Peony Varieties with Different Bloom Times

By: Sherri Ribbey

Peonies put on such a beautiful show you hate to see it end! Keep the flowers coming by planting peony varieties with different bloom times.

Coral Charm and Candy Heart Peonies: ‘Coral Charm’ and ‘Candy Heart’ are two stunning peony varieties that bloom in midseason.

Prolong the peony show

Peonies flower just once in spring and some years it seems like those amazing blooms are gone in a flash. You can extend the show by growing peony varieties with different bloom times. You can find early, mid- and late-flowering peony varieties and get up to 6 weeks of color, depending on the weather. (Warmer weather speeds the process along.) The early bloomers come into flower about a month before the midseason bloomers. The bloom time of mid-season peonies can range from late April in southern gardens to early June in northern gardens. The late bloomers take over just as the mid-season bloomers finish up.

Peony cut flower tips

With all these flowers you'll have plenty to cut a few handfuls to enjoy those luscious blooms that are often fragrant. Look for just open blooms or buds with color, then use pruners to cut a long stem and place it in a bucket of water. Harvest in the morning when temperatures are cool and flowers are freshest. Once indoors, you can cut the stem back to fit the vase and remove any foliage that would sit below the water. This prevents the leaves from rotting and shortening the life of the bouquet. Did you know you can even save peony blooms for later? Check out our tip on how to enjoy peonies several weeks later!

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Growing-Peonies-Ants-on-peony-buds: Ants feed on the sugary nectar peony buds secrete. They'll be gone once the bloom opens.

Peony partnership

Wherever you have peonies, ants are sure to follow — at least for a little while. When you see ants hanging out on a peony bud, they’re not causing damage. These little guys in the photo above are feeding on a sugary nectar the bud secretes. Because it’s a food source, ants will chase away pest insects, such as the rose chafer, which does feed on peony buds. When the nectar runs out, the ants go away.

Peony varieties with different bloom times

You'll find some beautiful peonies in the gallery below to mix and match and create a gorgeous peony show that has maximum impact. The peony varieties are arranged from early, mid-, to late bloomers. If you can't find them at your local garden center check out these excellent retail source:

Peony sources

‘Wonderous Delight’ (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Early spring, fully double white blooms, the side stems are single to semidouble Light Full sun Size 30 in. tall, 42 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7

'Red Charm' (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Early spring, deep red double blooms with large outer petals and a fluffy middle, spicy sweet scent Light Full sun Size 30 to 36 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7

‘Walter Mains’ (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Midspring, red petals cupped around a fluffy red and yellow center Light Full sun Size 30 to 34 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7

‘Wonderous Portrait’ (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Midspring, single pink blooms with white accents and unusual white flares in the center Light Full sun Size 32 in. tall, 24 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7

‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Late spring, fully double fragrant pink blooms Light Full sun Size 2 to 4 ft. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8

‘Old Faithful’ (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Late spring, deep red double blooms on strong stems Light Full sun Size 34 to 36 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7

‘Buckeye Belle’ (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Early spring, deep red semidouble blooms with bright yellow stamens and a light fragrance Light Full sun Size 28 to 30 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7

‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’ (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Early spring, semidouble coral-pink fragrant blooms that age to apricot-pink Light Full sun Size 30 to 36 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7

‘Etched Salmon’ (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Midspring, salmon-pink lightly fragrant double blooms Light Full sun Size 24 to 30 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7

‘Minnie Shaylor’ (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Midpring, large semi-double fragrant white blooms are held close to the bush so they don’t flop Light Full sun Size 33 to 38 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7

‘Little Jeanne’ (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Late spring, pale pink outer petals with fluffy creamy yellow to white interior Light Full sun Size 24 in. tall, 32 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7

‘Candy Stripe’ (Paeonia hybrid)

Type Perennial Blooms Late spring, double white with red streaks and a mild fragrance Light Full sun Size 30 to 36 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7