Imagine massive, ruffled blooms the size of dinner plates. Petals so lush and layered they seem almost too beautiful to be real. The air is thick with the intoxicating fragrance—a heady mix of rose and citrus that makes you close your eyes and breathe deeper.

Welcome to Peony season, friend.

But here's the bittersweet reality about Peonies: their incredible beauty is brief. Peonies remind us that the most treasured things in life are fleeting… which makes them even more precious.

Peonies for Extraordinary Cut Flowers

Not all Peonies are created equal when it comes to gracing your dining room table. The varieties that truly shine as cut flowers possess three qualities:

Stems that are strong enough to support those heavyweight blooms.
Robust plants that grow vigorously.
Blooms that look stunning in your vase for at least five days.

After nine years of trial and triumph (and lots of spectacular failures!) testing over 30 varieties on my Zone 6 Michigan farm, I've discovered which Peonies are the true champions of the cutting garden.

Growing Peonies with Patience

Here's where most growers get it wrong: they expect instant gratification from Peonies. But Peonies operate on their own timeline, and trust me, they are worth the wait.

The Foundation Years (Years 1-3)

Start with bare-root divisions planted in fall. We plant in November or even December, as long as the ground is not frozen.

Then comes the hardest part: for the following three growing seasons, you are going to remove/pinch off the buds. Yes, you read that right. Pinch them all off.

I know, I know. It feels like a cruel joke.

But here's why it’s important: Plants, much like overambitious humans (ahem, like me!), are terrible multitaskers. Ask a young Peony to produce those showstopping blooms and develop a robust root system simultaneously, and it'll do both jobs poorly. You end up with a mediocre plant with mediocre blooms.

Instead, be kind and loving to your Peony plant. Give it permission to focus solely on building strong roots, and I promise, you'll be rewarded with a plant that becomes incredibly productive in the future.

Pro tip from a trusted Peony farmer: Keep one bud per plant during those first seasons—just enough to confirm you actually planted what you thought you planted, AND to get a preview of the beauty to come.

Year 4: The Grand Reveal

By the fourth season, your Peonies will have transformed into strong plants with a robust root system. Now it's time to let them loose and harvest to your heart's content!

*My 3 favorite Peony varieties! “Dr. Alexander Fleming” (pink), “Festiva Maxima” (white), and “Kansas” (magenta).*

Choosing Varieties to Extend the Harvest

Peony season is short (usually less than 2 weeks), so to make it last as long as possible, we plant an assortment of “Early”, “Mid”, and “Late” blooming varieties to extend the harvest season.

I select varieties across three bloom periods:

Early season (first to bloom)
Midseason (blooms about 3-5 days later than early)
Late season (blooms about 7-10 days later than early)

This means we have a steady wave of Peonies coming into bloom over about 14 days, instead of having all of them bloom over 2-3 days.

Weather Warning: Mother Nature loves to throw curveballs. A sudden heatwave can cause all your carefully timed varieties to bloom at once. You’ll have to put all your other plans on hold while you harvest like a maniac. Cooler weather is your friend. The cooler the weather, the more slowly and evenly the blooms ripen.

Creating the Perfect Peony Palette

Peonies offer a range of colors. The classic palette includes:

Coral/Salmon
White
Blush
Pink
Red/Magenta

My strategy? I try to secure at least one variety in each color for each bloom time (Early, Mid, and Late). This way, I know I’ll have a good color mix of Peonies in bloom at the same time.

My Most Beloved Varieties Sorted by Color

After years of testing, some peonies have earned permanent places in my heart (and the farm).

Here are the stars of the show:

Coral/Salmon

“Coral Sunset”(Early-season): The crowd favorite that generates actual gasps from visitors. People go crazy over this flower! But if you have a super sensitive sniffer like I do, be warned that the fragrance can be unpleasant for some.

'Etched Salmon' (Mid-season): This color is so unique that it stops people in their tracks. Fair warning: coral/salmon Peonies tend to be divas with shorter vase lives, but these are a perfect “Event Flower”, meant to be displayed prominently in weddings or dinner party arrangements.

White

'Duchess de Nemours' (Mid-season): Looking for white wedding Peonies? Look no further! Elegant, dreamy, with touches of gold hidden in the heart of each bloom.

'Festiva Maxima' (Early-season): One of the most popular white Peonies and for good reason. The classic frilly blooms are delicately edged in magenta. They are incredibly productive and vigorous plants. This Peony is loaded with nostalgia and memories. If your Grandma had white Peonies, chances are she was growing “Festiva Maxima”, as it’s been a favorite for over 150 years!

“Gardenia” (Mid-season): Massive blooms that are to die for. SO fluffy! These jaw-dropping blooms are so full and soft you'll want to bury your entire face in them. The blooms are pure white, with occasional pink edging on the petals

'Mary E. Nicholls' (Late-season): The newcomer that stole my heart completely. Elegant white petals kissed with the faintest blush of pink—subtle sophistication at its finest.

Blush

'Florence Nicholls' (Early/Mid-season): This color-shifter begins as soft blush pink, then performs the most graceful transition to nearly white as it opens. It's like watching magic in slow motion.

'Pillow Talk' (Mid-season): Don't let the soft name fool you—this variety is tough and durable. The massive blooms grow on sturdy, robust stems. The perfect blush pink Peony.

“Sarah Bernhardt” (Late-season): One of the most popular Peonies of all time. The delicate, blush blooms are simply swoon-worthy. She’s the grand finale of Peony season.

Pink

‘Dr. Alexander Fleming” (Mid/Late-season): This is one of my personal favorites, as well as one of the most productive Peonies on the farm. The elegant cool pink tones are perfect in bunches or mixed wth other spring blooms.

'Monsieur Jules Elie' (Early-season): An explosion of joy in your garden! These "bomb-type" blooms literally burst open to reveal their fluffy petals, like nature's own fireworks display.

Red/Magenta

'Kansas' (Early-season): The undisputed champion and MVP Peony of the farm. These are ridiculously productive plants with robust stems and petals tough enough to weather any storm. These blooms last longer than any other Peony I grow.

The Payoff: Blooms for Decades to Come

Yes, Peonies demand patience.

Yes, they require a leap of faith and three years of delayed gratification.

But when that first armload of blooms finally makes it to your kitchen counter, when your entire house fills with their perfume and friends show up unannounced just to see them… you'll understand why we’re so obsessed with Peonies!

Peony Season is an annual celebration, a reward for patience, a reminder that some of life's greatest pleasures are worth waiting for.

In a world of instant gratification, Peonies teach us the profound satisfaction of delayed gratification.

I trust that this blog post will help you choose which Peonies you want to grow in your garden! You have plenty of time to start researching Peony farms to purchase from, since it’s best to plant the bare roots in the fall.

Yes, the roots may “seem” expensive, but Peonies can be productive for decades. It’s not uncommon for them to be handed down from generation to generation. Think of each root as an investment in your future joy and delight!

Here are a couple of farms I can recommend:

Mountain Flower Farm in Vermont
Hollingsworth Peonies in Missouri

Ready for More?

If you’re serious about growing the garden of your dreams this year, register for my online course, “Backyard Cutting Garden 101”. You’ll find everything you need to plan, grow, harvest and arrange your stunning blooms. I can’t WAIT to help you grow! Click on the button below for all the details.

I'm Ready to grow!

Show-Stopping Peonies for Cut Flowers