Red peony varieties

This page covers peonies whose flowers are recorded as red, across the herbaceous, tree and Itoh groups. Iowa State Extension lists red among the flower colors of peonies. The table below compares every variety we list side by side.

Varieties
20
Height
2–6 ft (56–183 cm)
Hardiness
USDA zones 3–9
Form

10 Herbaceous

6 Itoh (intersectional)

4 Tree

Compare all 20 side by side

All 20 red peony varieties

A Bartzella peony flower up close on the plant Bartzella Itoh peony with semi-double to double lemon yellow flowers and a red center, 34 inches tall, midseason. Early summer3 ft (86 cm)Itoh (intersectional)
A Black Pirate peony flower up close on the plant Black Pirate Lutea hybrid tree peony with single dark red satiny flowers, bred by Saunders in 1935. Late spring, Early summer2 ft (61 cm)Tree
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)Herbaceous
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)Herbaceous
A First Arrival peony flower up close on the plant First Arrival Early Itoh peony with semi-double pink to lavender flowers and red flares, 28 inches tall. Late spring (estimated) 2½ ft (71 cm)Itoh (intersectional)
A Garden Treasure peony flower up close on the plant Garden Treasure Itoh peony with semi-double yellow flowers and muted red flares, 22 to 24 inches tall, mid to late season. Early summer2 ft (56–61 cm)Itoh (intersectional)
A High Noon peony flower up close on the plant High Noon Tree peony with semi-double lemon yellow flowers flared raspberry at the base, blooming in May. Late spring4–5 ft (122–152 cm)Tree
A Hillary peony flower up close on the plant Hillary Itoh peony with semi-double creamy red flowers fading to cream around a darker center, 24 to 30 inches tall. Early summer (estimated) 2–2½ ft (61–76 cm)Itoh (intersectional)
A Julia Rose peony flower up close on the plant Julia Rose Itoh peony with single to semi-double flowers that open cherry red and fade to orange, then yellow. 28 inches tall. Early summer (estimated) 2½ ft (71 cm)Itoh (intersectional)
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)Herbaceous
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)Herbaceous
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)Herbaceous
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)Herbaceous
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)Herbaceous
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)Herbaceous
A Scarlet Heaven peony flower up close on the plant Scarlet Heaven Itoh peony with single bright red flowers and yellow stamens, 28 inches tall, midseason. Early summer2½ ft (71 cm)Itoh (intersectional)
A Shima-Nishiki peony flower up close on the plant Shima-Nishiki Japanese tree peony with semi-double red flowers irregularly striped white around yellow stamens. Mid spring (estimated) 3–6 ft (91–183 cm)Tree
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)Herbaceous
A Taiyo peony flower up close on the plant Taiyo Japanese tree peony with semi-double bright red flowers and yellow centers, blooming early in the season. Mid spring, Late spring3–6 ft (91–183 cm)Tree
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)Herbaceous

How to choose

  1. Check the Type column. Peony's Envy notes that true reds are absent from the Suffruticosa group of tree peonies, whose darkest shades are maroon.

  2. Look at the flower form. Iowa State Extension says many doubles must be staked when they bloom.

  3. Compare the zones in the table with your own.

Compare side by side

Color Sunlight
Bartzella Itoh (intersectional) 3 ft (86 cm) 4–8 Early summer Full sun
Black Pirate Tree 2 ft (61 cm) 4–9 Late spring, Early summer Full sun (estimated)
Buckeye Belle Herbaceous 2½ ft (76 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun
Festiva Maxima Herbaceous 3 ft (86 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
First Arrival Itoh (intersectional) 2½ ft (71 cm) 4–8 (estimated) Late spring (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Garden Treasure Itoh (intersectional) 2 ft (56–61 cm) 4–8 Early summer Full sun
High Noon Tree 4–5 ft (122–152 cm) 4–9 Late spring Full sun, Part shade
Hillary Itoh (intersectional) 2–2½ ft (61–76 cm) 4–8 Early summer (estimated) Full sun
Julia Rose Itoh (intersectional) 2½ ft (71 cm) 4–8 (estimated) 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
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
Red Charm Herbaceous 2½ ft (81 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun
Scarlet Heaven Itoh (intersectional) 2½ ft (71 cm) 4–8 Early summer Full sun
Shima-Nishiki Tree 3–6 ft (91–183 cm) 4–9 Mid spring (estimated) Full sun, Part shade
Sword Dance Herbaceous 3 ft (91 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Taiyo Tree 3–6 ft (91–183 cm) 3–8 Mid spring, Late spring Part shade, Full sun
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

How deep should peonies be planted?

Iowa State Extension advises setting the buds 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface and warns that plants set too deep do not bloom well. White Flower Farm suggests barely 1 inch in the South.

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