The peony flower is a popular garden perennial flower that symbolizes the ideas of prosperity, good luck, and honor. These blooms are popular for bridal bouquets and flower corsages due to their showy, round blooms, which are also popular as indoor plants.
However, did you know that apart from the classic pink variety, there are various colour peony that can grace your garden and hold different symbolism?
If you, too, are interested in these spring flowers, come along as I share the peony color meaning along with rare varieties and different types to grow.
Quick answer
The peony flower grows in the colors pink, red, white, yellow, and purple. While pink is the classic variety symbolizing love and affection, the red, white, yellow, and purple varieties of the flower are symbolic of romance, purity, friendship, and royalty, respectively.
What is the Peony Flower Meaning?
Primarily, the peony flower is a spring flower that grows in the colour pink, meaning romance, good luck, and prosperity.
During the Victorian times, these pink flowers were a symbol of a happy marriage and hence are used in a bridal bouquet in modern times.
Often referred to as the “king of flowers,” peony bloom symbolism is attached to love, luck, and healing because the roots of these perennial flowers have healing properties.
What Colors Do Peonies Come in? Meaning and Symbolism
Peonies are mainly grown in the colors pink, red, white, yellow, and purple. Some of these are commonly found in traditional gardens, while some are rare to find.
Take a look at these different colour peony with their features and symbolism.
1. Pink
- The pink colour peony is the symbol of luck, romance, and affection. These pink flowers are used in bridal bouquets and home decor.
- In Chinese traditions, the pink peonies represent happy marriages and prosperity; they are called the ‘King of Flowers’ and are popular in weddings and home decor.
- Popular pink peony varieties are ‘Coral Charm’ and ‘Bowl of Beauty.’
2. Red
- Like all the red flowers, the red peony is also symbolic of the ideas of love, passion, and intensity.
- In case you are bored with the classic red roses, the red peonies can be the flower of love this Valentine’s Day.
- In many cultures across the world, like in Japan, it is a symbol of masculine power balanced with feminine beauty.
- Popular red peony varieties are ‘Red Charm’ and ‘Buckeye Belle.’
3. White
- The white colour peony meaning is associated with the idea of purity, new beginnings, and innocence.
- In the traditional Chinese culture, the white peonies are symbolic of the yin energy because the flower’s roots are used as an herb to calm the body.
- A famous painting by Édouard Manet named “Branch of White Peonies and Secateurs” features these white flowers, which are symbolic of the delicate beauty of the blooms.
- Popular white peony varieties are ‘Bowl of Cream‘ and ‘Festiva Maxima.’
4. Yellow
- Yellow peonies, like all the yellow flowers, are the symbol of friendship, warmth, and joy.
- They can be used on Friendship Day as a gift to celebrate the special platonic bonds in your life.
- Popular yellow colour peony varieties include ‘Lemon Chiffon‘ and ‘Garden Treasure.’
5. Purple
- Purple colour peony meaning is linked to luxury, nobility, and royalty. Ranging from lavender to dark purple, peonies are a symbol of admiration and respect.
- They are popularly used for home decor, as centerpieces for special occasions, and as a gift for someone you deeply admire.
- Popular varieties of purple peonies include ‘Purple Spider’ and ‘Morning Lilac.’
Did you know?
The peony flower is the state flower of Indiana.
What are the Rare Varieties of the Peonies?
The rarest peony flower is the black variety, as the true black species does not exist in reality.
While peony is a common garden and cut flower, there are a few rare varieties that are not easily found in gardens. Take a look at those unique species:
1. Avant-Garde
- Botanical name: Paeonia ‘Avant-Garde’
- Height: Up to 3 feet
- Category: Herbaceous hybrid peony
A hybrid variety of P. lactiflora and P. wittmanniana, the avant-garde flower is a light pink bloom created by Victor Limone in 1907, which is popular for its showy petals, plum base, and golden stamens. This flower grows in full sun and is known to be sturdy and resilient.
2. Black Beauty
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Black Beauty.’
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Category: Herbaceous perennial
There’s no such thing as the black peony; this black beauty is a really deep shade of red. These deer-resistant flowers bloom in late spring and attract a variety of pollinating insects and birds to the garden.
Although quite uncommon for indoor gardening, these flowers thrive in full sun to partial shade.
3. Green Halo
- Botanical name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Green halo.’
- Height: 1-2 feet
- Category: Herbaceous perennial
The green halo peony is a rare flower, featuring semi-double flowers that are at least 18 cm large and bloom in the month of June. This perfect combination of light green and white does justice to its name, which also looks elegant in garden spaces.
4. Black Panther
- Botanical name: Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Black panther’
- Height: 3-5 feet
- Category: Tree peony
Not the same as Black Beauty, the Black Panther peony is a tree variety that grows dark red flowers on a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub. The dark red petals and golden-white stamens perfectly complement each other.
These rare flowers bloom in mid-late spring and need less pruning comparatively.
What are the Different Types of Peonies?
There are three types of peonies: herbaceous perennials, tree varieties, and the Itoh hybrid, which is a cross variety of the herbaceous and tree types.
Come and explore these tree varieties along with popular examples:
1. Early Scout
- Botanical name: Paeonia ‘Early Scout.’
- Group: Herbaceous perennial
- Color: Red
- Meaning: Love and passion
- Hardiness zone: USDA zones 3-9
The early-scout peony is a herbaceous perennial that blooms from early spring to summer and dies back in the winter. Famous for its deep red flowers, this peony variety is fragrant and grows in rock gardens.
2. Coral Charm
- Botanical name: Paeonia ‘Coral charm.’
- Group: Herbaceous perennial
- Color: Pink
- Meaning: Warmth, admiration, and friendship
- Hardiness zone: USDA zones 3-8
This herbaceous perennial is a cross-hybrid of ‘Paeonia peregrina’ and ‘Paeonia lactiflora.’ These showy pink blooms are pollinator-friendly and are used as cut flowers.
Also prized for their distinctive fragrance, the coral charms are safe from the threat of deer and rabbits.
3. Anna Marie
- Botanical name: Paeonia ‘Anna marie.’
- Group: Tree
- Color: Pink
- Meaning: Beauty, honor, and friendship
- Hardiness zone: USDA zones 3-8
The Anne Marie peony flower is a double-petaled, fragrant purple flower that blooms in midsummer and is grown as a shrub. Featuring lavender petals, this flower somewhat resembles an orchid.
4. Black Pirate
- Botanical name: Paeonia ‘Black Pirate.’
- Group: Tree/shrub
- Color: Deep red
- Meaning: Gothic, bold, and dramatic
- Hardiness zone: USDA zones 3-9
Growing in an almost black color, this peony flower is a hybrid variety that grows at least 6-inch blooms. The gold stamens and the red petals perfectly complement each other, contributing to its everlasting beauty.
5. Canary Brilliants
- Botanical name: Paeonia x ‘Canary Brilliants’
- Group: Itoh
- Color: Pink
- Meaning: romance and love
- Hardiness zone: USDA zones 3-9
An Itoh hybrid variety, the Canary Brilliant peony blooms in late season and lasts all year, unlike the herbaceous perennials. The flower is orange initially and then eventually turns yellow on maturity. These showy blooms are easy to care for, as they are disease- and deer-resistant.
Concluding Remarks
The peony flower is a symbol of love, prosperity, and romance. Mainly grown as an ornamental cut flower, the peony is available in colors ranging from the classic pink, red, and white to rare and uncommon yellow, green, and black; all these colour peony symbolize different values like friendship, affection, and royalty.
So, choose a gift meaningfully!
FAQs
How many peony colours are there?
Primarily, the peony flowers are grown in the colors pink, red, white, yellow, and purple.
Which is the rarest peony color to exist?
Black and purple are the rarest peony colors to exist.
Do black peonies exist in real life?
No, black peonies are not real. The black-named variety of the peony is just the dark red peony.
Which colour peony signifies love and passion?
Red peony symbolizes love and passion.
What are the three types of peonies?
The three types of peonies are herbaceous perennials, tree peonies, and Itoh hybrids, which are a mix of the two former types.
20 beautiful peonies to grow—BBC Gardeners
