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Spring on the farm means one thing to me: peony season. Peonies are the pinnacle of spring flowers in my book, and their lush blooms and sweet fragrance just steal my heart every year. Here on my farm in Iowa, I’ve filled my flowerbeds with three types of peonies, and I’m often asked about the differences between them.
A quick note about their roots: Peonies have been grown for centuries, with origins tracing back to Asia, Europe, and North America. In fact, most of the herbaceous peonies we grow today are descended from Chinese species, especially Paeonia lactiflora, which has been cultivated for over a thousand years.
Over time, peonies have become garden staples all over the world, beloved for their beauty and resilience. And in my own flowerbeds, there are three types of peonies I love to grow: herbaceous peonies, tree peonies, and Itoh peonies. Each has its own charm, growth habits, and care needs.
Let’s talk about what makes each type special, with some tips from my experience growing them on the farm.
Herbaceous Peonies (Garden Peonies)
Herbaceous peonies are the classic garden peonies most people know and love. These perennials form lush green mounds about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, and every spring they bloom with large, sumptuous flowers. The blooms can be single, semi-double, or fully doubled “bomb” types that resemble ruffled pom-poms. Colors range from pure white and blush pink to magenta and red, and so many of them have a wonderful fragrance.
Herbaceous peonies have soft, green stems that die back to the ground every winter. In early spring, reddish shoots poke through the soil, which is always a super exciting sight for me. By late spring (typically May and even into early June, depending on the year), the plants are full and bushy with dark green, deeply lobed leaves. Then comes bloom time! Each plant blooms for about 7-10 days, but if you plant early-, mid-, and late-season varieties, you can stretch the bloom time over several weeks.
Planting & Care
Peonies may be known for their beauty, but they’re also one of the easiest perennials to grow once you get them off to a good start. Over the years, I’ve learned that just a few planting tips and simple seasonal tasks can make all the difference in how well they bloom:
| When to plant: Fall is best, ideally in September or October. The soil is still warm, which helps the roots settle in before winter. |
| Where to plant: Choose a sunny spot (at least 6 hours of sun per day). Good drainage is a must as peonies don’t like soggy soil. |
| How to plant: Don’t plant them too deep. Place the eyes (buds on the root) just 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface. |
| Ongoing care: Add compost around the base of the plant in early spring. Water during dry spells, especially in their first year. Use simple supports to hold up the blooms if needed, as they can sometimes tend to flop over, and get heavy after rain. |
| After blooming: Deadhead any spent flowers. Let the foliage grow through summer to feed the plant. |
| Fall cleanup: After frost has browned the leaves, cut the stems all the way to the ground. Clean up debris to help prevent disease. |
Important tip: Peonies have tuberous roots that can make them difficult to move. Ideally, they like to stay where they are first planted, but they can be transplanted. They do best when moved in September (video about how to transplant peonies below!).
Disease tip: Herbaceous peonies can be susceptible to powdery mildew during the summer. Humid conditions with poor air circulation can cause a white powder-like disease to spread across the leaves. The best way to combat this is to be preventative. I use neem oil soon after they bloom every two weeks to ward off powdery mildew. If some show up, remove the affected leaves and spray the plant with neem oil.
Fun fact: You might see ants on the buds, which is totally normal. They’re just enjoying the sweet nectar and don’t harm the plant.
Fernleaf Peonies
One special type of herbaceous peony that I also love is the fernleaf peony. These are usually the earliest to bloom on the farm, sometimes popping open as early as late April, depending on the weather. The foliage is what really sets them apart: finely cut, feathery leaves that almost look like a delicate fern. It’s such a unique texture to have in the garden, especially early in the season when not much else has that soft, airy feel.
The blooms on fernleaf peonies are usually a rich red and a bit smaller than traditional garden peonies, but they stand tall and proud on sturdy stems. Like other herbaceous types, they die back completely in winter and should be planted with the eyes about 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface. I always give them a sunny spot with good drainage, and they reward me with some of the first splashes of color in my spring beds. If you love early bloomers or want a little textural contrast in your peony collection, fernleafs are a fantastic choice.
Tree Peonies (Woody Peonies)
If herbaceous peonies are the dependable old friends of the garden, tree peonies are their “exotic” cousins that always wow the crowd. I have several in my beds, and every spring they put on a show with massive, ruffled blooms that can be 8 to 10 inches across.
Tree peonies are woody shrubs. Their stems don’t die back in winter like herbaceous types, and instead stay above ground year-round. The plant loses its leaves in fall, but the framework of woody branches remains and pushes out new growth in spring. A mature tree peony can reach 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, forming a stately shrub with uniquely shaped foliage.
Blooming & Placement
Tree peonies usually bloom a bit earlier than herbaceous ones, often in early to mid-May. The flowers are huge and often have a blotch of contrasting color in the center of each petal. They come in an incredible range of colors, from white and blush to yellow and deep purple. Some are lightly fragrant, too.
They are best planted in spots with morning sun and a bit of afternoon shade. This helps keep the blooms from fading too quickly. They appreciate space and air circulation, so give them room to grow over the years.
Planting & Care
Tree peonies are a bit different from herbaceous ones when it comes to care, mainly because of their woody stems. But once you understand what they need, they’re just as easy to grow and incredibly rewarding. Here’s what works best for me:
| When to plant: Spring and Fall are the ideal times to plant. The cooler weather allows roots to establish before summer or winter stress. |
| How to plant: Most tree peonies are grafted, so plant them deeper than herbaceous types. Make sure the graft union (the bump where the stem meets the root) is about 4 to 6 inches below the soil surface. This encourages the grafted top to develop its own roots over time. |
| Where to plant: Choose a spot with morning sun and light afternoon shade. Good drainage is essential. Give them room to grow, as they can reach 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. |
| Ongoing care: Water regularly during the growing season, especially in dry spells. In early spring, apply compost or a light organic fertilizer. After the blooms fade, deadhead spent flowers without removing much of the stem. |
| Fall cleanup: Don’t cut tree peonies back in the fall since they bloom on old wood. Simply remove any dead or crossing branches to tidy up the shape. |
Important tip: Be patient! Tree peonies can take a few years to really hit their stride, but they’re worth the wait.
Itoh Peonies (Intersectional Peonies)
Itoh peonies are the garden rockstars that combine the best traits of herbaceous and tree peonies. These hybrids have strong stems, big blooms, and a neat, rounded shape. Mine grow about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide and are absolutely covered in blooms each year. They’re my hands-down favorite type of peony to grow.
The flowers are large and come in vibrant shades of yellow, coral, lavender, and more. Some even have multicolored petals with central flares. Their sturdy stems mean no staking is needed (unlike herbaceous peonies), which is always a win in my book.
Blooming & Performance
Itoh peonies bloom around the same time, if not a bit earlier than herbaceous types, usually mid-May to early June for me. They have loads of buds that open over time, so the bloom period stretches out longer than many traditional peonies.
Itohs also have fantastic foliage that stays attractive through summer and into fall. It’s similar in texture to tree peony leaves and resists disease better than some herbaceous varieties.
Planting & Care
Itoh peonies combine the best of herbaceous and tree peonies, and their care reflects that hybrid nature. I treat mine much like herbaceous peonies, with a few helpful tweaks:
| When to plant: Fall is best for planting, especially if you’re working with bare-root divisions. Potted plants from nurseries can also be planted during spring or fall. |
| How to plant: Plant with the eyes (buds) about 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface. Use rich, well-drained soil, and loosen it well before planting. Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart for airflow and full growth. |
| Where to plant: Full sun is ideal, though Itohs appreciate a little afternoon shade in hot climates. They’re adaptable and do well in a variety of garden settings. |
| Ongoing care: Water regularly, especially in the first year. Add compost or organic fertilizer in early spring and again after blooming. No staking needed since their stems are strong enough to hold up those big blooms. |
| After blooming: Deadhead spent flowers to keep the plant tidy. Enjoy the attractive foliage, which holds up beautifully through the season. |
| Fall cleanup: Once frost hits and the foliage browns, cut back stems to ground level, just like herbaceous peonies. Remove foliage from the area to prevent disease. |
Bonus tip: Itohs rarely need dividing, but if you want more plants, you can do it in fall once they’re fully mature.
Watch How to Transplant Peonies
Peonies for Every Garden
Each type of peony brings something different to the garden. Herbaceous peonies are classic and nostalgic. Tree peonies offer dramatic, early-season blooms. And Itoh peonies combine the best of both worlds with strong stems and extended bloom times.
Here on the farm, I grow all three types and love how they stretch the peony season from early May through June. And year after year, they come back better than before.
If you haven’t tried growing peonies yet, I hope this gives you the nudge. These flowers are easy to grow, incredibly rewarding, and add timeless beauty to any garden. I’m always out in the beds with Kip snapping photos as soon as those first buds open. I hope you’ll be doing the same!
