A perennial bloom are the lovely, carefree peonies. If planted in the right spot, you will receive blossoms every year. There are plenty of compelling reasons why the red peony is a popular flower for gardens and arrangements.
In addition to their enormous beauty, peonies are extremely robust flowers. A vase filled with peony types can survive for more than a week, and when planted in your yard, these perennial flowers can bloom for decades.
See some of these kinds to add a striking splash of red to your yard or garden. Select a few of these plants and arrange them in a cluster of reds; you’ll get a striking monochromatic garden effect from each plant’s subtle variations.
1. Fernleaf
Scientific Name: Paeonia tenuifolia
Sun Exposure: Full sun or partial sun
Plant Size: 1’–3’
Plant Zone: 3–8
As one of the earliest peony kinds ever found, fernleaf peonies are not merely among the first to bloom every year. Among the several varieties of peonies, fernleaf peonies are distinguished by their foliage, which resembles ferns. The original Fernleaf is a vivid red color with yellow stamens; there are a few hybrids.
Since they flower early, fernleaf peonies are sometimes known as “Mother’s Day Peonies.” Most of them only grow to a height of around 15 inches, making them more compact than most peony types. These plants grow wild throughout Eastern Europe, although it’s uncommon to locate them in gardens.
2. Buckeye Belle
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Buckeye Belle’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial sun
Plant Size: 2–3
Plant Zone: 3–8
One of the most widely used red peony cultivars worldwide is called “Buckeye Belle.” The petals have a rounded, symmetrical shape and are velvety, which gives their vivid tone some substance. The central pistil crown is white with a pink flush, and the anthers are delicate cream in color.
It is highly valued for being a perfect-cut flower due to its sturdy and straight stems. It also gives you a striking background for its flower show with its dark, silky, almost semi-glossy pinnate leaves. And to top it all off, it proudly has the Gold Medal from the American Peony Society.
3. Old Faithful
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Old Faithful’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial sun
Plant Size: 3 feet
Plant Zone: 3–8
From the smallest bud to the final petal drop, this variety is a work of constant evolution. a robust peony that resembles an ideal rose in appearance with its open bud form. As this bloom expands and ages, the deep ruby red becomes brighter and lighter, with a striking splash of yellow stamens and seed pods in the middle.
‘Old Faithful’ is one of the most fun peonies to grow because of how it changes every day. It’s a gorgeous way to end a peony-cutting garden because it blooms late in the season.
4. Peter Brand
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Peter Brand’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial sun
Plant Size: 3 feet
Plant Zone: 3–8
The bright, color-changing peony is called a Peter Brand. The 6-inch, completely double peonies are initially a rich ruby color. Gradually, the hue becomes a vivid magenta as the days pass. It will not fade in the sun, even while the color changes.
Other than routine upkeep, Peter Brand peonies don’t need any extra attention. If the soil is fertile, you can plant them in a variety of types of soil. The leftover foliage creates a stunning shrub plant when the flowers have finished flowering.
5. Red Charm
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Red Charm’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial sun
Plant Size: 2-3 feet
Plant Zone: 3–8
Red Charm is a hybrid peony with large petals that blooms in an amazing ball form. It is among the first double-flowered peonies to bloom in gardens each spring, arriving early in the peony season.
Although the stems are thicker and more sturdy than those of other types, they are still shorter and can be used in floral arrangements.
6. ‘Flame’ Peony
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Flame’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial sun
Plant Size: 2-3 feet
Plant Zone: 3–8
Flame is a peony type that has a very unique blossom colour. It is somewhat coral-hued, vivid, and red in nature. The flower heads are tiny but beautiful and vivid, despite the shrub’s general size.
A prolific flower, it will also reveal dark golden yellow pistils in the middle, in a circular cluster that attracts butterflies; they are short-lived, lasting only a week or ten days each, and they are quickly replenished all season long.
Single and cupped, the blooms will be borne atop lush foliage with a rich green tone and visible veins that are appealing until frost. It works better as a border or bed plant than a cut flower.
7. Paul M. Wild
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Paul M. Wild’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial sun
Plant Size: 2-3 feet
Plant Zone: 4–8
“Paul M. Wild” has a silky, frilly texture and is a huge, complete double bloom. This red peony has a delightful aroma that accompanies its colour retention for the duration of its vase life. Despite being a rich red, its colour is more raspberry than burgundy, drawing attention to the blue undertones in its surroundings.
With “Boule de Neige” and “Festiva Maxima,” which highlight the subtle red flakes, it is very lovely. The Paul M. Wild form is a very lovely addition to your garden and vase because of its smooth, tulip-shaped bud and big, double-open bloom.
Because it blooms later than other red peonies, this variety is a terrific way to extend the season for this striking colour.
8. Many Happy Returns
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Many Happy Returns’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial sun
Plant Size: 2-3 feet
Plant Zone: 3–8
This is a vivid red peony cultivar called Many Happy Returns, which will not turn sour in the sun. Reds from other well-known red kinds, such as Old Faithful, Red Charm, and Henry Bockstoce, are typically a deeper shade of red. Bright, fiery scarlet, many happy returns.
9. Raspberry Charm
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Raspberry Charm’
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Plant Size: 2-3 feet
Plant Zone: 3–8
The Japanese peony hybrid is known as Raspberry Charm. Their flowers have vivid yellow filaments and a rich red colour with a hint of pink.
These peonies, which are favourites among butterflies, will give your landscape some early-season beauty. Raspberry-charm peonies have strong stems and a pleasant fragrance. They look stunning as cut flowers or in the garden because of their vibrant hues.
10. Red Red Rose
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Red Red Rose’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial sun
Plant Size: 2-3 feet
Plant Zone: 3–8
“Red Red Rose” is the hybrid paeonia. A center of golden stamens is surrounded by an abundance of glossy, deep red petals. a semi-double bloom with a cup shape. Because they are robust, long, and straight, stems don’t need assistance.
11. Kansas
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Kansas’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, Partial sun
Plant Size: 2-3 feet
Plant Zone: 3–8
The Kansas peony grows robust stems with enormous, double-carmine-red flowers. One of the nicest double-red peonies to grow, they also make superbly cut blooms. Even when the blooms have finished for the summer, the glossy, dark green leaves of the rich, bushy mound of foliage continue to be visually appealing.
12. Belgravia
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Belgravia’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, Partial sun
Plant Size: 2-3 feet
Plant Zone: 3–8
One gorgeous, delicious peony variety is the Belgravia peony. The bomb-shaped flowers on these double-bloomed peonies can reach a diameter of more than 9 inches. Belgravia peonies are a type of peony shrub that is typically crimson with possible pink undertones.
Belgravia peonies are exquisite showpieces and are used as show flowers. Pollinators will be drawn to them, but deer won’t bother them. These are hardy plants that can grow in a wide variety of soil conditions.
13. Command Performance
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Command Performance’
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Plant Size: 2-3 feet
Plant Zone: 3–7
Open indoors or out of the wind, this eye-catching, cardinal red peony grows into an enormous, fragrant blossom. Its enormous buds open into flowers that can reach a diameter of nine inches, making it one of the biggest peony kinds.
Paeonia Command Performance is well worthy of its name. This peony features heavy buds, robust stems, and a huge, rich crimson bloom. This is most likely among the best types for cutting. This peony’s blossoms have a pleasant scent.
14. Diana Parks
Scientific Name: Paeonia ‘Diana Parks’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, Partial sun
Plant Size: 3-4 feet
Plant Zone: 3–8
An eye-catching, dramatic peony is the Diana Parks variety. Big double flowers of a vivid red hue are produced by these plants. They’re great as cut flowers and smell good.
Diana Parks peonies are as hardy as many other peonies, with robust stalks and lush foliage. Both full sun and deer resistance are attributes they possess. Sadly, as soon as the plant begins to flower, the petals disappear quickly.
15. Scarlet Heaven
Scientific Name: Paeonia Itoh ‘Scarlet Heaven’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, Partial sun
Plant Size: 3-4 feet
Plant Zone: 3–8
A peony with two flowers that resemble roses is called Henry Bockstoce. Along with the robust stems, the petals are thick. Henry Bockstoce is one of the most recent types of red peonies available. Younger than all of them is the peony variety, Old Faithful.