Yellow peonies offer a vibrant, cheerful contrast to the more common pink, red, and white varieties. Their distinct charm brings a touch of sunshine and elegance to any garden.
Understanding Yellow Peony Types
Peonies are broadly categorized into three main types, each with yellow varieties available. Herbaceous peonies are classic garden perennials that die back to the ground each winter, re-emerging with new growth in the spring. Tree peonies, in contrast, are woody shrubs that maintain their stems above ground year-round, developing a more permanent structure. Intersectional, or Itoh, peonies are hybrids that combine characteristics of both herbaceous and tree peonies, offering sturdy stems and a mounded growth habit while typically dying back to the ground in colder climates.
Top Yellow Herbaceous Peony Varieties
Among herbaceous peonies, ‘Claire de Lune’ is a popular yellow variety. This early-season bloomer features creamy yellow to pale lemon-yellow petals surrounding golden stamens. Its single-flower form and sweet, citrusy fragrance make it an addition to the garden, typically reaching 24-30 inches (60-75 cm). The fine-textured, deeply cut dark green foliage provides an attractive backdrop for its early blooms.
Another herbaceous option is ‘Golden Frolic’. This single-flowered hybrid is known for its golden-green foliage that appears in spring. Though its blossoms are soft pink with raspberry flares, its golden foliage makes it a distinct choice, growing to about 30 inches (75 cm) tall.
Top Yellow Tree Peony Varieties
Tree peonies provide a more structural presence, and ‘High Noon’ is a popular yellow variety. This American hybrid produces semi-double, lemon-scented flowers that are bright yellow with striking red flares at their center. Its large blossoms, 6-10 inches across, appear in late spring and can rebloom later in the season. ‘High Noon’ matures into an upright, spreading specimen, reaching 4-5 feet tall and about 3 feet wide, with attractive foliage throughout the season.
‘Souvenir de Maxime Cornu’, also known as ‘Kinkaku’, is another yellow tree peony. This variety features large, fragrant, fully double flowers with dusky yellow petals often edged in carmine or deep pink. The color can intensify as the blooms mature, but its heavy flowers may tend to hang down. It forms a multi-stemmed shrub, growing to approximately 4.5 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
Top Yellow Itoh Peony Varieties
Itoh peonies offer robust plants with impressive blooms. ‘Bartzella’ is a highly regarded yellow Itoh peony. It produces large, golden yellow flowers, 6-8 inches wide, with a scarlet flush at their heart. These semi to fully double, scented blooms are borne on strong, upright stems that do not require staking. ‘Bartzella’ is prolific, with mature plants yielding over 60 blossoms, and grows to about 30-36 inches (75-90 cm) tall and up to 4 feet wide.
Another excellent yellow Itoh peony, ‘Garden Treasure’ produces large, golden yellow, semi-double flowers. These blooms often have subtle red highlights at the center and are held above the foliage on strong, erect stems. This variety is known for its extended bloom period of 2-4 weeks, as side buds open in sequence. ‘Garden Treasure’ can reach 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) in height and spread up to 5 feet, maintaining attractive dark green foliage throughout the season.
‘Prairie Charm’ is a compact Itoh peony with medium-sized, semi-double, buttery yellow flowers. These blooms are often flushed scarlet at their heart, encircling golden stamens. The flowers are fragrant and appear on strong, erect stems for 2-4 weeks. This variety forms a compact, spreading bush of glossy, dark green foliage, growing to about 28-36 inches (70-90 cm) tall and up to 4 feet wide.
Choosing Your Ideal Yellow Peony
Selecting the right yellow peony involves considering several factors to ensure it thrives in your garden. Peonies generally perform best in cooler climates, typically USDA zones 3 to 8 or 9, requiring a period of winter chill.
Consider these factors when choosing your peony:
Available space in your garden, as herbaceous varieties are smaller than tree peonies, and Itohs offer a mounded form.
Desired bloom time, as different varieties flower at slightly different points, allowing for an extended display if multiple types are chosen.
Specific shade of yellow you prefer, from creamy ivory to deep golden hues, and whether you desire a single, semi-double, or double flower form.
Your garden’s overall design and where the peony’s mature size and form will best complement existing plantings.