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Paeonia hybrids

Phonetic Spelling
py-OH-nee-ah HY-brids
Description

Peonies are woody,semi-wooody or herbaceous perennials in the peony family (Paeoniaceae) often planted for their very large, showy flowers. Some cultivars are fragrant. Most species originate in Asia, but some species are found in Europe and around the Mediterranean Basin. Two species (not in cultivation) are native to western North America. Paeonia is the classical Greek name for peony.

Peonies do well in full sun to light shade and prefer deep, fertile soils that are well-drained.  Locate them in an area that gets good air circulation, not up against a home or a wall. They like some afternoon shade and will require quite a bit of water in the early part of the growing season to establish their leaves and flower buds. They can take quite a while to establish and often will not produce flowers for the first year or two after transplanting. Once established, however, plants can live for decades. Each plant will bloom for about 7–10 days in the late spring to early summer so planting a variety of peonies with staggered bloom time will help extend the season. They can be divided in the fall and spread around the landscape. Plants may require support for large, double flowers especially if they become wet with rain. The foliage remains attractive through the summer until fall. 

Peonies grow well in the mountains and cooler Piedmont but languish in warm areas where their chilling requirement is difficult to meet. They do best in zones 5–7 but can grow in zones 3–8. If you are in a warm area, plant low-chill types, do not plant the crowns more than one inch deep, and do not apply mulch in the winter, as it can act like an insulating blanket. Overly shaded sites can inhibit flowering. This plant is outcompeted by tree roots when planted close to trees.

There are three general classes of peonies: Herbaceous peonies (derived from Paeonia lactiflora) die back completely during the winter. Tree peonies are deciduous shrubs with woody stems. Itoh hybrids (hybrids between tree and herbaceous peonies) are deciduous and have short woody stems that bear new leaves in spring.

Cultivars recommended for Zone 8 (or colder) include the following:

'Baroness Schroeder', 'Miss America', 'Duchesse de Nemours', 'Festiva Maxima', and 'Shirley Temple' (white flowers); 'Felix Crousse', 'Sarah Bernhardt', 'Karl Rosenfield', 'Kansas' and 'Monsieur Jules Elie' (pink flowers); 'Buckeye Belle', 'Red Charm' and 'Ole Faithful' (red flowers); 'Flame', 'Soft Salmon Saucer', 'Pink Hawaiian Coral', 'Coral Charm' and 'Coral Sunset' (coral pink flowers).

Often utilized as a specimen plant, in massing, and as cut flowers. Cultivars with single flowers and masses of pollen can be grown in pollinator gardens. Tree peonies and Itoh hybrids are good choices for Asian gardens, while smaller cultivars of herbaceous peonies are suitable for rock gardens.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Herbs with gigantic flowers of various colors
  • Flowers multi-petaled, with many stamens and 3 or more separate carpels.
  • Leaves pinnately compound.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Ants may be present on flower buds but are totally harmless. Shake flowers to dislodge insects before bringing them inside. Good air circulation discourages fungal diseases. An unidentified bud-boring insect (probably a moth larvae) is present in the NC and may destroy some flower buds. The plants are shunned by deer.

See this plant in the following landscapes:
Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden Plant Walls and Hedges Reynolda Palm House and Gardens Rock & Water Garden Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Muscadine Bed Herb & Flower Cottage Garden Backyard Patio Flowers Galore
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Auguste Dessert'
    Reddish-pink petals are edged with a narrow silver border
  • 'Bartzella'
    Itoh hybrid with double yellow flowers with reddish centers.
  • 'Bowl of Beauty'
    Broad pink petals surrounding a mass of pale-yellow, narrow petals.
  • 'Cora Louise'
    Itoh hybrid with white semi-double flowers with a violet center.
  • 'Cora Stubbs'
    Deep pink outer petals surround cream and light pink inner petals
  • 'Eliza Lundy'
    Compact variety with large double red flowers
  • 'Felix Crousse'
    Brilliant pink, double flowers. Low chill hour requirement
  • 'Festiva Maxima'
    Double white with flecks of red. Fragrant. Low chill hour requirement
  • 'Golden Sunrise'
    Gold leaves, early blooming (May)
  • 'Mons. Jules Elie'
    Low chill hour requirement
  • 'Paul M. Wilder'
    Fushia double blooms
  • 'Raspberry Sundae'
    Large, light pink blooms
  • 'Red Charm'
    Early blooming, red flowers. Fragrant.
  • ‘Red Magic’
    Large double fragrant red flowers
  • 'Sarah Bernhardt'
    Big double pink flowers. Reliable bloomer. Fragrant. Low chill hour requirement
  • ‘Sequestered Sunshine’
    Itoh hybrid with semi-double, yellow flowers
'Auguste Dessert', 'Bartzella', 'Bowl of Beauty', 'Cora Louise', 'Cora Stubbs', 'Eliza Lundy', 'Felix Crousse', 'Festiva Maxima', 'Golden Sunrise', 'Mons. Jules Elie', 'Paul M. Wilder', 'Raspberry Sundae', 'Red Charm', ‘Red Magic’, 'Sarah Bernhardt', ‘Sequestered Sunshine’
Tags:
#fragrant#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#cottage garden#rabbit resistant#deer resistant#large flowers#delicate#cutting garden#fantz#butterfly friendly#HS302#problem for cats#ants#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#long lived#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Auguste Dessert'
    Reddish-pink petals are edged with a narrow silver border
  • 'Bartzella'
    Itoh hybrid with double yellow flowers with reddish centers.
  • 'Bowl of Beauty'
    Broad pink petals surrounding a mass of pale-yellow, narrow petals.
  • 'Cora Louise'
    Itoh hybrid with white semi-double flowers with a violet center.
  • 'Cora Stubbs'
    Deep pink outer petals surround cream and light pink inner petals
  • 'Eliza Lundy'
    Compact variety with large double red flowers
  • 'Felix Crousse'
    Brilliant pink, double flowers. Low chill hour requirement
  • 'Festiva Maxima'
    Double white with flecks of red. Fragrant. Low chill hour requirement
  • 'Golden Sunrise'
    Gold leaves, early blooming (May)
  • 'Mons. Jules Elie'
    Low chill hour requirement
  • 'Paul M. Wilder'
    Fushia double blooms
  • 'Raspberry Sundae'
    Large, light pink blooms
  • 'Red Charm'
    Early blooming, red flowers. Fragrant.
  • ‘Red Magic’
    Large double fragrant red flowers
  • 'Sarah Bernhardt'
    Big double pink flowers. Reliable bloomer. Fragrant. Low chill hour requirement
  • ‘Sequestered Sunshine’
    Itoh hybrid with semi-double, yellow flowers
'Auguste Dessert', 'Bartzella', 'Bowl of Beauty', 'Cora Louise', 'Cora Stubbs', 'Eliza Lundy', 'Felix Crousse', 'Festiva Maxima', 'Golden Sunrise', 'Mons. Jules Elie', 'Paul M. Wilder', 'Raspberry Sundae', 'Red Charm', ‘Red Magic’, 'Sarah Bernhardt', ‘Sequestered Sunshine’
Tags:
#fragrant#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#cottage garden#rabbit resistant#deer resistant#large flowers#delicate#cutting garden#fantz#butterfly friendly#HS302#problem for cats#ants#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#long lived#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Paeonia
    Species:
    hybrids
    Family:
    Paeoniaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies and pollen-eating beetles.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are semi-dry follicles with a suture that split open (dehiscing) to release a few fleshy, black seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are solitary to several, 3-8" in diameter, cup-shaped, single to semi-double to double, and are variously colored pink, white, red, yellow, or bicolor. They have 5 sepals that are green in color. Flowers have 5-10 petals that are broad, obovate, and obtuse. There are numerous stamens (some transformed into petal-like structures in some hybrids). There are 2-8 pistils or carpel. Some cultivars have fragrant flowers; a few have disagreeable fragrances.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are basal and cauline, alternate, and pinnately compound. Leaflets are elliptic to lanceolate, entire, sometimes lobed, and 6-8" long.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Thick soft twigs.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Cottage Garden
    English Garden
    Garden for the Blind
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses