I am waiting as patiently as I can but my favorite time of the year is coming and when I tell you I can BARELY wait. Any day now the peonies in my area will be in full bloom and to commemorate the most wonderful of occasions, I’ve put together a list of some of our favorites over at NatureHills.com.
First, a couple #ProPlantTips when growing peonies. They like sunny, well-drained locations best. Most will tolerate some shade but really do bloom better the more sun they’re given. They also like being the center of attention - meaning they don’t like to fight for nutrients with large shrubs and trees, so try and give them some space.
Before getting into our top 5, I have to go over the Honorable Mentions because it would be a real shame to leave some of these off the list. Butter Bowl, Shirley Temple, Karl Rosenfield, Red Charm, and Raspberry Charm are all great options and if you have the room to plant them all, do it!
See them all here: www.naturehills.com/perennial...
#5 Festiva Maxima Peony
I always thought Festiva Maxima looked like one of those modern art paintings that took a white canvas and splattered a single shade of paint all over it. Eh maybe that’s just me but it IS mesmerizing don’t you think? It grows 3 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide and is largely left alone by deer and rabbits. #5 Festiva Maxima - Growing zones 3-8, ruffled double petaled flowers, fantastic in floral bouquets.
Check it out here: www.naturehills.com/festiva-m...
#4 Coral Charm Peony
If you’re impatient for peony blooms like I am, Coral Charm is a great option because of its early blooming, long-lasting nature. The light pink semi-double petals open up earlier than others to reveal showy yellow stamens in the center that puts the charm in Coral Charm. It’s a Gold Medal Award Winning Variety from the American Peony Society that would look right at home in a mixed border or cottage garden. #4 Coral Charm Peony - Growing Zones 3-8, semi-double orange-ish pink petals, and an early bloomer.
Check it out here: www.naturehills.com/coral-cha...
#3 Bartzella Peony
Yellow petals are a hard trait to find in peonies, which is one of the reasons Bartzella makes this list. This classically rounded peony blooms a light and soft yellow and will have dark red specks around the center. The flowers are known to last for weeks when cut and added to floral arrangements. #3 Bartzella Itoh Peony - Growing zones 4-9, rare yellow blooms, and a pollinator magnet.
Check it out here: www.naturehills.com/bartzella...
#2 Sarah Bernhardt Peony
Ok, quick backstory, Sarah Bernhardt was named after the famous French actress who starred in some of the most popular French plays in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was called “the queen of the pose and the princess of the gesture.” So it only makes sense this variety was given the same name. Its gorgeous ruffled petals are dark in the center and fade to baby pink. Both deer and rabbit resistant, it’s hard to find any downsides to adding Sarah Bernhardt to your garden. #2 Sarah Bernhardt Peony - Growing zones 3-8, a classic gardener favorite, and gives off a pleasant floral fragrance.
Check it out here: www.naturehills.com/sarah-ber...
#1 Kansas Peony
This cultivar is another Gold Medal Winner from the American Peony Society loved for its deep pink-red blooms and extremely strong stems (phew say that 5 times fast). This variety opens up later in the spring but the show is worth the wait I promise. Once the blooms fade, simply deadhead and enjoy the gorgeous leaves the rest of the season. I’m entirely too biased to be commenting on this but there really is nothing better than a garden with a Kansas Peony in it. #1 Kansas Peony - growing zones 3-8, ruffled, fuchsia petals, and strong, sturdy stems.
Check it out here: www.naturehills.com/peony-kansas
And just like that, we’re through our top 5 list. As always, let me know down in the comments what you’re favorite peony is, especially if I didn’t mention it here. There are just too many GORGEOUS varieties. It would be impossible to list them all without taking all day!
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Until next time, happy planting!