9 Unusual and Striking Peonies to Grow This Spring

Spring peonies are incredibly beautiful, showy, spectacular flowers that sometimes offer unusual shapes and colors. I wish that I could grow them in my climate, but sadly, I cannot. If you can, I highly encourage you to plant one of these amazing shrubs in your cutting garden or otherwise. I would love to live vicariously through you if you decide to grow them. 

While I can’t grow them, I can certainly still appreciate the myriad shapes, sizes, and colors that peonies come in. There are so many stunning cultivars it would be difficult to choose a favorite. In my opinion, the bigger the bloom, the better, but perhaps you have a favorite color you’re looking for.

If unusual and striking are the words you think of when making a selection, I’ve got some uniquely beautiful cultivars for you. Here are some spectacular and unusual peonies that would be perfect for your spring garden!

‘Bartzella’

	botanical name Paeonia ‘Bartzella’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Yellow is a common enough color in the world of peonies. There is the popular ‘Lemon Chiffon, which is a total stunner. What sets ‘Bartzella’ apart is the pop of red in the center of these buttery blooms. Add a dense crown of yellow stamens to the center and you get a wonderful Itoh type with six to eight-inch blossoms. 

This lovely late-season cultivar is strong and sturdy, with stems that don’t require support. The flowers have a lemony scent, which matches their appearance perfectly. A bouquet of these beauties would be a wonderful sight to behold. 

‘Boule de Neige’

	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Boule de Neige’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 32”
	hardiness zones 3-8

The name is French for “snowball,” and ‘Boule de Neige’ is, fittingly, a large, rounded, and creamy white peony. That sounds average enough, but there is a small catch. At the heart of this snowball are bold flecks of magenta. Mixed among the mass of petals, yellow stamens peek through and light it from within.

‘Boule de Neige’ has large flowers, and they are surprisingly fragrant. It’s a midseason bloomer, so in early summer, it will be at its finest. This is an older cultivar, registered in 1867, that has stood the test of time.

‘Candy Stripe’

	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Candy Stripe’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 30”-36”
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘Candy Stripe’ is an early-season variety with large, non-fragrant flowers. They are fully double-petaled and a melange of pink, cream, and red. Each flower has its own unusual coloration, yielding a unique spring peony display. No two are the same. It’s a newer cultivar, registered in 1992, though, I suppose I’m showing my age to call that new!

This variety has long, slender stems that may benefit from staking. If you are growing them for cut flowers, you’ll want to cut them in the bud stage, so that should be fine. When they open, the stems may have difficulty standing up straight under their weight.

‘Julia Rose’

	botanical name Paeonia ‘Julia Rose’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 4-9

To show you only one photo of ‘Julia Rose’ makes it difficult to give you a complete idea of the colors in this beauty. The midsized flowers start out cherry red in the bud, but when they open, there are shades of apricot and orange mixed in with the cerise of the outside and edges of the petals. Simply put, it’s gorgeous and unique. 

The plant is sturdy with toothy foliage that turns a reddish bronze in spring and fall. It will produce a great number of blooms that have semi-double form and a crown of golden stamens in the center. They also have a sweet, spicy scent. 

‘Claire de Lune’

	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Claire de Lune’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘Claire de Lune’ is one of the first peonies to bloom in the spring. This stunning single-petal cultivar took quite a lot of breeding to create. The petals are few, but the softest, creamy yellow you can imagine. In the center is an enormous mass of deep yellow, nearly orange stamens. 

The flowers are large and commanding, though the plant is more compact. They’re not fragrant, but their single petal form puts them in a category with few others. The single-petal cultivars tend to be early to open.

‘Bowl of Beauty’

	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Bowl of Beauty’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘Bowl of Beauty’ is probably the most unusual spring peony I’ve seen. It’s a winner of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. It’s a reliable, mid-season bloomer, putting on a show in early summer. The plant is medium-sized and has lush foliage. 

Now for the flowers. These are unique because they are two colors that don’t often show up together. The outer petals are purplish pink, bright, and electric. Inside, there is a mass of smaller, spiky petaloids in pale yellow. They are also more fragrant than most.

‘Flame’

	botanical name Paeonia chinensis x officinalis ‘Flame’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Similar in form to ‘Claire de Lune,’ ‘Flame’ is one of few single-petaled cultivars. In case the name didn’t tip you off, this plant has bold, red blooms. They are medium to large with an incredible number of yellow stamens in the center. The deep green toothy foliage complements the colors in the flower beautifully. 

‘Flame’ has strong stems and won’t need support. The single-petal flowers are not as heavy as some of the more intricate types. It’s a fast grower and a good producer that blooms in spring. The foliage colors nicely in the fall. 

‘Buckeye Belle’

	botanical name Paeonia officinalis x lactiflora  ‘Buckeye Belle’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

What makes ‘Buckeye Belle’ so striking is the color of its semi-double blooms. These spring bloomers are an unusual rich, velvety red—one of the darkest peonies in cultivation. They aren’t fragrant, but they are large and spectacular to look at. 

This has long been one of the most coveted cultivars, so it can be difficult to find one. The contrast of the smooth, oxblood petals and the brilliant yellow circle of stamens in the center certainly is eye-catching. This is a winner of the American Peony Society Gold Medal, and it’s well deserved. 

‘Lois’ Choice’

	botanical name Paeonia lactiflora ‘Lois’ Choice’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 30”
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘Lois’ Choice’ is another variety that is famously colorful and wonderful. The large, fluffy flowers are a gorgeous rose form with obscured stamens. The petals are a melange of light and dark pink marbled with buttery yellow.