Peonies have gorgeous blooms at the peak of Spring, provide a stunning floral display in the garden, and make fantastic fresh cut flowers when brought indoors. Peonies are perennial plants that are long-lived, low-maintenance, and fairly fast-growing in full sun or light shade. Not only are they one of the most beautiful Spring cut flowers, Peonies also attract butterflies and have the added bonus of being deer and rabbit resistant!
The Best Garden Peonies for Cut Flowers
Peonies for cut flowers fall into two categories—Herbaceous Peonies and Itoh Peonies. Tree peonies are rarer and if you happen to inherit one with a garden, consider yourself extremely lucky! For tips and tricks about growing your own cut flowers, check out our Backyard Bouquets blog!
Herbaceous Peonies
Herbaceous peonies have been adored by gardeners for generations. Hardy from zones 3-8, they go completely dormant and die back to the ground in the Fall and Winter. In Spring, rich burgundy colored foliage emerges from bare ground and looks almost otherworldly, like hands coming up out of the soil. Peony plants grow quickly to about 2–3 feet tall with large, showy flowers at the ends of almost every stem. Many varieties of herbaceous peonies are also very fragrant!
Flowers may be frilly doubles, semi-double, or singles and come in a range of colors from cool, buttery white to coral and through to intense magenta depending on the cultivar. Peony blossoms can be heavy and may weigh down the stems so it is best to provide a cage or other support to the plants when they emerge. Though herbaceous peonies have a relatively short flowering time, they are unmatched for their yet glorious display, and the blooms often occur near Mother’s Day.
Coral Charm Peony
Karl Rosenfield Peony
Sarah Bernhardt Peony
Our Favorite Herbaceous Peonies
- Coral Charm – Large, semi-double, flowers with a slight fragrance emerge true pink and fade to coral-cream as they gracefully age.
- Felix Crousse – Heavy blooming with large, double crimson red flowers on a fast-growing plant.
- Gardenia – Abundant white blooms are double and frilly with a faint hint of blush pink and carry a lovely sweet fragrance.
- Karl Rosenfield – Classic, enormous magenta-red flowers are heavily ruffled and have a sweet fragrance.
- Sarah Bernhardt – Fragrant, large double flowers bloom in pastel pink on a dependable plant.
Itoh Peonies
Itoh or “Intersectional” peonies are a more recent introduction—a cross between herbaceous peonies and tree peonies. They were the result of a lifetime of work done by Japanese botanist Dr. Toichi to create a magnificent, fast-growing plant with huge flowers held on strong stems with attractive foliage. They generally do not require staking or support and are resistant to blight!
Mature Itoh plants grow to about 2.5 feet tall by around 3.5 feet wide and usually begin to bloom in early June, just as herbaceous peonies are finishing their floral display. Hardy to Zones 4–8, Itoh peonies do well in full sun or partial shade and die back in winter, leaving a short, woody stem above ground. Mature plants can have up to 50+ flowers in one season, and flowers may grow to dinner plate size! Plants can often produce a light, second flowering if deadheaded. Though they can be grown for a few years in a container, Itoh peonies are ultimately best grown in the ground.
Although originally bred to produce yellow flowers, Itoh peonies are now available in a wide range of colors including peach, purple, and white. Selection of Itoh peonies at garden centers is always best in April and May.
Bartzella Itoh Peony
Misaka Itoh Peony
Keiko Itoh Peony
Our Favorite Itoh Peonies
- Bartzella – Sunny yellow, ruffly double flowers have a spicy scent on a healthy plant that gets brilliant fall color.
- Julia Rose – Semi-double flowers have a spicy scent and bloom in an ombre from pale peach through to rich coral and dusty rose.
- Keiko (Adored) – Semi-double bright lavender-pink flowers fade to soft, dusky rose tone and are complemented by the bright yellow stamens in the center.
- Misaka (Beautiful Blossom) – Semi-double blooms open marigold orange and then fade down to apricot yellow, contrasted by blood-red stars in the center.
- Takara (Treasure) – Large, semi-double ruffled flowers change color over time, opening in light yellow with lavender-pink streaks and centers and fade to pale white with rich wine-red centers.
When & How to Plant Peonies
Peonies can be planted in the Spring or Fall. In Spring, the selection of herbaceous and Itoh peonies is best and most diverse. However, plants that go in during Fall have an added advantage of root establishment during the wet Winter months.
Plant peonies in full sun or light shade with rich, well-draining soil. You can keep a newly purchased plant in its pot through Spring and Summer, and protect it from damage by sinking the container into the ground until ideal Fall planting time arrives.
1. As the plant begins to go dormant in Fall, remove the plant from the ground and dig the hole about twice as wide as the root ball. Fill the hole with water to check drainage, then add granular, organic, all-purpose fertilizer and/or bone meal.
2. Remove plant from pot and loosen roots as needed before placing in planting hole. Be watchful of the planting level; ensure that the buds or “eyes” are no more than 2 inches below the top soil level when planted—peonies may fail to bloom if buried too deeply.
3. Backfill hole with blend of native soil and compost or rotted manure; water thoroughly to settle.
Fertilizing Peonies
In general, established herbaceous peonies can be given a top dressing of granular, organic, all-purpose fertilizer (4-4-4) each spring as new growth begins.
Itoh peonies, however, are sensitive to nitrogen, so they should be given a fertilizer that has a low first number on the label such as E.B. Stone Rose & Flower Food 5-6-3. or E.B. Stone Tomato & Vegetable Food 4-5-3.
How to Prune Peonies
Both herbaceous and Itoh peonies will die back during Winter and should have old foliage removed annually to avoid spreading disease.
- Herbaceous peonies can be cut to the ground as the foliage turns brown in late fall.
- Itoh peonies should be pruned back to leave a 4 to 5-inch woody stem above ground in late Fall; may need to be lightly pruned the following spring as new growth emerges.
- Tree peonies are generally not pruned at all.
- Dividing and transplanting peonies is best done in Fall.
Why Are There Ants on My Peonies?
As peony flower buds mature, a sweet, sticky substance appears on the bud surface and can be attractive to ants. Gardening folklore tells us that ants help the flowers open by “tickling” the buds and removing the sticky sap, but this is not exactly true. Although the ants are certainly not doing any damage to the plant, the flower would most likely open without their assistance.
The ants do provide a benefit to the plant, however, by defending it against pest insects, and in reward, are able to access a food source from the secretions of the flower bud.
To avoid bringing ants inside on cut peony flowers, cut blooms in early morning while plants are covered with dew and ants are not yet present, or turn cut flowers upside down and gently tap them with your fingers to dislodge unwanted “guests” before bringing them indoors. Cut flowers can also be quickly submerged into a bowl of water to remove hidden insects from inside blooms.
Troubleshooting Peony Problems
Although they are mostly free of insect pests, peonies may experience fungal diseases such as Botrytis and blight. Copper fungicide can be effective in treating diseases, and plants grown in full sun with good air circulation are less likely to have trouble.
Failure to bloom may be the result of planting too deep or not enough sun exposure. If your peonies have weak stems and floppy flowers that fall over, provide a peony cage or a “grow-through” support. If possible, harvest flowers for bouquets prior to rainstorms.
Herbaceous and Itoh peonies are the perfect addition to the Springtime flower garden. With exquisite, large blooms and low-maintenance habit, they are an ideal cut flower for new or old gardens. Herbaceous Peonies are fantastic in Traditional or Bohemian Landscapes, while Itoh peonies are happily at home in Pacific Northwest and Modern planting schemes. Come by the Garden Center in Spring to find the perfect peony for your garden!