15 Best Peony Varieties for Cut Flowers

Peonies are magical. When I was young, I knew I wanted to have them in my wedding bouquet (I didn’t). As an adult I long to cultivate them in my garden (I can’t). But that doesn’t mean I can’t buy them as cut flowers (I do) and gaze longingly at the incredible varieties available to see online (I do). 

If you are one of the lucky gardeners in zones 3-8, you can grow these floral masterpieces. They love plenty of sunlight and fertile, well-drained soil. While they aren’t the most low-maintenance of plants, the payoff is big, bold, and always impressive. 

Few blooms have the attention-getting power of these pretty perennials. The way they morph from a marshmallow into the flashiest flower in the bouquet makes the work of growing them worthwhile. So, let’s look at some of the most beautiful peony varieties that make excellent cut flowers. 

‘Duchesse de Nemours’

	common name ‘Duchesse de Nemours’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Duchesse de Nemours’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 3-8

This creamy white confection of a flower is an enduring favorite, with over 150 years in cultivation. The five-inch blooms have a soft, warm glow from within the densely ruffled and petaled interior. This peony is a reliable variety that produces a great number of cut flowers with strong stems and a long vase life of up to 10 days.

‘Duchesse de Nemours’ is a winner of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural society. On top of their stunning appearance, they also have a wonderful fragrance. These are perfect for a focal point in bridal bouquets.

‘Sarah Bernhardt’

	common name ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Named for the famous French actress, ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ certainly is dramatic. Perfectly pink and heavily petaled, this frilly peony variety has seven to eight-inch flowers. She is another winner of the Award of Garden Merit from the RHS, and she’s certainly earned it. 

Luxurious is the word for this cultivar. With its massive blossoms and its wonderful fragrance, it’s highly desirable in floristry and looks every bit the star of any floral arrangement. The pink flowers have paler edges and sometimes have raspberry-colored flecks in the interior. 

‘Bridal Gown’

	common name ‘Bridal Gown’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Bridal Gown’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2′-3′
	hardiness zones 3-7

The ‘Bridal Gown’ variety was bred specifically to be a wedding peony for cut flower bouquets of all kinds. It has a circle of broad, white petals around the outside and a mass of pale, cream-colored ruffles in the center. They are romantic, pure, and delightfully fragrant. They are wonderfully large and fluffy.

This cultivar has long, strong stems and a golden glow from within. It is a mid-season bloomer and has a decent vase life. Always cut your buds in the marshmallow stage while they are completely closed, but give slightly when you squeeze them. Be gentle, though; don’t pinch too hard. 

‘Chiffon Parfait’

	common name ‘Chiffon Parfait’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Chiffon Parfait’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 34”-36”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Think of the most beautiful, large, extra ruffled, pink peony, and you have ‘Chiffon Parfait.’ These massive, eight-inch flowers are some of the most spectacular I’ve ever seen. They are fully double-petaled with all the ruffles and layers you could possibly ask for. 

‘Chiffon Parfait’ has lone, strong stems and stands up well in the garden and in a vase. It blooms in the early to mid-season time frame and has a wonderful fragrance. This is another cultivar that is popular for weddings. 

‘Blushing Princess’

	common name ‘Blushing Princess’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Blushing Princess’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 32”
	hardiness zones 3-7

‘Blushing Princess’ likes cool weather and grows best in zones 3-7. They need a little extra chill time to produce their six to seven-inch flowers. They are pale, blush colors and semi-double petaled, so when they open completely, their cluster of golden stamens is fully visible.

This is an early variety with strong, upright stems perfect for cutting. It’s known to be reliably productive and highly sought after. The blossoms are fragrant and fade as they age to a soft ivory shade.

‘Etched Salmon’

	common name ‘Etched Salmon’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Etched Salmon’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 34”-36”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Holding a Gold Medal from the American Peony Society is no small thing, and ‘Etched Salmon’ won that honor in 2002. They also hold an award of Landscape Merit from 2012. ‘Etched Salmon’ has large, double rose form, cupped blooms, and strong stems. 

The coral-pink color of this variety is as close to bubble gum as you can get. The plants are lush and full, growing to about three feet tall. Their fragrance is described as somewhat minty. 

‘Henry Bockstoce’

	common name ‘Henry Bockstoce’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Henry Bockstoce’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Widely considered one of the best red peony varieties, ‘Henry Bockstoce’ glows in the garden and in cut flower arrangements. The eight-inch, fully double, deep blood-red flowers are fragrant as well as beautiful. This hybrid has strong stems that remain upright in the garden and rarely require staking. 

‘Henry Bockstoce’ is a reliably heavy bloomer in the late spring to early summer. The plant is attractive, with lush foliage that sometimes changes color in the fall. 

‘Lemon Chiffon’

	common name ‘Lemon Chiffon’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Lemon Chiffon’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 28”
	hardiness zones 3-8

I have a sweet spot for yellow flowers, and this peony is the most wonderful pale yellow cultivar. ‘Lemon Chiffon’ has semi-double blooms that open to reveal a crown of deep golden stamens. They also have a light, pleasant fragrance. 

‘Lemon Chiffon’ is an early season cultivar. It is a winner of the American Peony Society’s Best in Show award. The stems are strong and don’t require staking. 

‘Miss America’

	common name ‘Miss America’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Miss America’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘Miss America’ is a multi-award winning cultivar, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s extra fragrant and extra lovely with blush-colored buds that open to pure white flowers. They are fully double-petaled and up to five inches across. These are a nice, mid-sized variety that blooms in early summer. 

In terms of accolades, this pageant queen is a winner of an Award of Garden Merit from the RHS and a Gold Medal from the American Peony Society. The blooms have a long vase life and straight, strong stems, making them great for floral arrangements.

‘Odile’

	common name ‘Odile’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Odile’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 32″
	hardiness zones 4-8

‘Odile’ is a soft white cultivar with a hint of lilac in the heart, simply breathtaking. They are fully double-petaled, bomb form, and from six inches in diameter, sometimes larger. They are sturdy and hold up well in bouquets, making them ideal for weddings. 

This cultivar was registered in France in 1928 and was immensely popular. Be careful not to cut this one too early, or the blooms won’t reach their full potential. They are certainly worth the wait. 

‘Old Faithful’

	common name ‘Old Faithful’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Old Faithful’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

These red varieties are stunning when they are backlit. ‘Old Faithful’ has enormous eight-inch, fully double-petaled flowers. They are blood red when they first open and mature to a lighter, brighter hue.  It’s a small, shrubby plant that looks amazing as a low hedge. 

Florists have loved ‘Old Faithful’ for a long time for its gorgeous color and spicy, unique fragrance. This is a late bloomer that shows up in summer or, occasionally, early fall.

‘Pillow Talk’

	common name ‘Pillow Talk’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Pillow Talk’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘Pillow Talk’ is a fluffy, fabulous pink cultivar with wonderful form. When they open fully, the eight-inch blooms are almost spherical. It’s a big bloomer, and reliably so, flowering in early summer, which is mid-season. 

The stems are particularly sturdy on this beauty, making it popular with florists. It won a Gold Medal from the American Peony Society in 1994. If you prefer less fragrant varieties, this one is a good choice.

‘Belgravia’

	common name ‘Belgravia’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Belgravia’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 32″
	hardiness zones 3-8

For a smaller cultivar, ‘Belgravia’ has some of the largest and most impressive flowers around. Ten-inch, cherry red, fully double blooms are simply spectacular. This is a good producer, and a favorite with florists. 

‘Belgravia’ retains its stunning color through the life of the flower and has a good vase life. It is not a fragrant variety, but it is among the flashiest. 

‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’

	common name ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

It’s difficult to pick a favorite, but ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’ is simply breathtaking. The American Peony Society agreed and gave it a Gold Medal and a Landscape Merit Award to acknowledge its beauty. This is a reliable, lush shrub with long, strong stems. 

‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’ has spectacular flowers that pictures simply don’t do justice to. This early season peony produces five to six inch flowers that start out a deep coral color and fade with age to apricot and then ivory with all three colors possible in an ombre from outside in. When these fully double blooms open completely, you can see a crown of exposed, golden stamens in the center. 

‘Sunny Girl’

	common name ‘Sunny Girl’
	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sunny Girl’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 34”
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘Sunny Girl’ is bright and cheerful, with bold, yellow, double-petaled, seven-inch flowers that glow from within. They fade to ivory as they age and have a moderate to strong, pleasing fragrance. 

This cultivar is prized as perfect for the cutting garden. It’s a very early bloomer, starting in early spring, making it one of the first peonies to open. It’s one of the most heavily petalled yellow varieties available.