Peony Paeonia lactiflora
Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is a deciduous perennial flowering plant in the Paeoniaceae family. It grows 60 cm–1 m (24 in–3.3 ft) tall and 70 cm–1 m (28 in–3.3 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -35 °C (-31 °F). Space plants about 90 cm (35 in) apart.
Plan Peony in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Peony at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Paeoniaceae |
| Mature height | 60 cm–1 m (24 in–3.3 ft) |
| Mature spread | 70 cm–1 m (28 in–3.3 ft) |
| Spacing | 90 cm (35 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -35 °C (-31 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 28 °C (82 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇵🇱 Poland |
Is Peony toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: roots, bark, flowers
Contains paeonol; can cause vomiting and diarrhoea if eaten.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Peony
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See Peony in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- China National Botanical Garden (18 plants)
- Monet’s gardens at Giverny (70 plants)
- Riverside botanical garden (10 plants)
Questions about Peony
- How far apart should I plant Peony?
- About 90 cm (35 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 70 cm–1 m (28 in–3.3 ft).
- Does Peony need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Peony need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Peony?
- It tolerates about -35 °C (-31 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- When does Peony flower?
- From about May for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Peony poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Contains paeonol; can cause vomiting and diarrhoea if eaten.
- What grows well with Peony?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Peony. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Slow to establish; resents disturbance.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Tree peony Paeonia suffruticosa
- Delavay’s tree peony Paeonia delavayi
- Tibetan tree peony (Ludlow’s peony) Paeonia ludlowii
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- English lavender Lavandula angustifolia
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus