common name:
Peony, Garden Peony, Chinese Peony
|
scientific name:
Paeonia
lactiflora
White peony (Paeonia lactiflora) flowering at the Kimmel Education and Research Center in May 2026 in Nebraska City, Nebraska.
Image Creadit:
Trey Lamkins, Graduate Research Assistant
Peonies (Paeonia spp.) are long-lived herbaceous perennials prized for their exceptionally large, showy flowers and lush green foliage. Most garden peonies commonly grown in landscapes derive from Paeonia lactiflora, a species native to Asia that has been cultivated for centuries. Blooming in late spring to early summer, peonies produce single, semi-double, or fully double flowers in shades of white, pink, red, and other colors depending on cultivar.
Charecteristics
Plant type:
Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness Zones:
3, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7, 8
Light Needs:
Full Sun
Water Needs:
Moist
Space Requirements:
3–6 feet
Height Requirements:
2–4 feet
Spread Requirements:
3–4 feet
Bloom Color:
White
Red
Pink
Yellow
Bloom Time:
Spring
Leaf Color:
Green
Companion Plant Tolerance:
Deer
Varieties