Yellow peony varieties

This page covers peonies whose flowers are recorded as yellow, from pale yellow to gold. Peony's Envy writes that Itoh peonies offer a wide range of yellows and golds that are uncommon in herbaceous peonies, and that yellow tree peonies come from the Lutea hybrid group. The table below compares every variety we list side by side.

Varieties
13
Height
2–5 ft (56–152 cm)
Hardiness
USDA zones 3–9
Form

7 Herbaceous

4 Itoh (intersectional)

2 Tree

Compare all 13 side by side

All 13 yellow 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 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)Herbaceous
A Canary Brilliants peony flower up close on the plant Canary Brilliants Itoh peony with semi-double to double creamy yellow flowers, apricot at the center, 28 inches tall, midseason. Early summer (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 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)Herbaceous
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 Kinkaku peony flower up close on the plant Kinkaku Tree peony with full yellow flowers edged in pink, up to 8 inches across, blooming May to June. Late spring, Early summer4–5 ft (122–152 cm)Tree
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)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 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)Herbaceous
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 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. Itoh and tree peonies need different pruning, and Peony's Envy advises cutting Itoh stems to 4 to 5 inches in fall while tree peonies keep their woody stems.

  2. Compare the zones in the table with your garden.

  3. Look at the bloom time. Peony's Envy says the Lutea tree peonies flower after the other tree peony groups.

Compare side by side

Color Sunlight
Bartzella Itoh (intersectional) 3 ft (86 cm) 4–8 Early summer Full sun
Bowl of Beauty Herbaceous 3 ft (86 cm) 3–8 Late spring, Early summer Full sun
Canary Brilliants Itoh (intersectional) 2½ ft (71 cm) 4–8 (estimated) Early summer (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
Jan van Leeuwen Herbaceous 2½ ft (71 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Late spring, Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Julia Rose Itoh (intersectional) 2½ ft (71 cm) 4–8 (estimated) Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Kinkaku Tree 4–5 ft (122–152 cm) 4–7 Late spring, Early summer Full sun, Part shade
Lemon Chiffon Herbaceous 2½ ft (81 cm) 3–8 Early summer Full sun
Nippon Beauty Herbaceous 2½ ft (81 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Early summer (estimated) Full sun (estimated)
Primevère Herbaceous 3 ft (91 cm) 4–8 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

Are there yellow herbaceous peonies?

Iowa State Extension lists pale yellow among peony flower colors. Peony's Envy notes that stronger yellows and golds are more common in Itoh peonies than in herbaceous ones.

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