10 best varieties of peonies

Peonies are flowers that are especially popular with gardeners. These unique plants are distinguished by their beauty, vibrant color and incredible aroma. In addition, they are perennial and require a one-time planting. There are about 34 species of peonies and more than 5,000 different varieties in the world (you can find photos of most of them on the Internet). In China, these flowers are considered imperial, in Japan - a symbol of prosperity. Peonies are common in many countries around the world. When choosing a variety, be sure to consider its origin. If the seeds are brought from abroad, then in Russia it will be extremely difficult to grow them due to the strong difference in climatic conditions and soil. Therefore, modern breeders develop varieties that will perfectly adapt on the territory of our country. There are many different factors to consider when choosing peonies:

• Variety. There are three of them: herbaceous, tree-like and ITO-hybrids. The first type is unpretentious to care for, requires hilling before cold weather, and grows quickly. The second can grow up to 100 years in one place without transplantation, in winter it sheds its leaves, it does not need to be cut off, but the first 5 years, growth is observed very slowly. Ito-peonies are artificially bred flowers that combine the best properties of the first two types, but are much more expensive in cost.
• Place of cultivation. Considering how large the territory Russia occupies, it is not difficult to guess that, depending on the region, specific varieties of peonies should be chosen. On sale you can find peonies for the Central strip, Moscow region, Siberia, etc. But many varieties are resistant to any weather conditions.
• Appearance. Of course, all peonies are beautiful in their own way, but every gardener can choose a variety to his liking. Someone likes to grow bright red flowers, someone likes delicate pink ones. The varieties differ not only in color, but also in the shape of the bud, the height of the bush. Photos and descriptions of each of them are on the packaging of the planting material (the flowering period is also indicated there, etc.).

We have selected the best varieties of herbaceous, tree-like and ITO-peonies. When compiling the rating, the following characteristics were taken into account:

• whimsical care;
• appearance;
• aroma;
• flowering period;
• landing conditions.

The best herbaceous varieties of peonies

Herbaceous peonies belong to the shrub type, they are the most numerous group. There are more than 4500 varieties in total. Their main difference is unpretentiousness when growing. It is worth planting such a peony only once and it will delight the eye every year for a long time, without needing a transplant. In addition, this species requires very rare but abundant watering. The flowers are usually large in diameter and smell luxurious. The bushes look great both in flower beds and separately. Below are the best varieties of herbaceous peonies with descriptions and photos.

5 Raspberry Sunday

Raspberry Sunday makes you fall in love at first sight. The multifaceted shade of pink in the middle gradually turns into cream with yellowish accents at the edges of the bud. It blooms early for several weeks. An equally important distinctive feature of the variety is its aroma reminiscent of the smell of roses. Peony flowers are larger than average in size (18 cm). Raspberry Sunday is a real decoration for any garden. It is also often used in bouquet arrangements.

The peony bush is compact with bright, beautifully shaped leaves and strong stems. Its maximum height is 1 meter. It grows in one place for many years, not whimsical to care for. For landing, you should choose a well-lit place, because the variety loves the sun's rays. The buds should not be higher than 3 cm above the surface. The main advantages: an unusual color combination, attractive appearance, not capricious in care, tolerates sub-zero temperatures well, good reviews from gardeners.

4 Miss America

Rich yellow stamens and snow-white petals - such an incredible combination is presented in the inflorescences of the Miss America variety. The bud diameter can reach as much as 25 cm! Huge white flowers on a lush bush with bright green foliage will please every gardener. Miss America will perfectly complement any landscape design. Unlike most herbaceous peonies, this variety is quite capricious when planting and caring. It should be planted away from buildings and groundwater. Most often grown for cutting, because retains a presentable appearance for a long time and fills the room with a very pleasant smell.

Flowering is average in duration, observed from May to June. An important feature is that during cold weather it does not need shelter and calmly tolerates them. The peony has strong stems and a developed root system. It also grows rapidly. The bushes are quite compact in size. It occurs naturally in Siberia, Transbaikalia, etc. Main advantages: suitable for cutting, large diameter of flowers, very beautiful appearance of the bush and buds, developed root system, strong stems.

3 Duchesse de Nemours

"Duchesse de Nemours" belongs to the classic varieties of peonies and is one of the most common among them. The snow-white shade of the buds with a green tint at the beginning of flowering gradually changes to pearl towards the end. Most often, this type is used when decorating the territory. Its scent fills the entire area and resembles the delicate scent of lily of the valley. It is also very useful for cutting because keeps "fresh" for 10 days. The bush reaches one meter in height and has very lush spreading foliage.

"Duchess de Nemours" blooms for only 20 days, but at this time the garden is noticeably transformed. Terry buds reach a diameter of 16 cm. A distinctive feature of the variety is shade and frost resistance. It tolerates cold well and is adapted to a wide variety of climates, ideal for growing in the Moscow region. An important point when planting is that the kidneys should be at surface level. The better and more often you take care of the peony, the more beautiful and magnificent it will bloom. Main advantages: excellent winter hardiness, beautiful snow-white bud, very lush foliage, delicate pleasant aroma.

2 Shirley Temple

Another popular cultivar with beautiful flowers, Shirley Temple, is named after the lowest American Oscar-winning actress. He himself is distinguished by spherical buds of a pale pink color. Another feature of this variety is the color change of flowers as it blooms (by the end of the season, they turn white). The maximum height of the bush is 90 cm, and the diameter of the flowers reaches 20 cm. It is distinguished by lush bright foliage. Care is very simple, the plant is not whimsical enough.

Planting lasts from August to October. Shirl Temple blooms from May to June and pleases the eye until autumn. When planting, it is necessary to fulfill a number of conditions: place the seedlings close to the surface and treat the soil with fertilizers. Before cold weather, you should cut off the stems and cover the plant with peat or compost. In one place the bush grows for a very long time, takes root in different climatic conditions. Advantages: beautiful appearance, large buds, long flowering period, easy care and growing.

1 Sarah Bernhardt

Sarah Bernhardt is one of the most widespread varieties and a true legend among decorative crops. Bred by breeders in the 19th century, it is still highly sought after. It features huge buds (20 cm in diameter) and a wide variety of tones. Another advantage is that the flowers exude a rich aroma. Unlike many other varieties, "Sarah Bernhardt" also has beautiful foliage - each leaf is framed with a silver border. The color of the buds is very beautiful - raspberry pink. The bushes themselves are quite tall and strong.

The flowering period begins in the second half of June. When growing, no support is required, because the stems never tilt to the ground under the weight of the buds.When planting, which is usually carried out in spring, the plant requires a large pit due to the developed root system, and the buds must be located at a distance of 3-5 cm from the surface. At the end of the season, the peony is cut and left to winter. By the way, the variety tolerates Russian cold weather perfectly. Blooms in one place from 30 to 50 years. Advantages: legendary variety, easy to care for, fast growth, well adapted to the Russian climate, beautiful buds.

The best tree varieties of peonies

Tree peonies are distinguished by weighty branches up to 2 meters high. Unlike herbaceous species, this species does not need to be cut off before wintering - the plants themselves will shed their foliage. But they also have a minus - rather slow growth. The tree-like peony has a hard, tree-like stem. Another important feature is the flower diameter. Here it reaches as much as 30 cm. Often the buds are painted in several shades at the same time. Huge beautiful inflorescences of bright flowers perfectly decorate the garden and vegetable garden. There are about 500 varieties of tree peonies in total. The rating includes the best of them. Below you can find a description and a photo of each variety.

3 Green Jade

The unique Green Jade variety differs from most others. It has large inflorescences of a pale green hue and powerful woody stems. Peony foliage consists of oval soft leaves with a shiny sheen. They grow in height up to 1.5 meters. The bud is different in shape - inside the petals are very tight to each other. Another feature is rapid growth. The variety itself is quite rare, but very popular. Of course, its main feature is the incredible beauty of the flowers. Flowering occurs in May-June for an average of 2 weeks.

Requires cultivation in an area protected from the winds and with direct exposure to rays. The ideal climate for this variety is hot summers and cold winters (for example, Moscow region). In the first years after planting, it requires shelter for the winter. Often used in landscaping sites. Main advantages: beautiful buds, excellent decorative effect, resistance to negative factors, unusual color.

2 Coral Altar

Peony "Coral Altar" is a very popular variety. Its appearance is liked by most gardeners. It grows to a height of 150 cm, has unusually shaped petals and thick stems. Inflorescences perfectly combine shades from coral to white. In general, they look pale pink. The diameter of the buds reaches 20 cm. During flowering, the peony pleases not only with beautiful flowers, but also with a pleasant sweetish aroma. The buds are crown-shaped. Does not require shelter before wintering.

The variety is very resistant to diseases and pests. It is not very picky about the soil, but it grows better on fertile lands. With constant exposure to sunlight, the plant will decorate the garden with a large number of luxurious buds. Landscape designers and summer residents often use the variety for group or single plantings. It is very popular in China. Main advantages: resistant to diseases, delicate coral color, beautiful shape, high popularity, good reviews.

1 The Qiao Sisters

"Sisters Kiao" - an amazing variety of peonies, combining two colors of the bud at once. As a rule, one half is purple-red and the other is cream-white. The diameter of the flower is 16 cm. The peony has an average height of 130 cm. Gardeners plant the Kiao Sisters as separate bushes or inside compositions. Judging by the reviews of gardeners, the variety is very resistant to various diseases.

Flowering usually occurs in June. The variety can grow in a wide variety of soils (Siberia, Moscow region), etc., but it will bloom better in sunny areas and alkaline, fertile soil. The Qiao Sisters are the perfect decoration for any garden. They are not whimsical to care for, they are resistant to different climates. The advantages include beautiful two-color buds, ease of care, resistance to disease and cold, a lot of great reviews.

The best varieties of ITO-peonies

Many gardeners prefer this particular type of peonies. Ito hybrids are considered to be something between herbaceous and tree-like. They were bred by selection and incorporate the best qualities of each species. Before wintering, the aboveground part of such plants dies off, and grows back with the arrival of heat. The growth of the bush can reach 100 cm. The buds are large enough. Depending on the variety, ITO hybrids also differ in appearance. Such peonies are not whimsical to care for, do not require increased attention, but at the same time they decorate the territory. Below are the best ITO peonies with descriptions and photos.

2 Barthzella

"Bartzella" is an amazing variety of hybrid peonies with huge bright flowers. He is the winner of many prestigious competitions and is quite popular. The diameter of each bud is 25 cm. The intense yellow color at the core gives way to a delicate cream at the edges. This combination looks advantageous against the background of rich green foliage. Some flowers have bright red streaks on individual petals, which makes their appearance even more beautiful. The aroma here is also unusual - instead of the usual floral scent during the flowering of "Bartzella" you can hear citrus notes.

Peony blooms at the end of June and lasts a whole month. Often the variety is used for cutting, in this form they are many times more expensive than the classic ones. The maximum height of the bushes is 100 cm. Without any shelter, they can survive the cold winter (for example, in the Moscow region and other regions of Russia). Advantages: long flowering period, unusual smell, bright shade, large buds, frost resistance.

1 Pastel Splendor

ITO-hybrid "Pastel Splendor" outwardly looks very aesthetically pleasing and neat. The bush does not exceed 70 cm in height, has a compact size and thick stems. The bright green foliage goes well with the delicate color of the flowers. They have white, cream and pink petals. The core is usually bright yellow, which gives a special "zest". During flowering, it fills the area with a light pleasant aroma. Another important feature is that one bush can form and sustain about 70 buds. The diameter of each is 17 cm.

After planting, the peony grows in one place for about 10 years. Created not only for growing in the garden, but also for complementing flower and bouquet compositions. Looks equally beautiful there and there. Flowering time falls in May-July. Intense growth requires a sunny area and regular watering after. Main advantages: a large number of buds on one bush, fast growth, compact size, powerful stems. Disadvantages: high cost.