Peonies are prized for their lush, romantic blooms and their remarkable longevity — a well-sited plant can flower for decades. There are three main types of peony plant, and within them, several distinct flower forms. Knowing the difference helps you choose the right peony for your garden and your vase.
The three types of peony plants
All peonies fall into one of three plant types based on how they grow: herbaceous (dying back each winter), tree (woody and permanent), and Itoh or intersectional (a hybrid of the two). On top of that, peonies are described by their flower form, from simple singles to packed doubles.
The main types of peonies
Here are the three plant types, followed by the main flower forms.
Herbaceous Peonies
The classic garden peony, herbaceous types die back to the ground each winter and send up fresh stems in spring, flowering in late spring to early summer. They’re long-lived, hardy and the most widely grown peony.
Tree Peonies
Tree peonies are woody shrubs that keep a permanent framework of stems all year and don’t die back. They bloom earlier than herbaceous types, with very large, often spectacular flowers, and shouldn’t be cut to the ground.
Itoh (Intersectional) Peonies
Itoh peonies are hybrids between herbaceous and tree peonies, combining the strong, self-supporting stems and lush foliage of tree peonies with the die-back habit of herbaceous ones. They offer huge, long-lasting blooms and unusual colors like yellow.
Peony flower forms
Within those plant types, peonies are also grouped by the shape and fullness of their flowers:
- Single — a single row of petals around a visible center of golden stamens
- Semi-double — several rows of petals with the stamens still showing
- Double — packed with petals into a full, rounded bloom, hiding the center
- Bomb — a broad base of petals topped with a dense, rounded “bomb” of petals
- Anemone (Japanese) — a ring of broad outer petals surrounding a cushion of narrow, petal-like stamens
How to choose the right peony
Choose herbaceous peonies for classic, reliable, easy-care garden color; tree peonies for a permanent shrub with the largest, most dramatic flowers; and Itoh peonies for strong stems, long bloom and unusual colors without staking. For cutting, double and bomb forms give the fullest, most romantic blooms, while singles and anemones are elegant and better for pollinators.
Caring for peonies
All peonies want full sun and rich, well-drained soil, and herbaceous types must be planted with their buds just an inch or two deep or they won’t bloom. Support the heavy flowers and be patient, as plants take a couple of years to establish. See our peony growing and care guide.
Popular peonies to grow
These beloved named varieties show off the range of peony types and forms:
- “Sarah Bernhardt” — the classic soft-pink double herbaceous peony
- “Festiva Maxima” — a fragrant white double flecked with crimson
- “Coral Charm” — a coral semi-double that shifts color as it ages
- “Bowl of Beauty” — a pink anemone-form with a creamy center
- “Bartzella” — a famous yellow Itoh (intersectional) peony
- Tree peony “Kinkaku” — huge golden-apricot blooms on a woody shrub
Peony colors and fragrance
Peonies bloom in white, cream, blush, pink, coral, red and — thanks to Itoh hybrids — yellow, often with a rich rose-like or spicy fragrance that varies by variety. Doubles and bombs give the fullest, most romantic flowers for cutting, while singles and anemones are lighter and better for pollinators. Because a peony can live and bloom for fifty years or more, it’s worth choosing a variety whose color and form you truly love.
Peony types FAQs
What are the three types of peonies?
The three types of peony plants are herbaceous peonies (which die back to the ground each winter), tree peonies (woody shrubs that keep their stems year-round), and Itoh or intersectional peonies (hybrids of the two with strong stems and a die-back habit).
What is the difference between tree and herbaceous peonies?
Herbaceous peonies die back to the ground each winter and regrow in spring, while tree peonies are woody shrubs that keep a permanent framework of stems all year and shouldn’t be cut down. Tree peonies bloom earlier and have larger flowers; herbaceous types are hardier and more common.
What is an Itoh peony?
An Itoh, or intersectional, peony is a hybrid between a herbaceous and a tree peony. It has the strong, self-supporting stems and handsome foliage of a tree peony but dies back to the ground each winter like a herbaceous one, and offers big, long-lasting blooms in unusual colors.
What are the different peony flower forms?
Peony flower forms include single (one row of petals around a visible center), semi-double, double (packed full), bomb (a dense rounded top of petals), and anemone or Japanese (broad outer petals around a cushion of narrow petal-like stamens).
Which type of peony is easiest to grow?
Herbaceous peonies are the easiest and most reliable for most gardeners — they’re very hardy, long-lived and low-maintenance once established, provided they’re planted at the correct shallow depth in a sunny spot.
Do all peonies come back every year?
Yes. All three types of peony are perennials that return year after year — often for decades. Herbaceous and Itoh peonies die back and regrow each season, while tree peonies keep their woody stems and leaf out again each spring.
See the peony flower profile, the peony growing guide, and peony meaning.