Herbaceous Peonies: These timeless cottage garden favourites are making a strong comeback, as modern gardeners have discovered they are easy to grow and long-lived. They also make stunning cut flowers, and with the increasing popularity of home gardening, many people are planting their own to create beautiful floral arrangements. Gardeners have access to over a century and a half of peony varieties to choose from, along with exciting new cultivars. We’ve included both Paeonia lactiflora and the Fern Leaf Peony (Paeonia tenuifolia) here, as both are herbaceous and die back to the ground each year.

Itoh Peonies: Itoh, or intersectional peonies, are a unique cross between tree peonies (Paeonia × suffruticosa) and herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora), first developed by Dr. Toichi Ito of Japan in 1948. This hybrid peony combines the best of both worlds: the cold hardiness (USDA zones 3-4) and mounding habit (dying back to the ground) of herbaceous peonies, with the larger, tree peony-like blooms (up to 8” across) in a stunning array of coluors, including white, coral, red, yellow, purple, and many bicolours. These peonies begin flowering just as herbaceous varieties are fading, with mature plants producing up to 50 blooms, all of which make excellent cut flowers. We are pleased to offer the full range of cultivars available, giving you more than twenty beautiful varieties to choose from.

Tree Peonies: Modern tree peonies (Paeonia × suffruticosa) are intricate hybrids that have been carefully cultivated in China for centuries. As the name suggests, this class of peony develops woody, shrub-like stems that do not die back to the ground, growing gradually—about 1 to 6 inches per year and taking 10 to 15 years to fully mature. The reward for your patience is the stunning display of large, sometimes dinner plate-sized, papery blooms. These flowers emerge from terminal buds, with smaller blooms on the lateral branches. Best appreciated in the garden, tree peonies offer their rich fragrance and beauty up close. While their impressive blossoms are tempting for floral arrangements, cutting them can disrupt the growth of their slow-developing, woody structure.

We will call you when your order is ready for pickup at Amsterdam Garden Centre.

Please note that a 20% restocking fee will apply to all cancelled orders.