This is a good peony for all climates, and especially for the South, because it blooms early before it gets too hot. By Mother's Day in May, these blooms are finished after giving a great early spring show. When the 95+ temps start, the foliage can get a little crispy, so in my zone 8a garden I plant lantana just behind this peony. By June, when the peony foliage is getting wilted, the lantana blooms and distracts the eye from the peony leaves. By mid to late summer the lantana actually covers the peony to shade it from the heat and the eye. In november, after frost kills the lantana, cut it back, and in spring the cycle will start over. This works even in a prominent front yard display.
This is one of the few early blooming varieties that grows well in the South. Its double flowers are full and beautiful. Be sure to use plant supports for these flowers as the stems will bend/break because of the weight of the blooms, especially when it's wet.
Hybridizer: Roger Anderson, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, USA
This peony is deer-resistant, easy to grow, and provides a 3-4 week period of blooms. When done flowering, the lush, green foliage can serve as a backdrop for other perennials, hardy roses or annuals.
This plant is very tall in my zone 4 garden at 48" plus. The semi-double flowers are a gorgeous coral color when they open, but fade quickly to a pale coral. Still very pretty however. This is one peony that does not smell good at all. It actually has a very unpleasant smell when used as a cut flower, especially as it fades.
This is a double red peony that blooms early-season. It produces huge, deep red blooms. Beautiful!
"Paeonia 'Coral Sunset', (2-SD-PK) Hybrid Peony, (Wissing 1965), USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Medium height, semi-double, coral pink petals, cupped, fades to apricot, early bloomer , Michigan Bloom Month 5c-6.
Peony 'Red Charm' (Glasscock, 1944) is a deep red, Albiflora x Officinalis hybrid: medium height at 36" tall, double, bomb form, large flowers, early bloomer, slight clove fragrance, strong stems, no side-buds, top show winner. Considered one of the best red peonies. APS Gold Medal Winner in 1956. Some reports of adventitious roots. Bred by Lyman D Glasscock (1875-1972) from Elmwood, Illinois which is near Peoria.
"Paeonia 'Pink Hawaiian Coral', (2-SD-PK) Hybrid Peony, (Roy Klehm, 1981), USDA Hardiness Zone 2, Medium height, semi-double, coral pink petals, cupped, notched petal edges, yellow stamens, pink tipped carpels, fragrant, early bloomer, Michigan Bloom Month 5-6.
Paeonia 'Raspberry Sundae' (Carl G. Klehm, 1968) is a double, pink blended, lactiflora cultivar: double bomb-form, fragrant 6" blooms, blended tones of raspberry-pink and cream, deep green foliage, 26 to 30 inches tall, midseason bloomer, side-buds. Center bomb is Cream colored with a pink top. Side-buds seem offer a more pronounced display of the pink & cream blend.
