If you have ever thought about planting a peony yourself and were spoiled for choice when buying, you will know: not all peony are the same. What types are there? Which species are important in this country and how do they differ?
What types of peonies are there?
There are around 40 different types of peonies worldwide, which differ in flower color, flower size, height and leaf shape. The most well-known include the common peony, coral peony, Chinese peony and Japanese peony.
Around 40 species worldwide
It's not exactly certain, but experts believe that there are around 40 different types of peony around the world. They differ primarily in terms of their:
- Flower color
- flower size
- Growth height and width
- Leaf shape
You can find species of peony with dark red, red, white, orange, yellow, pink, salmon and even multicolored flowers. Breeding makes it possible The coral peony is colored red in its wild form, the milky white peony according to its name and the Caucasus peony blooms yellow.
Perennial and shrub peonies
Peonies are roughly divided into perennial and shrub peonies. The perennial peonies grow to a maximum height of 150 cm. They are herbaceous and die above ground in winter to sprout again in spring. These include, for example:
- California Peony
- Milky White Peony
- Golden Peony
- Chinese Peony
- Japanese Peony
- European Peony
- Greek Peony
- Coral Peony
In contrast, shrub peonies grow up to 250 cm tall, are woody and work best when grown alone. They also look great with low companion plants like lady's mantle and catnip. The shrub peonies include:
- Chinese tree peony
- Ludlow Tree Peony
- Rock tree peony
The common peony – the most common in this country
The most popular peony in Central Europe and home gardens is probably the common peony, which is also known as the farmer's peony or real peony. It shows its flowers from May, grows herbaceously and is considered extremely robust.
The Coral Peony
The coral peony is also known since ancient times. It was once valued as a medicinal plant and is characterized by its herbaceous growth and red to pink flowers.
Tip
The less well-known species are less suitable for cultivation in this country, as they are often poorly winter-hardy or otherwise more sensitive and demanding.
