20 gorgeous peonies

Our guide to favorite varieties in pinks, reds, yellows, and more

pink peonies

Jon Jenson

Choose the right peony for you

Picking the perfect peony is more than just finding a pretty shade (although that doesn't hurt). Follow our guide to 20 of our favorite peony varieties to find out when they bloom, their size, and, of course, what they'll look like.

And for how to care for peonies like a pro, click over to our peony guide.

Pictured: 'Julia Rose' peony.

Bartzella yellow peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Bartzella' Itoh hybrid peony

Bright yellow double blooms have a spicy scent. Stems are sturdy―great for bouquets―and foliage is lush and dark green.

A new introduction, ‘Bartzella’ is especially vigorous, blooms in late spring, and grows 2½ to 3 feet tall and wide.

'Cora Louise' peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Cora Louise' Itoh hybrid peony

Fragrant, white semidouble blooms open to show off their deep lavender-pink markings around yellow centers.

The plant is especially vigorous, producing up to 50 blooms in a season (starting in late spring), once established. It grows to 2½ feet tall and 3½ feet wide.

Going Bananas peony flower

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Going Bananas' Itoh hybrid peony

Yes, you’ll go bananas for these huge, deep yellow semidouble blooms with a slightly spicy scent.

They're eye-catching in beds of blue and white flowers, with a spritz of lime foliage. The plant blooms in spring and grows 2 to 2½ feet tall and wide.

Kopper Kettle peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Kopper Kettle'  Itoh hybrid peony

Copper orange semidouble blooms occasionally streaked with yellow are head-turners, especially as they open to reveal deep copper centers.

Surround ‘Kopper Kettle’ with sky blue forget-me-nots for a refreshing warm-cool contrast, or grow it in a cluster of three with a Tuscan terra-cotta olive jar as an accent.

The vigorous plant blooms in late spring and grows about 2½ feet tall and 3½ feet wide.

Pink Double Dandy peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Pink Double Dandy' Itoh hybrid peony

The lavender-pink semidouble blooms of this new-to-market hybrid are nothing to sneeze at: They measure up to 6 inches across atop strong stems.

As they mature, the petals slowly fade to soft pink. The compact, mounding plant grows 2 to 2½ feet tall and wide.

Sequestered Sunshine peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Sequestered Sunshine' Itoh hybrid peony

Large, bright canary yellow blooms stand out against lush, dark green foliage on this vigorous plant. Try it behind lime green heuchera; it blooms in late spring and grows 3 to 3 1/2 feet tall and wide.

Yellow Doodle Dandy peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Yellow Doodle Dandy' Itoh hybrid peony

Large double blooms up to 8 inches across are clear yellow with a light fragrance; they stand up above compact mounds of dark green foliage, 2 to 2 1/2 feet tall and wide. This newcomer blooms in midspring.

Blaze peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Blaze' Herbaceous peony

With ruffled red petals around a yellow center, these single blooms resemble fluffy bowls atop erect stems on a 2-foot-tall and 2 1/2-foot-wide plant.

Grow it behind spring bulbs or as an accent in perennial borders (blue-flowered Campanula glomerata makes a pretty companion). Bloom time is mid- to late spring.

Bowl of Beauty peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Bowl of Beauty' Herbaceous peony

Bowl-shaped, fuchsia-pink blooms have tufts of creamy white petals in the center; the fragrant flowers start opening in midspring on plants 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.

Buckeye Belle peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Buckeye Belle' Herbaceous peony

A semidouble variety with velvety, dark red blooms atop sturdy stems, this stunner makes a showy cut flower. It grows 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.

Festiva Maxima peony

Photo courtesy of White Flower Farm

'Festiva Maxima' Herbaceous peony

Huge, pure white double flowers with vivid crimson flecks make a showy bouquet in a white ceramic vase. They’re fragrant too. The plant grows to 3 feet tall and wide and blooms in mid- to late spring. It’s one of the best for mild coastal climates, but it can’t take inland heat.

Jan Van Leeuwen peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Jan Van Leeuwen' Herbaceous peony

Fragrant single blooms have satiny white petals around big yellow centers. Plant this variety behind drifts of yellow Darwin hybrid tulips and blue-flowered grape hyacinth (Muscari). It’s a fast grower to 3 feet tall and wide.

Kansas peony flower

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Kansas' Herbaceous peony

Huge double blooms of rich carmine red top bold stems; the blooms, which start appearing in mid- to late spring, are striking in bouquets (try them with clusters of blue-flowered forget-me-nots). The plant grows 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.

Karl Rosenfield peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Karl Rosenfield' Herbaceous peony

Ruffled, red double blooms look like fluffy petticoats in full swing. You’ll want to really show them off―in white ceramic vases in an all-white living room, perhaps? Plants bloom in mid- to late spring and grow 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.

Lady Orchid peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Lady Orchid' Herbaceous peony

Soft lavender-pink double flowers are lightly fragrant; they bloom in mid- to late-spring on plants 2 1/2 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. Surround them with sky blue forget-me-nots for a fresh spring look.

‘Madame Emile Debatene’ peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

‘Madame Emile Debatene’ Herbaceous peony

Tufted pink centers crown these double flowers, great for cutting. The plant blooms in mid- to late spring and grows to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.

Pink Parfait peony flower

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

'Pink Parfait' Herbaceous peony

Huge double blooms, with layers of pink and cream petals, remind us of cool sorbet. The plant blooms in mid- to late spring and grows about 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.

‘Raspberry Sundae’ peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

‘Raspberry Sundae’ Herbaceous peony

Luscious pink double flowers with cream tones really do look like their namesake; play up their ice cream colors by surrounding them with companions such as Nemesia caerulea ‘Compact Innocence’ (white flowers) or ‘Compact Pink’. ‘

Raspberry Sundae’ blooms in midspring and grows to 2 1/2 feet tall and wide.

‘Sarah Bernhardt’ peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

‘Sarah Bernhardt’ Herbaceous peony

Huge, pink double blooms resemble old-fashioned roses; they’re fragrant too. Sturdy, erect stems make them great for cutting, or leave the blooms on the plant as pretty backdrops for spring bulbs.

This variety blooms in mid-spring and grows 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall and wide.

‘Sea Shell’ peony

Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery

‘Sea Shell’ Herbaceous peony

Shell pink blossoms with large orange centers are very fragrant. And the graceful plant rarely needs staking―it’s a good choice for beds and borders.

Bloom time is mid-spring; the plant grows 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.

 

More:  For information on where to buy and how to grow peonies in your climate, see Sunset's Planting peonies guide.

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