Red peonies offer a vibrant presence in any garden, adding vibrant color. Their striking hues, ranging from deep crimson to fiery scarlet, make them a popular choice for bold visual interest. These resilient plants provide stunning blooms and attractive foliage throughout the growing season.
Understanding Peony Types
Peonies are categorized into three main types: herbaceous, tree, and intersectional (Itoh), each with distinct growth habits. Herbaceous peonies, the most common, die back to the ground each fall and re-emerge in spring. They are known for lush, bushy growth, typically reaching 2 to 3 feet tall and wide.
Tree peonies are woody shrubs that retain stems year-round, growing 4 to 7 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. Intersectional, or Itoh, peonies are a hybrid cross between herbaceous and tree peonies, combining desirable traits from both. They feature large, striking blooms on herbaceous plants that die back in winter, typically growing 1 to 3 feet tall and wide.
Popular Red Herbaceous Peony Varieties
Many red herbaceous peony varieties offer striking colors and forms. ‘Karl Rosenfield’ is a well-known choice, producing large, rose-shaped, vibrant cherry-red double blossoms up to 6 inches wide in late spring to early summer. This late mid-season peony reaches 24 to 36 inches tall and is noted for reliability and vigorous growth.
Another popular option is ‘Red Charm,’ celebrated for deep ruby or burgundy, bomb-shaped double flowers that are among the earliest to bloom. ‘Red Charm’ grows 2 to 3 feet tall with a moderate spread, often requiring support due to heavy blooms.
‘Henry Bockstoce’ is a spectacular hybrid known for enormous, double, rich cardinal-red flowers up to 8 inches wide with a light, sweet fragrance. Its strong stems usually do not require staking, making it an excellent cut flower.
‘America’ stands out with brilliant, scarlet-red single flowers, exhibiting a mild fragrance and sturdy, self-supporting stems. This vigorous early-season bloomer reaches 30 to 36 inches tall and is a recipient of the American Peony Society Golden Medal.
‘Lady in Red’ is another magnificent option, featuring large, tissue-paper-thin petals in a lovely red shade, blooming in late spring. This variety grows 28 to 32 inches tall and 20 to 22 inches wide, with strong stems that often negate staking.
Stunning Red Tree Peony Varieties
Red tree peonies provide a dramatic focal point with woody stems and large, often fragrant, blooms. ‘Dark Red Tree Peony’ (Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Dark Red’) produces impressive semi-double to fully double blooms up to 8 inches wide. These flowers feature rich, crimson-red petals with contrasting golden-yellow centers and a light fragrance. Upright, woody stems provide year-round structure, and the plant reaches 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide.
‘Taiyo’ is another notable red tree peony, featuring large, semi-double flowers with bright, royal ruby-red petals that sometimes curl. This vigorous plant produces showy blooms, typically 6 to 10 inches across, on woody stems.
‘Luoyang Red’ (Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Luoyang Hong’) is a highly sought-after variety with large, mildly fragrant, semi-double magenta flowers and contrasting yellow center stamens. It grows 4 to 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, producing up to 50 blossoms in early summer. These woody-stemmed shrubs are long-lived, thriving for 50 to 100 years or more once established.
Unique Red Intersectional Peony Varieties
Intersectional, or Itoh, peonies offer strong stems that typically do not require staking and a prolonged bloom period. ‘Scarlet Heaven’ is a standout red Itoh peony, featuring huge, single scarlet-red blooms exceeding 7 inches wide. These flowers have bold golden-yellow anthers, providing striking contrast to the velvety petals. ‘Scarlet Heaven’ forms a dense, rounded plant, typically 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, producing over 50 blooms over an extended six-week period from late spring into early summer.
Another unique red Itoh variety is ‘Hillary,’ which presents creamy red flowers that soften to a blend of red and cream, eventually finishing in a velvety vanilla. This variety features loose, double 6-inch flowers and is recognized for excellence as a landscape plant.
Choosing Your Red Peony
Selecting the ideal red peony involves considering several factors for success and enjoyment.
Peonies generally thrive in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for abundant blooms and sturdy stems. In hotter climates, some varieties, especially tree peonies, benefit from partial afternoon shade to prevent flower fading and scorching.
Understanding bloom time is also helpful, as varieties are classified as early, mid-season, or late bloomers, allowing for a staggered display that extends the peony season for several weeks. Consider the mature size, as herbaceous varieties typically reach 2 to 3 feet, while tree peonies can grow up to 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide. This ensures adequate space for development without overcrowding. Fragrance is another appealing trait, with some red peonies offering sweet, rosy, or spicy undertones.