms up to 10 inches wide
- Earlier bloom time than herbaceous peonies
- Long lifespan and dramatic landscape presence
Tree peonies are slower to establish but become stunning focal points once mature.
Intersectional (Itoh) Peonies
Intersectional peonies, commonly called Itoh peonies, are hybrids between herbaceous and tree peonies. They combine the best traits of both parents.
Key characteristics:
- Strong stems that rarely need staking
- Large, vibrant flowers
- Long bloom period with multiple buds per plant
- Foliage remains attractive into fall
Itoh peonies are especially valued by modern gardeners for their reliability and extended flowering.
Popular Herbaceous Peony Varieties
Herbaceous peonies offer the widest selection of bloom forms and colors.
Single-Flowered Varieties
Single peonies feature one or two rows of petals surrounding a prominent center of stamens.
Characteristics include a light, airy appearance, being excellent for pollinators, and strong stems that resist flopping.
Popular varieties:
- ‘Krinkled White’ – creamy white petals with golden centers
- ‘Scarlet O’Hara’ – bold red blooms with yellow stamens
Semi-Double Varieties
Semi-double peonies have multiple rows of petals but still reveal visible stamens.
Gardeners love them because they balance between fullness and simplicity, are excellent cut flowers, and are less prone to rain damage than doubles.
Double-Flowered Varieties
Double peonies are the classic, full, ruffled blooms most people associate with peonies.
Features include dense layers of petals, often highly fragrant, and may require staking in rainy climates.
Famous cultivars:
- ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ – soft pink, fragrant, late-season bloomer
- ‘Festiva Maxima’ – white with crimson flecks
Japanese and Anemone Types
These unique forms feature flattened outer petals with a dramatic central cluster of petaloids.
Advantages include a distinctive, ornamental look, strong stems, and an elegant garden presence.
Popular Tree Peony Varieties
Tree peonies are admired for their sheer bloom size and exotic appearance.
White and Cream Tree Peonies: Elegant and luminous in the garden, often lightly fragrant, and excellent as specimen plants.
Pink and Red Tree Peonies: Rich, saturated colors, traditional favorites in Asian gardens, and dramatic against dark foliage.
Yellow and Rare-Colored Tree Peonies: Uncommon and highly prized, including soft yellows, lavender, and smoky purples, often collector’s items.
Intersectional (Itoh) Peony Varieties
Yellow Itoh Peonies: Bright, clear yellow blooms, multiple flowers per stem. ‘Bartzella’ is the most famous example
Pink and Coral Itoh Peonies: Colors may shift as flowers mature. Excellent for modern landscapes
Bi-Color and Exotic Itoh Peonies: Blended tones, flares, or contrasting centers, high ornamental value.
Peony Varieties by Bloom Form
Peonies are also classified by flower structure:
- Single – simple and open
- Semi-Double – layered yet light
- Double – full and romantic
- Bomb-Type – rounded center mound
- Anemone – decorative, textured centers
Each bloom form offers different visual effects and maintenance needs.
Peony Varieties by Color
White and Cream Peonies: Symbolize purity and elegance. Excellent for moon gardens and weddings.
Pink Peonies: Most popular color range for peonies. Includes blush, rose, and deep magenta.
Red and Burgundy Peonies: Bold and dramatic. They provide a strong contrast in garden beds.
Yellow Peonies: Rare in traditional types and mostly found in Itoh and tree peonies.
Coral and Peach Peonies: often found in modern hybrids. The color often fades as blooms mature.
Early, Mid, and Late-Season Peony Varieties
Peonies bloom for only 7-10 days per plant, but careful variety selection can extend the season to 6–8 weeks.
- Early season: Single and tree peonies
- Mid-season: Most herbaceous doubles
- Late season: Classic varieties like ‘Sarah Bernhardt.’
Choosing the Right Peony Variety
When selecting peonies, consider climate and chill requirements, available space (tree peonies need room). Purpose (cut flowers vs. landscape impact), fragrance preference, and maintenance level.
Care Considerations for Different Peony Types
- Sunlight: Full sun to light shade
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil
- Water: Moderate, consistent moisture
- Planting depth: Shallow planting is critical for blooming
- Support: Double blooms may need staking
Please take a look at this complete guide on growing and caring for peonies.
Common Questions About Peony Varieties
How long do peonies live?
Many peonies live 50 years or more with minimal care.
Which peonies bloom fastest after planting?
Herbaceous peonies usually bloom within 2–3 years.
Are peonies good for beginners?
Yes, once established, they are among the easiest perennials to grow.
My Final Thoughts
I love peonies because they offer an unmatched combination of beauty, durability, and variety. From classic double herbaceous peonies to dramatic tree peonies and modern Itoh hybrids, there is a peony variety for every garden style and climate.
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