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Purple Peonies

7 purple peonies

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Purple peonies are rare but are well worth searching out to add to your flower garden. Here are some of the most popular purple cultivars to add to your garden.

1. Morning Lilac peony

Morning Lilac peony is perhaps the most popular purple peony variety. Morning Lilac is an Itoh peony, meaning it is an intersectional hybrid cross between a lactiflora species herbaceous plant and a tree peony.

These flowers have fuchsia petals that transform to true dark purple close to the center of the flower. The flowers are single to semi-double, with slightly crinkled soft petals. These fragrant flowers measure about 6โ€ณ across. The stems grow strong, and the leaves are deep green, making lovely foliage after the bloom.

Morning Lilac Itoh peonies (Paeonia x โ€˜Morning Lilacโ€™) can be grown in Zones 3-8. They grow slowly but eventually reach a height of 26โ€ณ-28โ€ณ. The overall width of the plant ranges from 24โ€ณ to 36โ€ณ at maturity. The Morning Lilac Itoh peony was developed by Roger F. Anderson of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, USA, and introduced in 1999.

2. Nightlife peony

Nightlife peony is one of the darkest purple peony varieties available. The dark, dramatic plant blooms are also quite fragrant, making them a pleasure to grow in the garden and to bring indoors as a cut flower. These tough peony plants can be grown in Zones 2-8.

Shimadaijin Tree Peony - Purple Peony Variety
Shimadaijin tree peony

3. Shimadaijin tree peony

Shimadaijin Tree peonies are among the most sought-after tree peonies due to their large, fluffy, semi-double violet perennial flowers. These purple peonies have multiple layers of soft, silky petals that puff out into a gorgeous flower. Each flower measures about 8โ€ณ across, and they have a lovely floral scent.

Shimadaijin Tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa โ€˜Shimadaijinโ€™) can be grown in Zones 4-7. These plants grow quickly for tree peonies (although their general growth rate is still slower than many other woody plants). They typically reach a height of 36โ€ณ to 84โ€ณ tall, with a spread of 3โ€ฒ-5โ€ฒ wide. The Shimadaijin Tree peony was developed by Kiyo Ikeuchi on Daikon Island, Japan, in 1952.

4. Peter Brand peony

Peter Brand peonies are a richly-colored deep burgundy double peony. This heirloom variety has layers and layers of petals, with individual flowers measuring 6โ€ณ wide. While the flowers are a ruby-red color when they first open, they mature into a rich purple color as the petals unfurl. The foliage is a dark green shade, and the stems are strong enough that this peony often does not require staking or support. This is one of the easiest purple peonies to grow.

Peter Brand peony (Paeonia lactiflora โ€˜Peter Brandโ€™) can be grown in Zones 3-8. These perennials grow slowly but eventually reach a height of 34โ€ณ-36โ€ณ and a spread of 30โ€ณ wide. The Peter Brand peony was bred by Abraham Brand at some point before 1937.

5. Cora Louise peony

The Cora Louise peony is a stunning white peony flower with purple centers. The flowers are semi-double, measuring 8โ€ณ-10โ€ณ across. A single plant can produce up to 50 flowers once established. The foliage is dark green and highly ornamental.

Cora Louise peony (Paeonia x โ€˜Cora Louiseโ€™) can be grown in Zones 3-8. This Itoh cultivar is low-growing, reaching a mature height of 23โ€ณ-27โ€ณ tall. Established plants can have a spread of up to 36โ€ณ wide. The Cora Louise peony was bred by Roger F. Anderson of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, USA, and introduced in 1986.

Purple Peonies
Purple peonies

6. First Arrival peony

The First Arrival peony is a lavender-pink peony with puffy, semi-double flowers. The soft purple flowers of this Itoh cultivar bloom early and have a wonderful floral scent. The soft lavender petals are highly attractive to beneficial pollinators and are also lovely in bouquets. Each flower grows 6โ€ณ-8โ€ณ across. Foliage is dark green and grows in a dense form.

First Arrival peony (Paeonia x โ€˜First Arrivalโ€™) can be grown in Zones 3-8. Plants are compact, growing 24โ€ณ-28โ€ณ tall and 24โ€ณ-36โ€ณ wide. The First Arrival peony was also bred by Roger F. Anderson of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, USA, and introduced in 1986.

7. Cherry Hill peony

Cherry Hill is an heirloom crimson-plum double peony cultivar. These richly-colored fluffy flowers truly are the color of rich, dark cherries. Blooms are 6โ€ณ wide and beautifully scented. The stalks are strong and rarely need support or staking.

Cherry Hill peonies (Paeonia lactiflora โ€˜Cherry Hillโ€™) can be grown in Zones 3-8. These plants take a few years to get established enough to produce big fluffy flowers. Plants are large, reaching 40โ€ณ-44โ€ณ tall and 24โ€ณ-36โ€ณ wide. These peonies were bred by Thomas C. Thurlow and introduced in 1915.

purple peony

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