The selection of pink peonies available is enormous, making them the most common and most popular color of all peony flowers. Pink peonies come in every shade of pink you can imagine, including blush pink, salmon pink, cerise pink, hot pink, red-pink, orange-pink, dark pink, and even neon pink.
Pink peonies in soft and delicate shades are great for creating a luscious, romantic look, while brighter and more vivid pink peonies can appear playful and fun, and these will contrast more heavily against green foliage in the garden for a vibrant and invigorating atmosphere. Here we look at some of the best pink peonies around.
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Cytherea
- Botanical name: Paeonia ‘Cytherea’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 1 to 2 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This is a Lobata hybrid herbaceous peony that has received many awards, including the Best in Show and Grand Champion from the American Peony Society in 1970 and 1983, the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1980, and the Award of Landscape Merit in 2009. It is one of the most popular pink varieties of peony available, with flowers transforming from a deep cherry pink when they open, to a soft peach by the time they have matured.
The flowers are large and bowl-shaped, resembling lotus flowers. This is an early mid-season peony, blooming for around a week in late spring or early summer. It has a compact growth habit, with a spread greater than the height of the plant. Deep green foliage retains interest right through to fall, when the leaves develop warmer shades.
First Arrival
- Botanical name: Paeonia x Itoh ‘First Arrival’
- USDA hardiness zone: 4 – 9
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 3 to 4 feet
This is an intersectional peony, also known as an Itoh peony, which is a hybrid achieved by crossing an herbaceous peony with a tree peony. As you might have predicted from the name of this plant, it is one of the earliest bloomers among all Itoh peonies, typically flowering in late spring for around two weeks. The flowers are semi-double and very large, at around 8 inches across.
They open in succession to give the plant a longer blooming period, and you can expect as many as 40 flowers on a single plant each season. The flowers have a pretty sugar-pink color, and the petals are flushed with red at the base. The foliage fades to red before it is shed in fall.
Lovey Rose
- Botanical name: Paeonia ‘Lovely Rose’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
‘Lovely Rose’ is a striking peony with instantly recognizable flowers. The blooms it produces are bowl-shaped, with a large middle section full of twisted bright yellow stamens.
These contrast against the rose pink petals, which gently curve inwards. The plant blooms in late spring to early summer, with flowers typically lasting around a week. It has a compact habit, with flowers blooming on strong, erect stems which do not require staking.
Pink Derby
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Pink Derby’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This is a Chinese peony that produces stunning, fully double flowers. The outer petals are a bright shade of purple-pink, and these are silky smooth and gently curved. They surround the inner petals, which are a baby pink color, are heavily packed in, and delicately ruffled.
The resulting look is a flower that is incredibly eye-catching. The blooms are pleasantly scented, and they may need to be staked to keep them upright because their many petals make them quite heavy. This is an early midseason peony that will bloom for up to 10 days in late spring to early summer.
Rozella
- Botanical name: Paeonia ‘Rozella’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This is a hybrid peony that achieved the ‘Award of Garden Merit’ from the American Peony Society in 2009. The fully double flowers this plant produces are rose pink, and the shape is reminiscent of roses.
They bloom on strong, erect stems which do not need support, and as a late midseason bloomer, they will usually flower for around a week in early summer. This peony is known to have a vigorous growth habit, and it is a reliable bloomer, making it an excellent choice for the garden.
Showgirl
- Botanical name: Paeonia ‘Showgirl’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
‘Showgirl’ is a hybrid peony with blush pink flowers featuring golden yellow stamens which extend outwards. It is a reliable and prolific bloomer, sending out flowers in late spring to early summer for between seven and ten days. The flowers contrast beautifully against the glossy, dark green foliage, which forms a compact mound below.
Bowl of Beauty
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Bowl of Beauty’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
‘Bowl of Beauty’ is a stunning Chinese peony that has achieved the ‘Award of Garden Merit’ from the Royal Horticultural Society. It blooms in abundance, with flowers that are breathtaking.
As the buds open in early summer, the candy-pink outer petals reveal a shock of bright yellow inner petals. Once the flowers have fully matured, the yellow petals will have developed to a pastel pink color, creating a two-tone look with the deeper outer petals. These flowers span around 8 inches across and give off a luscious fragrance. They arrive on strong stems which do not need support.
Clown
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Clown’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This is a Chinese peony that produces playful flowers which have deeply ruffled petals in a rich shade of pink, fading to pale pink at the tips. The petals surround a mass of golden yellow stamen in the center.
This plant is known to be a reliable bloomer with a vigorous and compact growth habit. It will bloom for a little over a week in late spring to early summer. When the flowers have faded, the emerald-colored foliage will retain interest until it drops to the ground in fall.
Fancy Nancy
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Fancy Nancy’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This fragrant peony is known for its elegant and refined flowers. The blooms emerge in late spring, with an outer ring of smooth petals in vivid pink and a central disc of densely packed lacy pink stamens.
The textural contrast adds depth to these flowers, giving them additional interest. The foliage of this peony plant is green and glossy and forms a lush mound on the ground.
Hermione
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Hermione’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This is a truly romantic peony plant, which was introduced almost 100 years ago in 1932. However, it is still regarded as one of the best Chinese peonies available. It produces full double flowers, densely packed with ruffled, cotton candy pink petals, creating a look that is alluring and extravagant.
This is a late midseason peony that will bloom for around a week or longer in cooler climates. The flowers are held above the low mound of foliage, made up of glossy, emerald green, divided leaves. The flower stems are also attractive, in green, flushed with red.
Moonstone
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Moonstone’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This is an award-winning variety of Chinese peonies which has been a favorite among gardeners for many years. It is very popular as a cut flower, giving a luxurious and romantic look to floral bouquets. The blooms are fully double and very large, in a soft and delicate shade of blush pink, which gradually fades to cream.
The stems are sturdy and generally don’t need support, despite the heavy flowers. ‘Moonstone’ blooms in late spring to early summer for seven to ten days. Like most peonies, this variety thrives in full sun, but it will also perform well in some partial shade.
Neon
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Neon’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
The name of this pink peony describes the flowers perfectly, as they are such an intense shade of bright pink that they have an almost neon quality. The large flowers consist of pink petals that spread outwards to form an almost flat shape, with elongated pink and yellow staminodes forming a central disc in the middle of the flower.
These blooms last for up to ten days, during which time they emit a subtle fragrance. They stand tall on erect stems, which are strong enough to not require staking. This is a reliable bloomer that produces an abundance of flowers in late spring to early summer. The vivid pink flowers create an intense contrast against the fresh green mound of foliage below.
Pillow Talk
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Pillow Talk’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This Chinese peony produces an array of beautiful, fully double flowers in a sweet shade of pale pink. The flowers are relatively small compared to some of the larger peonies, at around five inches across. However, they are still big enough to make a striking impact on the landscape.
The flowers have delicately ruffled petals, resulting in a full and lush bloom that has a soft and almost fluffy look to it. The flowers stand out nicely against the deep green foliage, which will retain interest right through to fall.
Pink Dawn
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Pink Dawn’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
‘Pink Dawn’ peonies produce single flowers with bright pink petals slightly flushed with white, and these surround vivid golden-yellow ruffled stamens.
This is one of the most popular varieties of single flowering peonies, in part owing to the abundance of brightly colored flowers it produces but also due to the fact that the stems are exceptionally strong, holding the flowers upright without needing support, even in heavy rain.
Unlike other peonies, this is a variety that actually prefers partial shade instead of full sun. When exposed to too much sun, the color of the flowers will fade and look washed out. Plant it in an area that is exposed to the sun throughout the morning and shade in the afternoon. This will ensure plenty of blooms are produced, and they can retain their vibrant colors.
Sorbet
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sorbet’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This herbaceous Chinese peony produces flowers with layer upon layer of frilled pale pink petals. It looks spectacular in full bloom, with an abundance of flowers that will last for up to ten days on the plant.
These flowers are incredibly popular as cut flowers, and they can enjoy a vase life of longer than a week if they are cut at the optimum time while in the bud.
Sword Dance
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sword Dance’
- USDA hardiness zone: 3 – 8
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
- Mature spread: 2 to 3 feet
This is a magnificent variety of peonies, producing flowers with saturated dark red-pink petals which surround ruffled pink stamens streaked with yellow. ‘Sword Dance’ is a late-season peony, blooming toward the end of June for around a week.
This striking plant is resistant to wind, and its flowers will not fade even in the full sun.
