Herbaceous peony varieties

Herbaceous peonies are the most common peonies in gardens, according to the University of Missouri, and their stems die back to the ground each year. The table below compares every variety we list side by side.

Varieties
31
Height
2½–3½ ft (71–102 cm)
Hardiness
USDA zones 3–9
Form

31 Herbaceous

Compare all 31 side by side

All 31 herbaceous peony varieties

A Bowl of Beauty peony flower up close on the plant Bowl of Beauty Anemone-form herbaceous peony with pink petals cupping a pale yellow center. Late spring, Early summer3 ft (86 cm)
A Buckeye Belle peony flower up close on the plant Buckeye Belle Semi-double herbaceous hybrid peony in very dark red with golden stamens, early season. Late spring2½ ft (76 cm)
A Coral Charm peony flower up close on the plant Coral Charm Semi-double herbaceous hybrid peony, deep coral fading to cream, early midseason, APS Gold Medal 1986. Late spring, Early summer2½–3½ ft (76–102 cm)
A Coral Magic peony flower up close on the plant Coral Magic Semi-double herbaceous hybrid peony in deep rose coral, early season, about 30 inches tall. Late spring, Early summer (estimated) 2½ ft (76 cm)
A Coral 'n Gold peony flower up close on the plant Coral 'n Gold Single hybrid peony with deep coral cups and golden stamens, midseason, about 34 inches tall. Late spring, Early summer (estimated) 3 ft (86 cm)
A Coral Sunset peony flower up close on the plant Coral Sunset Semi-double herbaceous hybrid peony, coral fading to ivory, early season, APS Gold Medal 2003. Late spring2½ ft (81 cm)
A Coral Supreme peony flower up close on the plant Coral Supreme Semi-double herbaceous hybrid peony in salmon coral pink with a golden center, early season. Early summer3 ft (91 cm)
A Do Tell peony flower up close on the plant Do Tell Japanese-type peony by Auten (1946), early, about 32 inches tall. Late spring (estimated) 2½ ft (81 cm)
A Dr. Alexander Fleming peony flower up close on the plant Dr. Alexander Fleming Herbaceous peony with 6-inch deep rose to salmon pink double flowers and many side buds. Late spring3 ft (86 cm)
A Duchess de Nemours peony flower up close on the plant Duchess de Nemours Heirloom herbaceous peony with double white flowers on sturdy 34-inch stems, RHS AGM. Late spring, Early summer3 ft (86 cm)
A Festiva Maxima peony flower up close on the plant Festiva Maxima Heirloom herbaceous peony with creamy white double flowers flecked with crimson, 34 inches tall. Late spring, Early summer3 ft (86 cm)
A Gardenia peony flower up close on the plant Gardenia Herbaceous peony with double blush white flowers and golden stamens in the center, Lins 1949. Late spring, Early summer3 ft (86 cm)
A Gay Paree peony flower up close on the plant Gay Paree Japanese-type peony by Auten (1933), midseason, about 33 inches tall. Late spring, Early summer (estimated) 3 ft (84 cm)
A Jan van Leeuwen peony flower up close on the plant Jan van Leeuwen Japanese-type peony by van Leeuwen (1928), midseason, about 28 inches tall. Late spring, Early summer (estimated) 2½ ft (71 cm)
A Kansas peony flower up close on the plant Kansas Rose-type double lactiflora peony in watermelon red, midseason, APS Gold Medal 1957. Late spring, Early summer3 ft (91 cm)
A Karl Rosenfield peony flower up close on the plant Karl Rosenfield Double red lactiflora peony from 1908, midseason bloom, 30 to 36 inches tall. Late spring, Early summer2½–3 ft (76–91 cm)
A Lemon Chiffon peony flower up close on the plant Lemon Chiffon Herbaceous hybrid peony with lemon yellow double flowers on 32 inch stems, bred by D.L. Reath in 1981. Early summer2½ ft (81 cm)
A Madame Butterfly peony flower up close on the plant Madame Butterfly Japanese-type peony by Franklin (1933), midseason, about 34 inches tall. Late spring, Early summer (estimated) 3 ft (86 cm)
A Monsieur Jules Elie peony flower up close on the plant Monsieur Jules Elie Heirloom herbaceous peony with light rose pink bomb double flowers, Crousse 1888. Late spring, Early summer3–3½ ft (91–102 cm)
A Nippon Beauty peony flower up close on the plant Nippon Beauty Japanese-type peony by Auten (1927), late, about 32 inches tall. Early summer (estimated) 2½ ft (81 cm)
A Old Faithful peony flower up close on the plant Old Faithful Double dark velvet red herbaceous hybrid peony, midseason, APS Gold Medal 1997. Late spring, Early summer (estimated) 3 ft (91 cm)
A Paul M. Wild peony flower up close on the plant Paul M. Wild Fully double ruby red lactiflora peony, late midseason, 32 to 36 inches tall. Early summer2½–3 ft (81–91 cm)
A Pink Hawaiian Coral peony flower up close on the plant Pink Hawaiian Coral Semi-double coral herbaceous hybrid peony by Roy Klehm, early season, APS Gold Medal 2000. Late spring3 ft (86 cm)
A Primevère peony flower up close on the plant Primevère Anemone form lactiflora peony from Lemoine, 1907, with white guards and a canary yellow center. Late spring, Early summer3 ft (91 cm)
A Raspberry Sundae peony flower up close on the plant Raspberry Sundae Herbaceous peony with double cream and raspberry pink flowers on 36-inch stems, Klehm 1968. Late spring3 ft (91 cm)
A Red Charm peony flower up close on the plant Red Charm Bomb-type double herbaceous hybrid peony in deep red, early season, APS Gold Medal 1956. Late spring2½ ft (81 cm)
A Sarah Bernhardt peony flower up close on the plant Sarah Bernhardt Herbaceous peony with plush pale pink double flowers on 36-inch stems, introduced in 1906. Late spring, Early summer3 ft (91 cm)
A Shirley Temple peony flower up close on the plant Shirley Temple Herbaceous peony with fully double light rose blooms that fade to white, 30 to 32 inches tall. Late spring2½ ft (76–81 cm)
A Sorbet peony flower up close on the plant Sorbet Herbaceous peony with layered candy pink and cream double flowers on strong 36-inch stems. Late spring, Early summer3 ft (91 cm)
A Sword Dance peony flower up close on the plant Sword Dance Japanese-type peony by Auten (1933), late, about 36 inches tall. Early summer (estimated) 3 ft (91 cm)
A Walter Mains peony flower up close on the plant Walter Mains Japanese-type peony by Mains (1957), midseason, about 33 inches tall. Late spring, Early summer (estimated) 3 ft (84 cm)

How to choose

  1. Check the flower form in the table. Double flowers are heavier, and Iowa State Extension says many peonies, especially the doubles, must be staked to keep them from flopping.

  2. Compare the zones in the table with your own. Wisconsin Horticulture gives zones 3 to 8 for peonies.

  3. Use the Color column. Iowa State Extension lists white, pale yellow, pink, rose and red among peony flower colors.

Compare side by side

Color Sunlight
Bowl of Beauty Herbaceous 3 ft (86 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Buckeye Belle Herbaceous 2½ ft (76 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun
Coral 'n Gold Herbaceous 3 ft (86 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Late spring, Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Coral Charm Herbaceous 2½–3½ ft (76–102 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Coral Magic Herbaceous 2½ ft (76 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Late spring, Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Coral Sunset Herbaceous 2½ ft (81 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun
Coral Supreme Herbaceous 3 ft (91 cm) 3–9 Early summer Full sun, Part sun
Do Tell Herbaceous 2½ ft (81 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Late spring (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Dr. Alexander Fleming Herbaceous 3 ft (86 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun, Part shade
Duchess de Nemours Herbaceous 3 ft (86 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Festiva Maxima Herbaceous 3 ft (86 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Gardenia Herbaceous 3 ft (86 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Gay Paree Herbaceous 3 ft (84 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Late spring, Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Jan van Leeuwen Herbaceous 2½ ft (71 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Late spring, Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Kansas Herbaceous 3 ft (91 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Karl Rosenfield Herbaceous 2½–3 ft (76–91 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Lemon Chiffon Herbaceous 2½ ft (81 cm) 3–8 Early summer Full sun
Madame Butterfly Herbaceous 3 ft (86 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Late spring, Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Monsieur Jules Elie Herbaceous 3–3½ ft (91–102 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Nippon Beauty Herbaceous 2½ ft (81 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Old Faithful Herbaceous 3 ft (91 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Late spring, Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Paul M. Wild Herbaceous 2½–3 ft (81–91 cm) 3–8 Early summer Full sun, Part shade
Pink Hawaiian Coral Herbaceous 3 ft (86 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun
Primevère Herbaceous 3 ft (91 cm) 4–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Raspberry Sundae Herbaceous 3 ft (91 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun, Part shade
Red Charm Herbaceous 2½ ft (81 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun
Sarah Bernhardt Herbaceous 3 ft (91 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Shirley Temple Herbaceous 2½ ft (76–81 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun, Part shade
Sorbet Herbaceous 3 ft (91 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Sword Dance Herbaceous 3 ft (91 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Walter Mains Herbaceous 3 ft (84 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Late spring, Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)

Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my peony not blooming?

Planting depth is a common cause. Wisconsin Horticulture says peonies often fail to bloom well when the buds sit more than 2 inches deep, and advises setting them 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface.

When should I cut back herbaceous peonies?

White Flower Farm advises cutting the stems back after frost. Wisconsin Horticulture adds that the old leaves should be removed and destroyed rather than composted, to limit disease.

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