Peonies: Elegant, Fragrant Blooms for Every Garden

How to Style Your Yard with Peonies

Few flowers rival the timeless elegance and lush beauty of peonies. With their ruffled petals, sweet fragrance, and stunning variety of colors, peonies have earned their place as a garden favorite for generations. Whether you're looking to elevate your borders, create a charming cut-flower garden, or simply add a touch of romance to your landscape, these perennial showstoppers are a must-have.

From tree peonies to intersectional hybrids, ShrubHub offers a curated collection of premium peony plants perfect for every garden style. Not sure how to choose or care for your peonies? We’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll break down the best varieties, growing tips, and design ideas to help you get the most out of your blooms.

Why Gardeners Love Peonies

Peonies are a staple in gardens around the world—and for good reason. These lush perennials return year after year with larger and more abundant blooms, requiring surprisingly little maintenance once established. With the right spot and a bit of patience, they’ll reward you with decades of stunning floral displays.

Their luxurious, full-petaled flowers bring undeniable visual appeal to any landscape. From soft blush tones to bold corals and vibrant magentas, peonies offer a rich palette that enhances both classic and modern garden styles. And the fragrance? Utterly intoxicating. Many varieties fill the air with a sweet, fresh scent that rivals even the most expensive perfumes.

Beyond their beauty, peonies are also pollinator-friendly, attracting bees and other beneficial insects to your garden. Their blooms last long in vases too, making them a top choice for cut flower arrangements. Whether planted in beds, borders, or containers, peonies bring charm, elegance, and lasting joy to any outdoor space.

Show-Stopping Peony Varieties

Peonies aren’t just one-size-fits-all. From vibrant corals to soft pastels and deep jewel tones, each variety brings its own personality to the garden.

Coral Charm Peony

The Coral Charm Peony is a breathtaking perennial known for its vibrant, color-shifting blooms. Its large, semi-double flowers open in a rich coral-pink hue and gradually fade to a soft peachy blush, creating a dynamic display throughout the bloom period. Supported by strong, upright stems and lush green foliage, this early-blooming peony adds elegance and energy to garden borders and cut flower arrangements alike. Easy to grow and deer-resistant, Coral Charm brings bold beauty and long-lasting charm to any sunny landscape.

Kansas Peony

The Kansas Peony is a classic garden favorite, admired for its striking, fully double blooms in a rich, vibrant shade of deep pink to crimson. Blooming in late spring to early summer, this herbaceous perennial stands out with its large, rose-like flowers and sturdy stems that hold up well in the landscape and as cut flowers. Its bold color and lush green foliage make it a standout addition to borders and perennial beds. Hardy and low-maintenance, the Kansas Peony adds timeless elegance and reliable beauty to any sunny garden.

Sarah Bernhardt Peony

The Sarah Bernhardt Peony is a beloved heirloom variety, treasured for its large, fragrant, and exquisitely layered double blooms in soft shell pink. Blooming in late spring to early summer, these romantic flowers often feature subtle hints of cream or raspberry along the petal edges, adding depth and charm. Its lush, dark green foliage and strong stems make it ideal for garden borders and stunning floral arrangements. Easy to grow and long-lived, the Sarah Bernhardt Peony brings timeless beauty, elegance, and a touch of old-world charm to any landscape.

Scarlet Haven Itoh Peony

The Scarlet Heaven Itoh Peony is a striking hybrid variety that combines the best traits of tree and herbaceous peonies. Its bold, single to semi-double blooms feature rich, scarlet-red petals surrounding vibrant golden-yellow centers, creating a dramatic contrast that draws the eye. Blooming in late spring to early summer, this Itoh peony is supported by sturdy, upright stems and lush, deeply lobed foliage that remains attractive throughout the growing season. With its vibrant color, strong stems, and long-lasting blooms, Scarlet Heaven adds a touch of fiery elegance to any garden.

Shirley Temple Peony

The Shirley Temple Peony is a charming and graceful perennial, named after the iconic child star, and known for its large, double blooms that open in soft blush pink before fading to a creamy white. Blooming in late spring to early summer, these fragrant, ruffled flowers sit atop sturdy stems and are surrounded by rich green foliage, making them as elegant in the garden as they are in bouquets. With a romantic, vintage appeal and reliable performance, the Shirley Temple Peony adds a touch of classic beauty and sweet fragrance to any sunny landscape.

Raspberry Charm Peony

The Raspberry Charm Peony is a vibrant and eye-catching variety, known for its bold, semi-double blooms in rich raspberry-red tones. Blooming in late spring, its large flowers feature a golden-yellow center that contrasts beautifully with the vivid petals, creating a striking display in any garden. Supported by strong stems and lush green foliage, this peony is ideal for borders, garden beds, and cut flower arrangements. Hardy, easy to grow, and deer-resistant, the Raspberry Charm Peony brings a pop of color and a cheerful elegance to sunny outdoor spaces.

How to Grow Peonies Like a Pro

Peonies might look like high-maintenance divas, but they’re surprisingly down-to-earth once they’re established. With a little prep and the right conditions, these perennial charmers can flourish for decades—blooming bigger and better every season.

Planting Season & Sunlight Requirements

The best time to plant peonies is in early fall or spring, when soil temperatures are moderate and root development can begin without the stress of extreme heat. Peonies love sunlight—ideally 6–8 hours of direct sun per day. While they’ll tolerate light afternoon shade, full sun exposure ensures the most abundant blooms.

Soil Prep & Watering

Peonies prefer well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter. If your soil is heavy or clay-based, amend it with compost and a bit of sand to improve drainage.
When watering, consistency is key—especially during their first year and blooming season. Deep, infrequent watering is better than frequent, shallow sprinkles. Just don’t overdo it: soggy soil can lead to root rot.

Supporting Heavy Blooms

Those lush, oversized blooms can get top-heavy—especially after a rain. Support them with peony rings, cages, or discreet staking early in the season to avoid flopping. The trick is to install supports before the plant gets too tall, so it grows up and around the frame naturally.

Dividing & Propagating Peonies

Once mature (usually after 4–5 years), peonies can be divided to rejuvenate growth or share the love with other parts of your garden. Do this in early fall, when the plant is dormant. Simply dig up the root clump, divide it into sections with at least 3–5 eyes each, and replant in well-prepped soil. It may take a year or two to rebloom—but it’s well worth the wait.

Styling with Peonies: Landscape & Design Tips

Peonies are showstoppers, and they deserve to be treated as such in your garden design. Whether you're crafting a romantic cottage garden or planning out crisp borders, these blooms add a luxurious flair that never goes out of style.

Perfect for Cottage Gardens, Borders & Focal Points
Peonies are a natural fit in cottage gardens thanks to their soft, billowy appearance and nostalgic charm. Plant them in clusters for bold impact, or use them as focal points in layered perennial beds. Their upright growth and dense foliage also make them ideal as border anchors or even low privacy hedges.

Pairing Ideas for Visual Harmony
Peonies play well with others—especially shade-lovers like hostas or airy companions like salvia and lavender. For a high-contrast look, mix deep red peonies like the Kansas Peony with silver-leaved plants or ornamental grasses. Looking for a dreamy pastel palette? Try pairing the Cora Louise Itoh Peony with soft blue catmint or lamb’s ear.

Great for Cutting Gardens & Floral Arrangements
If you’re building a cutting garden, peonies are a must-have. Their large blooms, long stems, and rich fragrance make them perfect for indoor arrangements. For longer-lasting displays, harvest in the “marshmallow bud” stage and let them open fully in a vase.

ShrubHub Services for the Perfect Garden

Dreaming of a garden overflowing with peonies, pollinators, and professionally designed beauty? ShrubHub makes it all possible with our full-service approach to landscaping—tailored for homeowners who want results without the overwhelm.

Here’s what we offer:

• 3D Custom Designs featuring peonies and hundreds of complementary plants

• A curated shopping list of premium plants, shrubs, and trees, hand-selected for your space

• Shipping directly to your doorstep for stress-free delivery

• Free phone consultations with landscape designers

• Access to reliable local contractors for installation and finishing touches

• 24/7 customer support to keep your project running smoothly

ShrubHub simplifies the landscaping process while helping you craft a yard that reflects your style—lush, inviting, and ready to bloom.

Conclusion

Peonies bring timeless elegance, vibrant color, and effortless charm to any garden. With just a little care, these perennials reward you year after year with show-stopping blooms and head-turning fragrance.

Ready to elevate your outdoor space? Explore ShrubHub’s premium collection of peonies and more to start planting beauty today.

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