• Herbaceous
  • Perennial
  • Zones 3–8 (estimated)
  • Red
  • Single

Walter Mains

Perennial herbaceous peony in red, yellow, and white, blooming in late spring and early summer. Japanese-type burgundy-red cupped petals around a center of red, gold and white staminodes. USDA zones 3–8.

Single source · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.

Where to buy

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A Walter Mains peony flower up close on the plant
A Walter Mains peony flower up close on the plant

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Walter Mains peony plants in bloom in a garden
Walter Mains peony plants in bloom in a garden

At a glance

Flower form
Herbaceous Single
Colors
  • Red
  • Yellow
  • White
Bicolor
Blooms
Late spring, Early summer (estimated)
Vase life
Not grown for cutting
Height
3 ft (84 cm)
Sunlight
Full sun (estimated)
Hardiness
USDA zones 3–8 (estimated) Perennial
Planted as
Bare root
Botanical name
Paeonia hybrid

In the garden

  • Rarely damaged by deer (Rutgers rating)

Find your frost dates and zone by ZIP code

Origin

Japanese-type hybrid peony introduced by Mains in 1957. It received the APS Gold Medal in 1974.

Bred by Mains, 1957

Sources

Where to buy

Prices rechecked daily
  • Peony ParadiseLive plant

    Pack size not listed

    Out of stock

    $30.00Checked Oct 14, 2026

We may earn a commission when you buy through these links. Your price stays the same. Prices checked Oct 14, 2026.

All photos

  • A Walter Mains peony flower up close on the plant
    A Walter Mains peony flower up close on the plant
  • Walter Mains peony plants in bloom in a garden
    Walter Mains peony plants in bloom in a garden

Questions

Is Walter Mains hardy in my zone?

Walter Mains survives winter in the ground in USDA zones 3 to 8. In colder zones treat it as an annual or lift it before the ground freezes.

Does Walter Mains need full sun?

Walter Mains grows in full sun.

When does Walter Mains bloom?

Walter Mains blooms in late spring and early summer.

Is Walter Mains good for cutting?

Our sources don't list Walter Mains as a cut flower or give a vase life for it.

See also

See all →
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. HerbaceousLate springMedium height
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. HerbaceousLate springMedium height
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. HerbaceousLate springMedium height
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. HerbaceousLate springMedium height

Same colors

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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. Itoh (intersectional)Early summerMedium height
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. HerbaceousLate springMedium height
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. TreeLate springTall
A Kansas peony flower up close on the plant Kansas Rose-type double lactiflora peony in watermelon red, midseason, APS Gold Medal 1957. HerbaceousLate springTall

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