Peonies are popular garden flowers celebrated for their lush, colorful blooms. Many people wonder if their beauty is matched by a pleasing scent. The answer is complex, as the fragrance of peonies is highly variable. While some cultivars release a powerful, delightful perfume, others are virtually odorless or possess an aroma that some find less appealing. This wide range in scent depends entirely on the specific variety, governed by chemical and environmental factors.
The Spectrum of Peony Fragrance
The scent produced by a peony is a result of volatile organic compounds released from the petals, primarily terpenoids, benzenoids, and phenylpropanoids. The exact blend and concentration of these compounds determine the flower’s specific scent profile and intensity. For example, compounds like citronellol and geraniol often give a peony a strong, rose-like fragrance, while linalool is associated with a lily-like note.
Peony scents can be categorized into several distinct families. Many herbaceous peonies, particularly those derived from Paeonia lactiflora, exhibit a classic, sweet floral aroma often described as having hints of rose, honey, or lily. Other varieties may produce a fresher, citrus-like scent, while a few have spicy undertones reminiscent of clove or a powdery note.
The concentration of these volatile components varies greatly, meaning some peonies are intensely fragrant, while others require close proximity to detect a light, grassy, or musky aroma. Breeders have historically focused more on flower color and form than on fragrance, which explains why many modern hybrids possess little to no noticeable scent. The inherent scent profile is hardwired into the plant’s genetics, making the cultivar name the best predictor of its basic fragrance type.
Environmental Factors Affecting Scent Strength
While the cultivar determines the type of scent, external conditions heavily influence its perceived strength or intensity. Volatile organic compounds are easily evaporated, and their release is modulated by environmental factors. Temperature is a major factor, as warmer temperatures encourage faster vaporization of the scent molecules, making the fragrance more noticeable.
This means a peony’s fragrance is often strongest in the morning after the dew has evaporated, when the air is still and starting to warm up. High humidity can sometimes suppress the release of these compounds, while a slight breeze can carry the scent further, making it seem more potent. The maturity of the bloom also plays a role, with some flowers reaching their peak fragrance when fully open, while others may emit their strongest scent in the mid-bloom stage.
Choosing the Most Fragrant Cultivars
Selecting the right cultivar is the most important step for maximizing fragrance. Historically, many double-flowered pink and white varieties of the herbaceous Paeonia lactiflora are known for being the most reliably fragrant.
Specific, highly fragrant examples include:
- ‘Sarah Bernhardt,’ celebrated for its classic, sweet floral scent with rose and honey notes.
- The white-flowered ‘Festiva Maxima,’ which offers a clean, fresh scent with a subtle spicy undertone.
- The deep pink ‘Monsieur Jules Elie,’ revered for its strong, sweet fragrance.
- The white ‘Duchesse de Nemours,’ known for its delicate, lily-of-the-valley aroma.
Intersectional peonies, also known as Itoh hybrids, can offer good fragrance, with varieties like ‘Bartzella’ noted for a pleasant, light lemony scent. When searching for a strongly scented peony, it is safer to choose a well-known, historically fragrant Paeonia lactiflora cultivar. Not all newer hybrids were bred with scent as a primary focus.