10 Best Types of Peony Plants for Their Blooms

Peonies are among the most popular flowering shrubs, which are praised for their opulent and impressive flowers and rather nice smell. For this reason, they come in so many different colors and forms and varieties to choose from and they should adorn the gardens of those who love beauty and grace. This piece explores the ten best types of peony plants; their attributes, the climate they thrive in, and their flowers’ attributes.
Types of Peony Plants for Their Blooms
Sarah Bernhardt
Overview
There is an even older type of peony plants called the Sarah Bernhardt that has been with us for more than a century. It has fully double flowers in a luminous, tender pink with involuted margins.
Features
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Fragrance: Sweet and slightly spicy
- Growth Habit: Can grow to 36 inches in height
- Color: Pale or pastel pink with the occasional shades of red or white Circular Progress
Growing Tips
Despite its opposite nature, Sarah Bernhardt grows well in open and in full direct sunlight, with good drainage, rich and fertile soil. It is recommended to pinch off the flower after it withers as this stimulates plant growth, and give adequate support as the flowers are somewhat heavy.
Coral Charm

Overview
Coral Charm is a semi-double herbaceous peony plants that produces coral-pink flowers which have a hue of peach at the end of the bloom. This distinctive type of banana is well known for that special coloring, and was recently awarded.
Features
- Bloom Time: Mid to late spring
- Fragrance: Mild
- Growth Habit: Up to 36 inches tall
- Color: From a coral-pink to peach.
Growing Tips
Plant Coral Charm in a sunny position with a soil that is moist, but not waterlogged. Do not water too much as these flowers tolerate average watering only. The plant must be staked to bear the heavy flowers or buds.
Festiva Maxima
Overview
It has been with the commercial growers of heritage seeds gardens since the middle part of the 1800s. Another wonderful plant present in Festiva Maxima is described by an immensely big double pure white floret with red rim.
Features
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Fragrance: Strong and sweet
- Growth Habit: Grows up to 36 inches tall
- Color: White with red flecks
Growing Tips
The peony plants has a liking for full sunlight but should not be exposed to a lot of shade. Proper aeration around the plant so that diseases such as fungal are kept under check. It is suggested to apply mulch around the base in order to help the tree retain moisture of the soil.
Bartell
Overview
Bartell is considered as an intersectional (Itoh) peony plants that has the characteristic qualities of both herbaceous and tree peonies. Its flower size is medium with bright yellow, semi-double flowers with red streaks at the throat.
Features
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Fragrance: Light citrus scent
- Growth Habit: Grows to a height of 30 to 36 inches on the average.
- Color: Bright yellow color with red stripes
Growing Tips
To grow Bartell, plant this vine in a soil type that receives a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight. Add compost in the soil to make it richer in nutrients and cut down the foliage in late autumn.
Karl Rosenfield
Overview
This classic peony variety is prized for their velvety, deep crimson, double blooms. Karl Rosenfield is an audacious name that will bring stark contrast of bright color in any neighborhood.
Features
- Bloom Time: Late spring
- Fragrance: Mild
- Growth Habit: Grows up to 36 inches in height.
- Color: Dark red
Growing Tips
This pear variety does well where there are good sun and soil drainage conditions that should be provided in any region. Water well but should not be watered. Deadheading was done in order to force further flowering in other plant parts.
Shirley Temple
Overview
These peony plants are christened, in reference to child star Shirley Temple; its flowers are lovely shades of pink that gradually fade to white. With soft feelings of elegance this flower is ideal for weddings or for use in bridal bouquets.
Features
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Fragrance: Light and pleasant
- Growth Habit: Grows up to 36 inches tall
- Color: Varying shades of pearl; from a pale pink to white
Growing Tips
It is named after Shirley Temple; the plant needs full sunlight and grows well in soil with good drainage. This plant should be augmented with organic matter to feed it and then staked to support the flowers.
Duchesse de Nemours

Overview
One of the classics, Duchesse de Nemours is a gorgeous white peony plants with a creamy yellow cup and a very nice, rich fragrance. It has unsullied flowers ideal to be grown in the formal garden and for purposes such as flower arrangements.
Features
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Fragrance: Strong and sweet
- Growth Habit: It is usually measured to be between 32 and 36 inches high.
- Color: Pure white
Growing Tips
Grow in full sun or semi-shade in an excellent, well drained fertile soil. Dead flowers must be clipped off and the plant should be put in a well ventilated area for it to survive.
Red Charm
Overview
Red Charm is an herbaceous peony plants which features large, rich, deep red and fully double blossoms. It has large, velvety flowers that give it stature and it is sure to be a focal point no matter where it is grown.
Features
- Bloom Time: Mid-spring
- Fragrance: Mild
- Growth Habit: Grows up to 34 inches tall
- Color: Deep red
Growing Tips
Red Charm grows optimally in hardiness zones 9-11 and needs full sunlight with a well-drained ground. Keep the soil moist surrounding the base with a mulch and water the plant once or twice a week for bountiful flowers.
Bowl of Beauty
Overview
This is a type peony plants that produces flowers in the Japanese style where the two-toned shades of pink petals sit on a creamy hue in the middle of the flower. Bowl of Beauty is an attractive proposition for planting in borders in the garden.
Features
- Bloom Time: Mid to late spring
- Fragrance: Light
- Growth Habit: ranges between 30–36 inches in height
- Color: Pink and yellow
Growing Tips
To grow Bowl of Beauty, plant them in a region experiencing full sunlight and in soil with high nutrient content. Tie the plant to encourage the support of the flowers, and trim the wilted blooms after flowering so as to encourage healthy growth.
Itoh Cora Louise
Overview
The Itoh Cora Louise is a peony of the hybrid type with large semi-double flowers that are lavender pink on the outside and have a deep maroon eye. This cultivar is herbaceous peony crossed with tree peonies and has the most desirable features from both of these types of peonies.
Features
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Fragrance: Mild
Growth Habit: Grows up to 30 inches tall
Color: The flower derives its color which is lavender pink with a maroon center.
Growing Tips
Cora Louise prefers well drained soil and it grows optimally in a location that has full to partial sun. Do not over-water the plant, dead-head to stimulate flowering in the subsequent year.
Conclusion
Peony plants are definitely a popular plant for gardeners and flower lovers of all kinds due to the numerous colors, forms and scents that its members – peonies – can boast of. Regardless of whether you like delicate coloring resembling the skin of Sarah Bernhardt or bright and rich red similar to Red Charm, you will find a peony plants for any garden. If well taken care of and tended these beautiful flowers will not only provide joy to your garden but will last for years.