What type to buy

There are three types of peony to consider before you buy

Herbaceous

This is the traditional ‘long stem’ plant flowering in may and June and dying back in winter. Traditional herbaceous peonies will often need stakes or supports to keep the large flowers from snapping stems.

Tree peonies

These are more like shrubs than trees, with shorter, woody stems that don’t die back all the way in winter, and which produce an abundance of large flowers in April.

Intersectional

Also known as ‘Itohs’, these are a cross between the herbaceous and tree peonies. Developed in 1940s Japan, they flower in June and July, and can be easier to care for, as they need little or no staking.