Woodland Peonies are a group of herbaceous peonies noteworthy for their preference for shade. They are the first peony to bloom in the spring. They grow and naturalize in a deciduous woodland where they get early spring sun and summer shade. They are low-growing, self-seeding, and will create sprays of forest ground cover. Woodland peonies provide three-season appeal, offering delicate white flowers in early spring, lush green foliage throughout the growing seasons, and dramatic indigo and scarlet seed pods in the fall. Woodland peonies thrive in horticultural zones 3-8. Shade-loving, three-season appeal, good naturalizers.

Tree Peonies are woody perennial shrubs. They bloom in early spring, after woodland peonies and before herbaceous peonies. Their woody structure supports gigantic dinner-plate-sized flowers on plants that can grow up to 7 feet. While tree peonies can take full sun, they thrive in dappled light. After the bloom, tree peonies provide structure to the garden, with deep green foliage in summer that turns bronze and purple in fall. Native to China and cultivated for millennia, these deer-resistant plants thrive in zones 4-9. Some die-back may occur in zone 4 during particularly harsh winters. Tree peonies grow slowly, producing 1 to 6 inches of new woody growth each year. They require well-drained soil. A plant for the landscape. Stately, rare, breathtaking flowers, simply fabulous.

Tree Peony Subgroups: Suffruticosa, Gansu, Lutea

Herbaceous Peonies are the most well-known type of peony. They produce some of the best cut flowers available. They require full sun, and bloom during the transition from spring into summer, with each individual cultivar blooming for an average of 7-10 days. The foliage of shining green leaves remains throughout the summer, dies back to the ground in winter, and reemerges early each spring. They have been cultivated for centuries, and thus a collection of distinct herbaceous cultivars can offer both extended bloom time and an astounding array of flower form, color, and degree of fragrance. Herbaceous peonies grow to between 2 and 3 feet tall and 2.5 to 3 feet wide, depending on the cultivar.

Herbaceous peonies can be planted in both spring and fall. Like most long-lived perennials, they take three years for them to bloom prolifically - they are well worth the wait. They grow in zones 3-8. Typically, the bloom occurs in mid-May in the southern zones, late-May in the mid zones, and early-June in the colder zones. Mainstay in every perennial garden, best cut flower available, long lived.

Herbaceous Peony Subgroups: Fern Leaf, Coral, True Red, Lactiflora

Intersectional Peonies, also known as Itoh Peonies, are hybrids created by crossing a tree peony and an herbaceous peony. These hybrids produce flowers and leaves reminiscent of the tree peony parent. However, the growth habits mimic the herbaceous parent, dying down to the ground in winter and reemerging green each spring. The plants produce some woody structure, but they remain low to the ground. Like their herbaceous parent, they prefer full sun, but grow well and produce a suitable number of flowers in dappled sunlight. A mature intersectional peony will produce 50 or more dinner-plate sized flowers on strong short stems that do not require staking. They reach peak bloom near the end of the herbaceous peony bloom. Each plant can remain in bloom for 3-4 weeks, with new buds continually opening over this period. They can be used as cut flowers and offer a wide array of yellows and golds-colors not commonly available in herbaceous peonies. Intersectional peonies, on average, grow to approximately 2.5 feet tall. Their compact form is well suited to the front of the perennial border. They grow in zones 3-9. Lovely large flowers, available in a unique yellow-bronze colorway, nicely shaped plant, no staking required.

Below is a graphic that shows the Tree and Herbaceous Bloom broken down by subcategory.

Eight Weeks of Bloom - Overview

Order of Bloom:

1. WOODLAND Peonies

2. TREE Peonies (peak typically around Mother's Day)

3. HERBACEOUS Peonies (peak typically around Memorial Day)

4. INTERSECTIONAL Peonies

By growing peonies from each of these four groups, your peony garden will bloom for up to eight weeks, from early to late spring. Cooler weather will delay and prolong the bloom, warmer will accelerate and shorten the bloom. The exact timing will depend on where you are located. The times listed in the graphic are approximate for our location in Bernardsville, New Jersey. There are also seasonal variables that can cause the blooms to shift by several days or even a week.

Two of the four main groups can be further subdivided by their hybridization and unique characteristics.

SUBCATEGORIES:

• Tree

  • Suffruticosa

  • Gansu

  • Lutea

• Herbaceous

  • Fern Leaf

  • Coral Hybrids

  • True Red Hybrids

  • Lactiflora Peonies

See the section below for explanations of all of these categories and subcategories

Consider Your Environment

• Horticultural Zone

• Seasonal Rainfall

• Soil Moisture

• Sunlight

• Seasonal Influences - such as hot summer sun or snow drifting

• Microclimates within Your Garden - shady spots, windy corners, dry & wet spots

The types of peonies you can grow depends on your location. The map shows a generalization of our experience with peonies across the U.S. Unsure of your horticultural zone? Click here to go to the USDA website where you can enter your zip code to determine your zone.

We have found that all herbaceous peonies grow well in the Pacific Northwest, despite the warmer zones along the coast. That area does not typically get the early spring heat that can make it important to choose your herbaceous peonies carefully - like in the south.

Herbaceous peonies: Zones 3-8
Intersectional peonies: Zones 3-9
Tree peonies: Zones 4-9

We find that where peonies grow is nuanced. A lot can depend on your local microclimate, precipitation, and aspect. If you live on the edge of a peony growing zone you may need to do some experimentation to see what works for you.

In addition, if you are on the northern edge of a peony growing zone you may have trouble in an exceptionally cold year. Just as you may have trouble on the southern edge in an exceptionally hot year.

Click here for details on growing herbaceous peonies in the south.