Most Common Peonies

Red Peonies

• A garden peony prized for its striking display is “Alexander Woollcott” (Peony “Alexander Woollcott”), an early blooming hybrid that produces cardinal red, cup-shaped flowers. In addition to bloom color and dark green, glossy foliage, the appealing factor about this variety is that the blooms resist fading. Another common red peony is Red Memorial Day (Paeonia officinalis rubra plena), a species that originated in Europe in the late 16th century. Aside from vibrant color and subtle fragrance, this variety is easier to grow in warmer climates than most other peonies.

Pink Peonies

• Common pink varieties of peony range in color from pale pink to dusty rose, with some also being fragrant. “Bouquet Perfect” (Peony “Bouquet Perfect”) is a double pink anemone-formed peony, which means the flower has more than one row of outer petals. The Japanese “Break O Day" (Peony “Break O Day") is favored for its dark pink, rounded blooms with gold-tipped centers supported on extra-long stems. This variety is also noted for having long-lasting life as a cut flower.

White Peonies

• “Duchesse de Nemours” (Peony “Duchesse de Nemours”) is a double white heirloom peony grown for more than 150 years for its beautiful and fragrant flowers. Some white varieties, such as “Dorothy J” (Peony “Dorothy J”) and “Mercedes” (Peony “Mercedes”), are considered blushers because they first emerge with pinkish centers and then fade to white. Compared with red and pink peonies, white varieties tend to be late bloomers.

General Care

• Peonies thrive in full sun in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 8 but do not perform very well in heavy clay soil, preferring a mixed medium of soil, peat moss and sand instead. Although peonies are relatively disease- and pest-free, these plants can suffer from fungal diseases, especially if drainage is lacking. Given the right environment, however, these plants will continue to provide garden interest for up to 100 years. The need for division becomes apparent when flowering declines.