Different Types of Peony Flowers - 8 Varieties of Blooming Beauty

Various Peony Varieties – The Enchanting World of Peonies

Peonies are considered to be classic timeless garden flowers. These perennial flowers can add beauty to any flower garden. And some types of peony flowers can also live to be over 100 years old blooming year and year with the right care.

Peonies grow in various parts of the world and can also be grown well in the United States in zones 3 through 8.

They also make wonderful cut flowers for bouquets and many varieties even have a long vase life of about a week.

Best of all with over 40 different types of peonies to choose from there is sure to be at least one variety of this flower that will be perfect for your garden.

Here is a look at just some of lovely varieties of peonies that you can choose from for your flower garden.

Related Articles:

8 Different Types of Peony Flowers

#1. Sarah Bernhardt Peony

Sarah Bernhardt was a French actress that was known for both her talent and her beauty. Her namesake the Sarah Bernhardt peony is extremely lovely in its own right.

This pink flower has large pink double blossoms that may be 8 inches wide. This peony has a heavy head, but a delicate fluffy appearance.

Originating in Europe, this wonderful addition to a garden stands 2 to 3 feet tall at maturity. Like many peonies the Sarah Bernhardt blooms late spring to early summer with the blooms lasting 7 to 10 days.

These peonies are easy to maintain and highly attractive to butterflies.

Do keep in mind that you will need to plant these flowers out of the wind and heavy rain and they likely will need to be staked or caged due to their large flower head.

They grow best in zones 3 to 8 and prefers full to partial sun and well-drained soil. This flower is toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

#2. Shirley Temple Peony

The Shirley Temple Peony is named after an American child star of the 1930s. It has pale rose ruffled double flowers that get lighter and lighter as they mature until they fade to creamy white.

This peony is named after the famous child star because it resembles the fluffy dresses and petticoats that the young girl wore in many of her movies.

It also has a sweet fragrance reminiscent of the young actress’s innocent smile. The foliage of this peony is lush glossy green and is deer resistant.

This perennial flower does well in zones 3 through 8 and prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.

It does need to be planted where it is sheltered from high winds and heavy rains. A low maintenance flower, this peony blooms in late spring or early summer and can reach a height of 3 to 3 feet tall.

#3. Scarlet O’Hara Peony

The Scarlet O’Hara peony gets its name from the main character in the Margaret Mitchell novel “Gone with the Wind.” Like the character in the book this peony is attention getting and a little bit flamboyant.

Smaller than other varieties of peonies the Scarlet O’Hara features a dark scarlet single flower with rounded petals and bright golden yellow centers with rich green foliage.

This hybrid peony can be grown in zones 3 through 8. It prefers full or partial sun and moist well-drained soil. This flower blooms in late spring and early summer and can grow to be 2 or 3 feet tall.

Like other tall flowers this flower makes an excellent cut flower and adds a splash of bright color to your flower garden.

#4. Festiva Maxima Peony

Originating in Europe the Festiva Maxima peony is a perennial flower that features a double fluffy white flower with a red-flecked center.

The showy white flower really stands out in the garden and when this peony is planted near red flowers the red specks in the flower’s center really stand out.

Like other peonies this flower needs to be planted in an area protected from the wind and heavy rains. They make great cut flowers and look wonderful in bouquets.

Suitable for gardens in zones 3 through 8 this flower prefers partial sunshine and well-drained soil. It is also attractive to butterflies and looks great in a butterfly garden.

#5. Coral Sunset Peony

The Coral Sunset peony is a sturdy perennial flower that originates in America. This semi- double flower has coral petals with a yellow center.

The foliage for this flower is a mound of glossy dark green. Like almost all of this type of flower the Coral Sunset makes an excellent cut flower.

It grows best in zones 3 through 8 and prefers full to partial sun and moist well-drained soil. Th may need to be staked to prevent the head from drooping downward while growing.

This flower blooms in late spring or early summer, but does bloom a bit earlier than many other varieties of peonies. They make excellent cut flowers and have a long vase life.

#6. Bowl of Beauty Peony

The Bowl of Beauty peony earns its name due to its large 8-inch wide flower head.

It features bright pink petals shaped like a bowl on the outside with soft yellow fluffy raggedy looking petals on the inside giving the peony the look of a pink bowl filled with the yellow petals.

This perennial herbaceous shrub can be grown in zones 3 through 8 and prefers full or partial sun and various soil types. It blooms in late spring to early summer and like many varieties of peonies make excellent cut flowers.

#7. Fern Leaf Peony

The Fern Leaf peony is uniquely different than many other varieties of peonies. One of the distinctive features of this flower is its lovely fern-like foliage.

The flowers themselves have short stems, which make the pinkish-red flowers with yellow centers look like they are setting directly on the foliage.

This fern originates from Asia and does well when planted in zones 3 through 8 here in the US. These flowers prefer full to partial sun and well-drained soil. The flowers themselves reach a height of 2 to 3 feet tall and bloom in early spring.

#8. Bridal Shower Peony

The bridal shower peony is a lovely and delicate looking flower that is perfect for bouquets and flower arrangements.

It is a double flower with an outer row of large white guard petals with fluffy cream inner petals.

This perennial grows best in zones 2 through 8 and prefers full or partial sun and well-drained soil.

The Bridal Shower peony is delicate and when growing it needs protection from hard rain and high winds. When mature it stands 2 to 3 feet high.

Final Thoughts on the Different Types of Peonies

As you can see, most varieties of peonies have a bit of an old fashioned look and make great additions to any flower garden. For those who grow flowers in order to have cut flowers in their homes, these flowers are sure to please.