Peony Plants

Peony plants – more info

Peonies boast some of the most impressive flowers in the summer borders. Large and fragrant, they bloom in June and July, unfurling double petals and ruffled centres in a delicate range of shades. If you’re unsure which peony to choose for your beds and borders then our FAQs below are an excellent place to start.

What is a tree peony?

Tree peonies are fully hardy with woody growth that stays above ground during winter when herbaceous peonies die back completely. They bloom slightly earlier than a herbaceous peony. Plant your tree peony varieties at the back of the border to give your display height in winter. They’re a really impressive investment in the garden and are at their best in late spring into early summer when they produce their huge scented blooms on stems covered in deeply divided green leaves. See our guide to pruning tree peonies to keep them in good shape.

Which peony is the most fragrant?

Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ has excellent staying power. First introduced in 1905, this variety is still a go to for gardeners looking for strong peony scent. For a lemony fragrance try peony ‘Bartzella’. This double lemon yellow variety produces a citrusy perfume that nicely breaks up the usual sweetness typical of older peony varieties.

For a scent similar to damask roses, try peony ‘Eden’s Perfume’, another double petalled pink beauty. You can’t go wrong with these sweet varieties and they’re very good as cut flowers too!

Which peony blooms the longest?

Hybrid peonies are a mix between tree peonies and herbaceous peony varieties. They have the best staying power of any traditional variety. Peony ‘Garden Treasure’ is a beautiful example of an intersectional peony with a strong scent and wide open blooms in a delicate shade of lemon yellow.

Which is the hardiest peony plant to grow?

All peony plants are fully hardy. They are remarkably long-lived perennials that continue to perform year after year. Some are still going after 40 years, making them a fantastic one time investment! Fill your garden with peonies and benefit from many years of big, scented blooms that just get better and better with age.