Peonies are popular flowers, thanks to their luscious blooms which come in a wide range of colors, and their attractive foliage which maintains interest even after the flowers have faded.
The vast majority of peonies have showy yellow stamens, but if you’re looking for a peony with yellow petals then your choice is going to be more restricted since this is not one of the more common types of peony colors.
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What Shades of Yellow do Peonies Come in?
Although yellow is not the most common color of peonies, there is quite a broad spectrum of shades available when you start looking at types of yellow peonies. These flowers come in very pale shades of off-white tinged with yellow, through to buttery yellows, lemon yellows, and golden yellows. If you want a specific shade of yellow peony to compliment other plants in your garden, then you should be able to find a peony that suits the bill without too much difficulty. The fact that yellow peonies come in such a wide variety of shades means you can be really playful when it comes to color choice, and select a number of different types of yellow peonies to create a tonal effect.
Are Yellow Peonies Easy to Grow?
Yellow peonies are very easy to grow, just like peonies in other colors. From looking at the luscious flowers, you might expect that they are going to be tricky to care for, but these are actually one of the most simple plants to keep in the garden. They offer plenty of rewards for very minimal effort, which is probably another reason why they are such a popular fixture in home gardens.
Peonies prefer to grow in full sun but they will also tolerate some shade, especially in the heat of the afternoon for some relief from the hot temperatures. Grow them in well-draining soil that is kept moist but not wet, and your peonies will thrive.
They are resistant to rabbits and deer, and they are one of the few flowering plants which are almost entirely pest free. Peonies live for a long time, typically many decades, and they won’t need much attention at all during this time.
They don’t like to be disturbed, so dividing them when they get big isn’t necessary, and in fact, is discouraged. You can deadhead the spent flowers if you wish, and cut the plant back to the ground in fall, to neaten up the look.
When do Yellow Peonies Bloom?
Yellow peonies can be early bloomers, mid-season bloomers, or late bloomers, though most fall into the first two categories. Early-blooming yellow peonies will flower in late spring to early summer, while mid-season peonies will bloom from early to mid-summer.
Late-season peonies will flower towards the end of summer. Many gardeners endeavor to have a selection of peonies that bloom at various times so that there will always be some of them in flower at any given time during the growing season.
Best Yellow Peonies
Itoh Peony ‘Bartzella’
- Botanical name: Paeonia Itoh x ‘Bartzella’
- USDA hardiness zone: 4 – 9
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 3 to 4 feet
This is an award-winning peony that received the Gold Medal from the American Peony Society in 2006. It produces large flowers which can be semi-double or fully double, typically measuring between 6 and 8 inches across. The petals have a delicate ruffled look, like crepe paper, and they are a butter-yellow color.
Close to the center of the flower, the petals are flushed with right red, creating an unusual two-tone look. This plant is a prolific bloomer, which can be expected to produce around 30 flowers on a single bush in the first year, and around 60 flowers each season on an established bush.
Aside from being beautiful to look at, the flowers of the ‘Bartzella’ Peony also offer a refreshing citrus scent. It will bloom in early to mid-summer for as long as four weeks, due to the mass of flowers that bloom in sequence. This is a spreading peony that will grow to be wider than it is tall. The strong stems stand tall and firm, with no need for staking.
Itoh Peony ‘Garden Treasure’
- Botanical name: Paeonia Itoh x ‘Garden Treasure’
- USDA hardiness zone: 4 – 9
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 4 to 5 feet
This is an extremely impressive variety of yellow peonies, which is considered by many gardeners to be the best type of yellow peony available. It has, unsurprisingly, won many awards, including the Gold Medal and the Grand Champion from the American Peony Society in 1996, as well as the American Peony Society Certificate of Merit in 1984.
The flowers of this plant are quite spectacular, taking the form of very large semi-double blooms. The petals are a soft shade of yellow, and they are tinged with intense ruby red at the base.
The plant blooms in late spring to early summer, and it does so in abundance. On a mature ‘Garden Treasure’ peony, you can enjoy between 50 and 70 flowers on a single bush each growing season. The plant has an overall compact growth habit, but it spreads to be significantly wider than its height.
Chinese Peony ‘Lemon Chiffon’
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Lemon Chiffon’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3
- Mature spread: 2 to 3
Another award-winning yellow peony, this variety achieved the title of Best in Show from the American Peony Society. It grows to form a small bush of just 2 or 3 feet in height and width, with creamy yellow flowers standing out against the dark green, glossy foliage.
The flowers bloom in late spring to early summer, on stems that will remain erect without support. The central part of the flower features golden orange stamens, and large, bright pink carpels.
Itoh Peony ‘Prairie Charm’
- Botanical name: Paeonia Itoh x ‘Prairie Charm’
- USDA hardiness zone: 4 – 9
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 3 to 4 feet
This award-winning peony is prized for its vigorous growth and reliability. It produces semi-double flowers with around 30 buttery yellow petals on each bloom.
The flowers are held on strong, tall stems, high above the foliage below. This plant will bloom in late spring to early summer, for around 2 weeks in hot climates, or up to 4 weeks in cooler climates.
Chinese Peony ‘Honey Gold’
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Honey Gold’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This peony produces flowers with white petals, however, you might consider it to be a yellow peony since the large center of the flowers is a bright shade of yellow, and it is so showy that it draws more attention than the petals of the blooms.
The vibrant yellow petaloids in the middle of these flowers have an explosive look to them, adding a playful and joyous feel to the garden. The foliage of this plant is also very attractive, with satin-like leaves which form dense mounds beneath the stems holding the flowers. This is a heavy bloomer, which will flower in late spring to early summer.
Chinese Peony ‘Claire de Lune’
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Claire de Lune’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This is a hybrid peony that took eight years to perfect. It is reportedly the result of over 4000 cross-breeding attempts. The yellow peony plant produces single flowers with creamy yellow petals which unfurl daintily around the deep yellow stamens. It is an early-season peony that will bloom in spring, with flowers lasting around 7 days.
Chinese Peony ‘Cheddar Charm’
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Cheddar Charm’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This plant produces white and yellow flowers, made up of pure snow-white petals surrounding a central section densely packed with golden yellow staminodes.
This variety of peonies is known to be a vigorous grower and a heavy bloomer, sending out flowers that last for up to 10 days in late spring to early summer.
Chinese Peony ‘Bu-Te’
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Bu-Te’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This is a very popular peony that produces classy white petals surrounding an intense yellow center. The flowers are bowl shaped, allowing for the yellow staminodes to take center stage and demand attention.
The foliage of this plant is green and glossy, and the leaves will warm up to shades of orange and red in the fall, before dropping to the ground. The flowers will bloom in early summer for around 7 to 10 days, or you can cut them to make a floral bouquet which can last from 1 to 2 weeks.
