Florist’s Guide: The Best Peony Varieties for Colour

Peonies are among the most celebrated blooms in floral design. Their lavish form, silken texture, and perfume make them a cornerstone for wedding work, luxury bouquets, and seasonal event styling. With hundreds of cultivars bred over centuries, peonies offer one of the broadest colour ranges found in any cut flower — from luminous whites and pastels to saturated reds, corals, and even sunny yellows.

This guide provides florists with a detailed overview of the best peony varieties grouped by colour, focusing on bloom form, seasonality, handling characteristics, and design application.

White and Cream Peonies

‘Duchesse de Nemours’

Colour: Pure white with a gentle lemon glow at the petal base.
Form: Full double, slightly cupped blooms.
Season: Mid-season.
Fragrance: Sweet, classic peony scent.
Design Notes: This is one of the most elegant and versatile peonies, valued for its pristine tone and graceful symmetry. It performs beautifully in traditional bridal work, ecclesiastical arrangements, and minimalist or modern white-on-white designs. The soft hint of gold at the centre complements champagne, ivory, and cream palettes perfectly.

‘Festiva Maxima’

Colour: Snow white petals with fine crimson flecks on inner petals.
Form: Large, double bloom.
Season: Early to mid-season.
Fragrance: Fresh and lightly spicy.
Design Notes: ‘Festiva Maxima’ is the quintessential old-fashioned white peony, loved for its size and faint splashes of red. Those flecks can add visual texture when paired with pinks, blushes, or burgundy tones. It is also one of the best varieties for cool storage and transport.

‘Shirley Temple’

Colour: Opens blush pink and fades to creamy ivory.
Form: Bomb-type double.
Season: Mid-season.
Fragrance: Soft and sweet.
Design Notes: This variety is beloved for its ability to shift hue as it matures, moving from delicate pink to near-white. Its subtle colour evolution makes it excellent for romantic, layered bridal designs. It also photographs beautifully due to its soft translucence.

‘Moonstone’

Colour: Cream-white with a faint blush tone.
Form: Large, full double.
Season: Mid to late.
Design Notes: Slightly more refined and uniform than ‘Festiva Maxima,’ making it ideal for contemporary floral arrangements where consistency of tone is desired.

Soft and Blush Pinks

‘Sarah Bernhardt’

Colour: Pale shell pink, sometimes with silvery edges.
Form: Full double.
Season: Late blooming.
Fragrance: Mild and rosy.
Design Notes: Possibly the world’s most famous peony, ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is valued for its abundant petals, consistent shape, and strong stems. It opens reliably in water and ships well, making it the industry’s most commercially reliable pink variety. Excellent for weddings, luxury events, and classic romance-themed bouquets.

‘Angel Cheeks’

Colour: Soft pastel pink with slightly deeper centres.
Form: Rounded, double bloom.
Season: Mid.
Fragrance: Gentle and clean.
Design Notes: A florist’s dream for soft, powdery palettes. It pairs effortlessly with ivory roses, white lilac, or pale ranunculus. The blooms are compact and uniform, offering a neat structure for bridal and posy work.

‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’

Colour: Coral-pink maturing to blush and cream.
Form: Semi-double.
Season: Early.
Fragrance: Light, citrusy.
Design Notes: A spectacular variety at the start of peony season, prized for its warm coral glow that mellows beautifully over several days. Particularly effective in spring events and tropical-inspired designs. Use with pale apricots, golds, or muted greens for a sophisticated gradient.

‘Eden’s Perfume’

Colour: Silky light pink with creamy highlights.
Form: Large, full double.
Fragrance: Strong and rosy.
Design Notes: The high scent value of this variety makes it ideal for small-scale arrangements and bridal work where fragrance is prized. It has a soft, almost vintage quality.

Bright and Vivid Pinks

‘Paula Fay’

Colour: Intense cerise-pink.
Form: Semi-double.
Season: Early.
Design Notes: Known for its striking colour saturation, this peony holds its hue even as it opens fully. Use it to add energy and modernity to arrangements, or as a focal bloom in mixed spring bouquets. It is particularly effective in bold editorial and fashion-forward designs.

‘Gay Paree’

Colour: Hot pink guard petals with a creamy, ruffled centre.
Form: Japanese-type.
Season: Mid.
Design Notes: The textural contrast between the outer and inner petals creates a unique two-tone appearance. This variety introduces movement and lightness, particularly useful in garden-style or naturalistic compositions.

‘Kansas’

Colour: Deep fuchsia-pink.
Form: Full double.
Season: Mid.
Fragrance: Mild.
Design Notes: A reliable workhorse in the mid-pink range. Its bright tone holds well in water and remains vivid even in low light, making it an excellent choice for evening event work.

Reds and Deep Tones

‘Red Charm’

Colour: Dark crimson with a velvety sheen.
Form: Bomb-type double.
Season: Early.
Fragrance: Light and fresh.
Design Notes: This dramatic, globe-shaped peony is one of the most luxurious red varieties. Its sculptural presence makes it perfect for dramatic monochromatic arrangements or romantic winter events. Pairs beautifully with dark foliage, black calla lilies, or burgundy ranunculus.

‘Karl Rosenfield’

Colour: Vibrant magenta-red.
Form: Large, full double.
Season: Mid.
Fragrance: Medium strength.
Design Notes: One of the oldest and most enduring red peonies. Strong stems and excellent vase life make it reliable for large installations and corporate floral work.

‘Buckeye Belle’

Colour: Deep garnet with golden stamens.
Form: Semi-double.
Season: Early.
Design Notes: A hybrid variety admired for its colour contrast and elegance. Its open form makes it a natural choice for more contemporary, airy designs.

‘Peter Brand’

Colour: Deep burgundy with purple undertones.
Form: Full double.
Season: Mid to late.
Design Notes: Excellent for moody colour palettes and autumn weddings. The dark tones complement plum, mauve, and bronze accents.

Yellows, Corals, and Apricots

‘Bartzella’ (Itoh Hybrid)

Colour: Bright lemon yellow with red flares at the centre.
Form: Semi-double to double.
Season: Mid to late.
Fragrance: Pleasant and strong.
Design Notes: One of the most remarkable hybrid peonies, combining the strength of tree peonies with the lushness of herbaceous types. It offers a cheerful, luminous tone rare in peonies, making it valuable for spring-to-summer transitions.

‘Coral Charm’

Colour: Intense coral, fading through peach to soft ivory.
Form: Semi-double.
Season: Early.
Fragrance: Mild and sweet.
Design Notes: This award-winning peony is one of the first to bloom each season and is known for its extraordinary colour shift. It is often used in luxury bridal and editorial work for its photogenic quality. Pair with white or soft apricot roses for a refined, sunlit palette.

‘Coral Sunset’

Colour: Orange-coral fading to pale peach.
Form: Semi-double.
Season: Early.
Design Notes: Slightly richer than ‘Coral Charm,’ this variety opens rapidly and fills space with warmth. Excellent for tropical-inspired and contemporary arrangements.

Colour Handling and Design Techniques

Anticipate Colour Evolution: Many peony varieties change hue significantly as they open. Corals fade to apricot, blushes pale to ivory, and some reds deepen. Time your cutting and conditioning accordingly to achieve the desired tone on event day.
Stage Management: For floristry use, peonies should arrive in tight bud, showing a hint of colour. Allow one to three days at room temperature to open. Refrigeration slows this process dramatically.
Combining Tones: When blending peonies, mix within tonal families for depth — for example, whites with blushes or reds with burgundies. Avoid pairing corals and purples directly, as their undertones may clash under artificial light.
Texture Pairings: Peonies pair beautifully with ranunculus, roses, lilac, hellebore, mock orange, or viburnum. For contrast, introduce spiky forms such as veronica or larkspur.
Scent Consideration: Many peonies carry strong fragrance, which may be overwhelming in enclosed venues. Balance with unscented blooms where necessary.
Seasonality: Most peonies are available from April through early July in the Northern Hemisphere. Imported stems extend the season slightly, but quality and fragrance are best from local growers.

Florist tips

Peonies offer florists an unparalleled combination of luxury, colour, and form. From the ethereal whites of ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ to the radiance of ‘Coral Charm’ and the regal depth of ‘Red Charm,’ every variety has a unique aesthetic and mood. Understanding how these colours evolve and how each variety performs in design ensures peonies are used to their fullest potential — creating work that feels both timeless and seasonally alive.

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