If you want a garden full of stunning, reliable blooms, you should consider the different types of peonies. These beautiful garden flowers offer an incredible range of colors, forms, and fragrances to suit any space.
Peonies are classic perennials that can live for decades with minimal care. Their lush flowers and often glossy foliage make them a centerpiece from spring into early summer. Understanding the main categories helps you choose the right ones for your garden’s style and conditions.
Types Of Peonies – Beautiful Garden Flowers
Peonies are primarily divided into three main groups: herbaceous, tree, and intersectional. Each type has its own unique growth habit, bloom time, and care requirements. Knowing these differences is the first step to successful planting.
1. Herbaceous Peonies
These are the most common peonies found in gardens. They die back to the ground each winter and re-emerge in the spring. They are incredibly hardy and long-lived.
- Growth Habit: Bushy, soft-stemmed plants that grow 2–3 feet tall.
- Bloom Forms: They come in several flower forms, which we’ll detail below.
- Best For: Traditional cottage gardens, borders, and as cut flowers.
Common Herbaceous Flower Forms
Herbaceous peonies are further classified by their bloom structure.
- Single: A simple ring of 5-10 petals around a center of yellow stamens. They have a light, airy look.
- Japanese: A single ring of guard petals with a center filled with staminodes (modified stamens that look like ribbons).
- Anemone: Similar to Japanese, but the center staminodes are wider and fluffy, often in a contrasting color.
- Semi-Double: Multiple rows of petals with visible stamens in the center. Very full and showy.
- Double: Huge, bomb-shaped blooms made entirely of petals. No stamens are visible. These are the classic “cabbage” peonies.
- Bomb: A specific type of double where a globe of petals sits atop a ruff of outer guard petals.
2. Tree Peonies
Tree peonies are actually woody shrubs. They lose their leaves in fall but their woody stems remain above ground year-round. They bloom earlier than herbaceous types and have some of the largest, most spectacular flowers.
- Growth Habit: Woody shrub that grows slowly to 4–7 feet tall.
- Bloom Forms: Flowers are often very large (up to 10 inches across) and can be single, semi-double, or double.
- Best For: Specimen plants, Asian-inspired gardens, and focal points.
3. Intersectional (Itoh) Peonies
These are a hybrid between herbaceous and tree peonies. They combine the best traits of both: the strong stems and huge flowers of tree peonies with the die-back habit and prolific blooming of herbaceous types.
- Growth Habit: Bushy, with strong stems that don’t usually need staking. Dies back in winter.
- Bloom Forms: Often very large, double or semi-double blooms in unique colors like coral and yellow.
- Best For: Modern gardens, mid-border placement, and long-lasting cut flowers.
How to Choose and Plant Your Peonies
Selecting the right peony and planting it correctly ensures years of beauty. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Selecting a Healthy Plant
You can buy peonies as bare-root divisions or potted plants. Bare-root is common in fall. Look for divisions with 3-5 “eyes” (pink or red buds on the root). Avoid any that look moldy or desiccated.
Step 2: Picking the Perfect Spot
Peonies need at least 6 hours of full sun daily. They thrive in well-drained soil. Good air circulation helps prevent disease, so don’t crowd them.
Step 3: Planting Correctly (This is Crucial!)
- Dig a wide hole, about 12-18 inches deep and wide.
- Mix compost into the native soil.
- For herbaceous and intersectional peonies, place the root so the eyes are no more than 2 inches below the soil surface. Planting too deep is the main reason peonies fail to bloom.
- For tree peonies, the graft union should be 4-6 inches below soil level.
- Backfill the hole, water thoroughly, and mulch lightly.
Caring for Your Peonies Through the Seasons
Once established, peonies are remarkably low-maintenance. Follow these seasonal tips for the best results.
Spring Care
- As new growth emerges, apply a balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer.
- Install peony rings or stakes early to support heavy double blooms.
- Water if the spring is unusually dry.
Summer Care
- Deadhead spent flowers to keep the plant looking tidy.
- Cut flowers for bouquets in the morning when buds are soft but not fully open.
- Ensure they get about an inch of water per week during dry spells.
Fall Care
- After the first frost, cut herbaceous and intersectional peony stems to the ground.
- Remove all foliage from the garden to prevent disease carryover.
- For tree peonies, just clean up fallen leaves. Do not cut the woody stems.
- Fall is also the best time to divide and transplant herbaceous peonies if needed.
Solving Common Peony Problems
Even tough plants can have issues. Here’s how to handle the most frequent ones.
- No Blooms: Usually caused by planting too deep, too much shade, or a recent division. Be patient—they can take 2-3 years to settle in and flower well.
- Flops Over: Use supports. Heavy rain on full blooms can weigh down even strong stems.
- Gray Mold (Botrytis): This fungal disease causes buds to turn black and stems to wilt. Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and remove infected parts immediately.
- Ants on Buds: Ants are harmless! They are attracted to the sweet nectar on the buds and do not harm the plant or cause it to open.
Designing with Peonies in Your Garden
Peonies are versatile. Use these ideas to incorporate them into your landscape.
- Mixed Borders: Plant mid-border with later-blooming perennials like catmint, salvias, or Russian sage to cover the peony’s fading foliage.
- Foundation Planting: Tree peonies make excellent, manageable shrubs near the house.
- Cutting Garden: Dedicate a row to herbaceous peonies for breathtaking bouquets.
- Color Themes: Pair white peonies with blue irises and nepeta for a cool scheme, or mix pink and red peonies with purple alliums for a warm, vibrant look.
With so many types of peonies available, you can easily find varieties that will bring you joy for a lifetime. Their timeless elegance and simple care make them a treasure in any garden. Remember, the key is to plant them at the right depth and give them plenty of sun. Once you do, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular show year after year.
FAQ About Peonies
What are the main kinds of peonies?
The three main kinds are herbaceous (bush), tree (woody shrub), and intersectional/Itoh (a hybrid of the two).
When is the best time to plant peony flowers?
Fall is the ideal time for planting bare-root peonies. This allows the roots to establish before winter. Potted peonies can be planted in spring or fall with care.
How long do peony plants live?
Peonies are exceptionally long-lived. It’s not uncommon for a plant to thrive in the same spot for 50 years or more with proper care.
Why won’t my peony bloom?
The most common reason is planting too deep. The eyes (buds) on the root should be no more than 2 inches below the soil. Other causes include too much shade, excess fertilizer, or recent division.
Can I grow peonies in warm climates?
Yes, but choose varieties carefully. Herbaceous peonies need a period of winter chill. In zones 7-8, select early-blooming varieties and plant where they get some afternoon shade. Tree and intersectional peonies often perform better in warmer regions.