Best [peony](/plants/peony-care/) cultivars: herbaceous, tree, and intersectional
The first peony I planted, in 2009, was a pale pink herbaceous cultivar from a big-box garden center -- no label beyond "peony." It bloomed the following May in three-inch flowers that nodded to the ground in the first rain. I staked it, which helped, and it has since grown into a tight clump that.
—- title: "Best peony cultivars: herbaceous, tree, and intersectional" slug: best-peony-cultivars hub: plants category: "Cultivar guide" description: "Honest comparison of the best herbaceous, tree, and intersectional peony cultivars — with bloom times, zone hardiness, and what actually performs in a home garden." date: 2026-06-10 updated: 2026-06-10 author: "Thomas A." reading_time: 8 scientific: "Paeonia lactiflora, Paeonia suffruticosa, Paeonia × itoh" zones_min: 3 zones_max: 8 sun: "full sun" —-
The first peony I planted, in 2009, was a pale pink herbaceous cultivar from a big-box garden center — no label beyond "peony." It bloomed the following May in three-inch flowers that nodded to the ground in the first rain. I staked it, which helped, and it has since grown into a tight clump that puts up 18—20 stems a year. I've added tree peonies and intersectionals since then and have grown five cultivars in my zone 7a Long Island garden.
Peonies as a group are long-lived, slow to establish, and intolerant of incorrect planting depth. The most common reason a peony fails to bloom is that it was planted too deep. That single problem accounts for more frustrated gardeners than any pest or disease.
Types of peonies: what you're actually buying
Per Missouri Botanical Garden:
- Herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora and hybrids): die to the ground each fall, regrow from fleshy roots each spring. The most widely available type.
- Tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa and related species): woody shrubs that retain their stems year-round. Flowers are 6—12 inches across. Slower to establish.
- Intersectional (Itoh) peonies (Paeonia × itoh): hybrids between herbaceous and tree peonies. The stems die back partway in fall. Larger flowers than herbaceous, better heat tolerance than tree peonies, excellent disease resistance.
Herbaceous peonies
'Sarah Bernhardt'
Zones: 3—8 per Penn State Extension Bloom time: Midseason (late May in zones 6—7) Form: Double, shell-pink, fragrant Height: 36—40 in
'Sarah Bernhardt' has been in continuous commercial production since 1906 and is the most widely planted herbaceous peony in the world. There's a reason: it is reliable, fragrant, and produces large double flowers. Stems are reasonably strong for a double. The fragrance is the classic peony scent — heavy, sweet, rose-like. Per Penn State Extension, it performs well across the entire zone 3—8 range.
'Festiva Maxima'
Zones: 3—8 Bloom time: Early-midseason Form: Double white with crimson flecks at center Height: 36 in
An 1851 cultivar that remains standard for cut flower production. Per NC State Extension, 'Festiva Maxima' is one of the most cold-tolerant peonies, performing reliably in zone 3. The white double flowers open with a crimson stain at the heart. It has a tendency to flop in heavy rain — staking or peony rings recommended at planting time.
'Karl Rosenfield'
Zones: 3—8 Bloom time: Midseason Form: Double, deep magenta-crimson Height: 34 in
For a red peony in the traditional double form, 'Karl Rosenfield' is the standard. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, it holds its color better in full sun than many red cultivars, which tend to fade to salmon. Strongly fragrant. Good stem strength for a double.
'Coral Charm'
Zones: 3—8 Bloom time: Early-midseason Form: Semi-double, coral-salmon Height: 30—36 in
'Coral Charm' won the American Peony Society's Gold Medal in 1986. The coral-salmon color is unusual in peonies and the semi-double form with visible stamens is excellent for pollinators. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, it is among the best choices for heat tolerance within the herbaceous category, holding flower quality longer in warm weather than older cultivars. Color fades to cream-peach as the flower ages — some gardeners like this; others prefer removing spent flowers quickly.
'Bowl of Beauty'
Zones: 3—8 Bloom time: Midseason Form: Japanese-form (lactiflora): hot pink outer petals, cream petaloids at center Height: 32—36 in
Japanese-form peonies are lighter than full doubles, which means better stem strength and faster drying after rain. 'Bowl of Beauty' is the most widely planted Japanese-form peony. The contrast between the deep pink guard petals and the cream petaloid center is striking. Per Penn State Extension, Japanese-form peonies are less likely to flop than fully double cultivars of similar stem height.
Tree peonies
I don't grow tree peonies at home — my Long Island yard doesn't have a spot that offers both wind protection and full sun. The information below is sourced from Extension publications and the American Peony Society.
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, tree peonies are hardy in zones 4—9 depending on cultivar, but need protection from desiccating winter winds in zones 4—5. They are grafted plants; the graft union should be buried 4—6 inches deep (unlike herbaceous peonies, where the eyes should be near the surface).
'Renkaku' (Flight of Cranes)
Zones: 4—9 Form: Semi-double white with yellow stamens Height: 3—4 ft at maturity Flower diameter: 8—10 in
Per the American Peony Society, 'Renkaku' is one of the most reliable white tree peonies in American gardens, with better cold tolerance than many Japanese cultivars. Tree peonies bloom 2—4 weeks before herbaceous types in the same zone.
'High Noon'
Zones: 4—9 Form: Semi-double, clear yellow with dark flares at petal base Height: 4—5 ft Flower diameter: 8 in
'High Noon' is a Daphnis hybrid with one of the most reliably clear yellows of any tree peony available in the US. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, it is among the most adaptable tree peonies for American garden conditions, performing across a wider range of climates than pure Japanese cultivars.
'Shintenchi' (Kingdom of the Moon)
Zones: 4—9 Form: Double, pale pink with deeper pink edge Height: 3—5 ft Flower diameter: 10—12 in
A Japanese cultivar widely regarded as one of the finest doubles for flower size and petal quality. The semi-double flower can reach 12 inches across. Tree peonies of this type can live for 50—100 years when sited correctly — they are a long-term investment. Per Penn State Extension, tree peonies should not be cut back in fall; they retain their woody structure through winter.
Intersectional (Itoh) peonies
Intersectional peonies, created by crossing herbaceous and tree peony species, were developed in the 1940s by Japanese breeder Toichi Itoh. They became widely available in the US in the 1980s—90s. Per Clemson HGIC, they combine the hardiness of herbaceous types with the flower color range and disease resistance of tree peonies.
'Bartzella'
Zones: 3—8 Bloom time: Midseason Form: Semi-double to double, clear yellow Height: 24—30 in
'Bartzella' is the gold standard of intersectional peonies and produces the best true yellow in the category. Per Clemson HGIC, it is highly resistant to botrytis blight, the most common peony disease. Stems are substantially stronger than herbaceous doubles of similar height. One plant can produce 30—70 flowers in a mature season. It is expensive as a bare-root plant ($30—80 depending on source) but settles in reliably.
'Kopper Kettle'
Zones: 3—8 Bloom time: Midseason Form: Semi-double, orange-copper with dark red flares Height: 28—34 in
'Kopper Kettle' won the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 2016. The copper-orange color with dark flares is genuinely different from any herbaceous cultivar. Per UMN Extension, intersectional peonies in this color class are the primary reason to grow Itohs over standard herbaceous types. Excellent stem strength.
'Garden Treasure'
Zones: 3—8 Bloom time: Midseason Form: Semi-double, clear yellow with crimson flares Height: 28—32 in
The first Itoh peony to win the American Peony Society Gold Medal (1996). 'Garden Treasure' preceded 'Bartzella' commercially and remains more widely available at lower prices. Slightly deeper gold-yellow than 'Bartzella' with larger flares at the petal base. Per Penn State Extension, it is one of the easiest Itohs to establish.
Planting depth: the number one mistake
Per Penn State Extension, herbaceous peony eyes must be planted no more than 1—2 inches below the soil surface in zones 4—7. Deeper than 2 inches and the plant may grow vigorously but never bloom. This is the most common cause of peony failure in home gardens and is not reversible without digging and resetting the crown.
Tree peony graft unions, by contrast, should be planted 4—6 inches deep to encourage the ornamental top to develop its own roots and reduce dependence on the rootstock.
Intersectionals follow the herbaceous rule: eyes 1—2 inches below the surface.
Botrytis blight: the most common peony disease
Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, botrytis blight (Botrytis paeoniae) is the most prevalent disease of peonies in the Northeast and Midwest. Symptoms: shoots collapse and turn brown near the soil line; brown spots on buds; gray fuzzy mold in wet weather. The disease overwinters in infected plant debris.
Management: Per Cornell, clean up all foliage and stems to the ground in fall — do not compost infected material. Avoid overhead irrigation. Space plants 3—4 feet apart for air circulation. Fungicides (chlorothalonil, thiophanate-methyl) are available for severe cases but are rarely needed if sanitation is practiced. Intersectional cultivars have better resistance than most herbaceous types.
Common problems
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No flowers, strong foliage | Planted too deep | Dig and reset eyes at 1—2 in depth |
| Shoots collapse, brown at base | Botrytis blight | Remove affected tissue; clean up all debris in fall |
| Ants on buds | Normal — ants eat sugary exudate | No action needed; ants do not damage flowers |
| Buds form but don't open | Late frost; botrytis | Check for frost timing; inspect buds for gray mold |
| Yellow leaves mid-summer | Normal senescence; or overwatering | Reduce watering; allow natural yellowing |
Frequently asked questions
Do peonies need ants to bloom? No. Per NC State Extension, this is a persistent myth. Ants are attracted to the sugary exudate on peony buds but play no role in flower opening. Buds open normally without ant activity.
How long before a new peony plant blooms? Per Penn State Extension, newly planted bare-root peonies typically take 2—3 years to bloom reliably. A plant that produces only foliage in its first season is not failing — it is establishing. Do not dig and move a peony before it has had at least 3 full seasons to settle in.
Can I grow peonies in zone 9? Herbaceous peonies require a chilling period of approximately 300—500 hours below 40°F to bloom well. Per UC Cooperative Extension, most of zone 9 does not reliably meet this requirement. Gardeners in zone 9 should choose early-blooming cultivars and accept reduced performance compared to cooler climates.
When should I divide peonies? Per Missouri Botanical Garden, divide in fall (September—October in most zones), not spring. Each division should have 3—5 eyes (red growth buds). Replant immediately at 1—2 inches depth.
Sources
- Missouri Botanical Garden — Paeonia lactiflora
- Penn State Extension — Peonies
- NC State Extension — Paeonia lactiflora
- Clemson HGIC — Growing Peonies
- Cornell Cooperative Extension — Peonies
- UMN Extension — Peonies