Peony identification involves recognizing specific characteristics of these flowering plants. Accurate identification helps gardeners provide appropriate care, understand growth habits, and appreciate unique features. This knowledge also allows enthusiasts to delve into the rich history and distinct qualities of each cultivar, enhancing enjoyment of these admired blooms.
Key Visual Cues for Peony Identification
Observing the plant’s non-flower specific features provides early clues for identification. Peony leaves vary in shape, color, and texture. Herbaceous peonies often have thick, waxy leaves, typically divided into three leaflets, sometimes further subdivided. Tree peonies display softer, more flexible leaves that are a lighter green and can be divided into numerous leaflets.
Stem characteristics also offer distinguishing markers. Herbaceous peonies develop non-woody stems that emerge directly from the ground each spring and die back in the fall. Tree peonies feature woody stems that persist year-round, growing larger annually and developing new buds along their length. Overall plant size and growth habit provide further insights. Herbaceous peonies generally reach 2 to 4 feet in height, forming bushy mounds. Tree peonies grow as erect, coarsely branched shrubs, potentially reaching up to 6.5 feet tall and wide over time.
Identifying Peony Flower Forms
Peony flowers are classified into several distinct forms, primarily based on the arrangement and development of their petals and reproductive parts. The American Peony Society recognizes six main forms: Single, Japanese, Anemone, Semi-Double, Bomb, and Full Double. These classifications are widely used to describe commonly grown peonies.
Single form peonies resemble wild varieties, featuring a single or sometimes double row of five or more large outer petals, known as guard petals, surrounding a visible center of pollen-bearing stamens and functional carpels.
Japanese form peonies are characterized by transformed stamens, called staminodes, which are thickened and may contain pollen encased in tissue, giving the flower a distinctive feathery appearance in the center.
Anemone form peonies are similar to Japanese types, but their stamens have transformed further into narrow, petal-like structures called petalodes, lacking visible anthers and often appearing yellow.
Semi-Double peonies display multiple rows of broad petals intermixed with visible stamens, which remain a prominent feature. These forms can have a range of appearances, with petals decreasing in size towards the center.
Bomb form peonies are a type of double flower where the inner segments have developed into large, globe-like petals, often the same color as the guard petals, forming a dense, rounded bloom.
Full Double peonies have dense centers composed entirely of broad petals, with no visible stamens or carpels. These petals are essentially transformed stamens, creating a lush, voluminous flower.
Distinguishing Major Peony Types
Peonies are broadly categorized into three main types: Herbaceous, Tree, and Itoh (Intersectional) peonies, each with unique growth habits and characteristics.
Herbaceous peonies are perhaps the most common. They re-emerge from underground roots in the spring, forming bushy mounds typically 2 to 3 feet tall. Most herbaceous peonies bloom from late April through mid-June, depending on the cultivar and climate.
Tree peonies are woody shrubs that grow larger over time, often reaching heights of 4 to 7 feet. They generally bloom in mid to late spring, often slightly earlier than herbaceous varieties. Their flowers are typically very large, sometimes reaching 7 to 10 inches across. Their foliage remains attractive through summer and can develop bronze and purple hues in autumn.
Itoh, or Intersectional, peonies are hybrids resulting from a cross between herbaceous and tree peonies, combining desirable traits from both parents. They exhibit the mounded growth habit of herbaceous peonies while possessing the sturdy stems and large, often uniquely colored flowers of tree peonies. Itoh peonies typically bloom later in the season than herbaceous varieties, often extending the peony flowering period by several weeks. A single plant can produce many blooms over an extended three-week period. These hybrids generally grow to about 30 inches tall and are known for their strong stems that do not require staking.