Peonies are one of the more well-loved perennials, coveted for their splendid beauty, longevity and ease of growing. The plants feature big, fluffy, show-stopping flowers in a range of colors, shapes and sizes. There are three main types of peonies: traditional herbaceous garden peonies; long-lived woody shrub/tree peonies; and the stunning Itoh peony which is a hybrid of the two. Each has a slightly different bloom time so including all three types in your garden will net beautiful blooms for up to seven weeks! Peonies prefer a sunny location with well-drained soil. Depending on the variety and the growing conditions, you may need to provide your peonies with some additional support when the flowers are in bloom.
Fort Collins Nursery has a wonderful selection of peonies with over 35 varieties in stock. Here are a few to consider:
Bartzella Itoh Peony
Paeonia (Intersectional hybrid) x ‘Bartzella’
Bartzella Itoh peonies have very large, bright yellow double blossoms with a slight red center stain which stand above the lush, dark green, deeply dissected foliage. The flowers have a pleasant, slightly spicy scent. This is an especially vigorous plant with sturdy flower stems that do not require staking.
- Height: 2.5-3 ft.
- Width: 2.5-3 ft.
- Water: Regularly
- Bloom: Late Spring/ Yellow
- Zones: 4-9
Dr. Alexander Flemming
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Dr. Alexander Flemming’
Dr. Alexander Flemming Peony is a sweetly scented garden peony with large, bright pink flowers which fade to a paler pink toward the edges. The flowers feature a sphere-like shape and a large number of side buds extend the blooming season. This traditional variety of peony requires a peony ring to support its large heavily-petaled blooms.
- Height: 34-36 in.
- Width: 34-36 in.
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Late Spring/ Pink
- Zones: 3-8
Duchess de Nemours
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Duchess de Nemours’
Duchess de Nemours peony is a fragrant flower with large, milky white, globe-shaped blossoms with light canary yellow centers and a pale green base. The flower has strong stems and particularly attractive dark green foliage, making it ideal for cut flowers. This traditional variety of peony benefits from a peony ring to support its large heavily-petaled blooms.
- Height: 24-36 in.
- Width: 34-36 in.
- Water: Moderate
- Bloom: Early season/ White
- Zones: 3-8
Originally published on May 30th, 2019. Updated on June 3rd, 2020.