The Different Types of Peony

Herbaceous Peonies

• Herbaceous peonies are soft-stemmed plants that begin sprouting in the spring. The roots can survive cold temperatures, even snow-covered ground. Herbaceous peony flowers are popular in home gardens, landscaping projects and even cemeteries. People plant them in the fall so they bloom around Memorial Day. Colorful herbaceous peonies have been the subject of poems and are often depicted in Japanese scrolling patterns. The flowers of the plant bloom in red, white, pink, peach, lavender and burgundy. The flower's forms include single, double, semi-double and anemone. The plants can grow up to three feet tall and spread to four feet. The flowers can also grow to be very large, sometimes falling to the ground unless they have supports. To help herbaceous peonies grow, cut them to the ground in the fall and discard the tops and stems.

Tree Peonies

• Unlike herbaceous peonies, tree peonies' stems remain above ground all year. The plants are not really trees; they are shrubs and can grow up to five feet tall. The deciduous plants have woody stems with leaves that fall during autumn. The stems remain intact throughout the cold weather. When growth resumes in the spring, the plants bloom with large flowers that can reach up to eight inches in diameter. Flowers of tree peonies can be red, pink, lavender, yellow, green, peach and white. They bloom later than herbaceous peonies, but their flowers tend to be bigger. They also require more care than other peonies. They do not need to be cut like herbaceous peonies because their leaves fall to the ground, leaving the hardy stem that lives through the winter.

Intersectional Peonies

• Intersectional or Itoh peonies are relatively new peonies compared to the other types. They date back to 1948 when a Japanese man, Toichi Itoh, created a hybrid of herbaceous and tree peonies. Like their herbaceous relatives, intersectional peonies die back in autumn. However, they also have the same leaf forms as tree peonies. The striking colors of intersectional peonies make them attractive plants. They bloom in more colors than other peonies and can grow up to three feet tall. Flower size is as large as that of tree peonies, and some have a sweet scent. Another distinctive characteristic of intersectional peonies is the abundance of buds per stem. They bloom one after another for at least a month during the spring.