If you enjoy peonies, I insist that you must have at least one pink variety in your garden.
It’s the classic color that most of us picture when we imagine the perfect peony. It’s the ideal color choice to highlight those elegant blossoms and evoke a sense of romance.
But pink isn’t just for adding sweetness to the flower garden. There is such a huge range of hues, from deep raspberry to salmon to shell pink.
Some peony flowers even sport a combination of hues, in stripes or spots. Gardeners with a penchant for drama will find plenty to choose from.
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Whether you’re looking for something bold and bright or soft and sweet, you’ve got a million options. The biggest challenge is narrowing it down.
Also, check out our guide if you want to learn more about the different kinds of peony flowers, like Japanese, bomb, and anemone.
We’ve found 41 of the best pink peonies for you, ranging from soft pastels to bright striped ones. Here’s the list:
One of the most striking peony varieties combines bright pink petals with vibrant yellow centers. This bold color contrast creates an eye-catching flourish in the garden.
In this article we’ll explore
- Why pink and yellow peonies are so visually appealing
- The best hybrids with this color combination
- Growing tips to cultivate success
- Creative ways to use these bi-colored blooms
Discover why you need these pink and yellow beauties in your spring landscape!
Why Pink and Yellow Peonies Dazzle
Pink peonies with golden yellow centers offer exceptional beauty. Here’s why this color pairing has such visual impact:
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Complementary colors – Pink and yellow sit opposite each other on the color wheel, creating natural contrast.
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Warm and cool tones – The pink petals are a cooler hue while the yellow centers are warm, intensifying the difference.
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Focal point – The vibrant yellow draws attention instantly to the flower’s heart.
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Dimension – The two distinct colors add striking depth and shape.
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Rarity – This combo is less common than solid pink varieties.
The interplay between the soft pink exterior and sunny yellow interior creates incredible depth and vibrancy.
Top Pink and Yellow Peony Varieties
Many hybridizers have developed peony varieties showcasing this favored pink and yellow color scheme. Here are some of the most popular picks:
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‘Bowl of Beauty’ – Large 12-inch blooms in deep pink with frilly lemon centers on 3 foot tall plants. An early midseason bloomer introduced in 1949.
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‘Bowl of Cream’ – Enormous 10-inch double white flowers reveal pink and yellow stamen accents. A 1964 All-America Selections winner that grows around 3 feet tall.
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‘Butterflies in Flight’ – Profuse cherry-pink semi-double blooms with white and yellow central flares reminiscent of butterflies hovering above the foliage. Introduced in 2014.
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‘Joy of Longevity’ – Tree peony with 8-10 inch blooms featuring deep pink outer guard petals surrounding vivid purple and yellow centers. A compact grower to 4 feet tall.
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‘Raspberry Sundae’ – Bomb-type flowers look like pink ice cream swirled with creamy yellow. Sweet, mild fragrance. A 1968 introduction by famous hybridizer Carl Klehm.
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‘Cora Louise’ – Soft white petals with pink edges surround chartreuse and yellow stamen centers. Blooms up to 8 inches wide on 31⁄2 foot tall plants.
Growing Tips for Pink and Yellow Peonies
Here are some top tips for successfully cultivating pink and yellow peonies:
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Plant in full sun in fertile, well-draining soil. Provide good airflow.
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Set bulbs 2-3 inches below soil level in fall. Eyes should point up. Space 3-4 feet apart.
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Water regularly the first year. Mature plants are quite drought tolerant.
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Apply a balanced fertilizer or compost in early spring. Avoid high nitrogen.
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Cut flower stems when half the buds on a stem are open. Condition in warm water.
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Stake taller varieties that tend to flop, especially when in bloom.
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After bloom, cut back stems and remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom.
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Divide congested clumps every 3-5 years in fall to maintain vigor.
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Mulch roots in winter to prevent freeze/thaw damage in colder climates.
Creative Uses for Pink and Yellow Peonies
Here are some ideal ways to showcase these captivating peonies:
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Plant in perennial beds, cottage gardens, and mixed borders for stunning color.
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Feature in elegant floral bouquets and arrangements – they’ll be conversation starters!
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Cluster in informal drift plantings for big visual impact.
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Grow in patio containers and entryway pots for up-close enjoyment.
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Use as vibrant focal points and accents throughout sunny garden beds.
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Mix with cool-toned purples, blues and whites for balance.
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Cut blooms to create showy table centerpieces.
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Pair with other spring-blooming bulbs like tulips, iris, and alliums.
Add These Alluring Blooms to Your Garden
If you want something beyond classic red, white or purple peonies, be sure to give these bright pink and sunny yellow varieties a try. Their two-tone, complementary flower colors will give your spring garden an artful, lively character that feels anything but ordinary.
Let these ideas inspire you to find creative places to showcase pink and yellow peonies where their gorgeous blooms can steal the show!
1 Coral Pom Pom
The early midseason bomb type peony ‘Coral Pom Pom’ is a showstopper.
The young flowers emerge in bright pink before fading to a sweet coral with darker pink edges. Each blossom can reach up to six inches across.
The 34-inch shrub grows straight up, and the long stems are great for cutting. The flowers can stay fresh in a vase for up to 10 days.
The plant might need a little propping up as they open since they can be a little top-heavy.
If you are a fan of Japanese-type peony flowers, ‘Do Tell’ should top your list.
Bred by Edward Auten Jr. in 1946, it has wide, pale, orchid-pink outer petals surrounding narrow fuchsia petals (actually staminodes). It maintains its color even as it ages, with no fading.
Auten helped earn Princeville, Illinois, its reputation as a leading source of exceptional peonies. He bred over 300 named cultivars, many of which you can still find today.
The flowers on a 32-inch plant can be up to seven inches wide, and each plant makes a lot of them.
This early bloomer was awarded the American Peony Society’s Gold Medal in 2004.
2 Monsieur Jules Elie
“Monsieur Jules Elie” is an heirloom peony cultivar that was created by horticulturist François Félix Crousse in 1888. It can be found in traditional peony gardens all over the world.
No one is quite sure who the namesake was, but he would undoubtedly be proud.
The double, deep pink “guard” petals are flat and serve as a base for the heavily ruffled center petals, which rise up into a big, round bump.
Peonies with this flower form are known as bomb double, and they’re eye-catching.
And the blossoms are huge, measuring up to eight inches across on a three-foot-tall plant.
The stems are a bit loose, meaning you might need to stake the flowers. Or just cut them and add them to an arrangement, which is how they really shine.
This plant does well in hot gardens because it can handle the heat. In 1993, it won both the American Peony Society Gold Medal and the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Visit Nature Hills Nursery to bring home this Victorian garden staple in a #3 container to take advantage of the early midseason show.
‘Moon River’ is picture-perfect. That’s almost too good to be true, and this midseason beauty, bred by Carl Klehm in 1972, is one of them.
The eight-inch-wide flowers are perfectly symmetrical and round with a heady rose-like fragrance on a three-foot shrub.
Each double blossom is multicolored with blush pink and cream petals. As they fade, they turn nearly white with just the faintest hint of pink.
The stems are strong enough to support themselves and stand tall in cut arrangements.
‘Neon’ is striking. This Japanese type peony has dark rose pink outer petals and inner petals (staminodes).
What sets it apart is the bright golden-yellow trim that appears on the ruffled edges of the staminodes.
It almost makes the seven-inch flowers look like they’re on fire. Stick your nose into the bloom for a spicy and sweet treat if you can keep the bees away.
Bred by horticulturalist J.C. Nicholls in 1941, there aren’t many peonies out there that can even compare.
‘Pastel Splendor’ demands that you take a moment to truly enjoy the flowers throughout their lifespan.
The petals open up bright pink at first, with a hint of yellow in the middle and a magenta spot at the base.
The petals then change to mostly pale yellow ones with a thick rose pink edge and a magenta base. At the center of each petal is a stripe of purple with yellow carpels.
Finally, the petals fade to nearly white with a pink-red flare at the base.
A midseason Itoh, it was developed in 1996 by Wisconsin breeders Roger F. Anderson and William “Bill” Seidl from ‘Martha W. ’ and ‘Saunders F2. ’.
The 30-inch tall plant can produce an astounding number of flowers. We’re talking up to 70 blooms.
Find bare roots at Nature Hills Nursery and enjoy the show.
The word “pêcher” comes from the French word for a peach’s smooth skin, which perfectly describes how these petals look.
‘Pecher’ is a type of rose with half-double, ruffled flowers that are blush, peach, and shell pink with fuchsia highlights on the tips of the center petals.
It also has a strong, classic peony fragrance. The late-season shrub grows up to three feet tall with strong stems that can support the five-inch blossoms.
Capture ‘Pecher,’ also known as ‘Fleur de Pecher,’ at Nature Hills Nursery.
It’s all in the name. This is a lovely pink option that you’ll fall passionately in love with.
The fragrant six-inch raspberry pink blossoms look like someone turned up the saturation on them. The semi-double flowers last almost a week on the plant.
This 24-inch tall plant has toothed leaves that make the yard look nice even when the flowers aren’t there. It’s a midseason Itoh.
You can find ‘Pink Ardour’ available at Nature Hills Nursery.
Hot pink peony with yellow center
FAQ
What are the pink peonies with yellow middle?
Why are Itoh peonies so expensive?
Do peonies have a yellow center?
Why did my pink peonies turn yellow?
What does a ‘do tell’ peony look like?
‘Do Tell’ are delightfully beautiful soft pink cup peonies with frilly pink and yellow petals in the centers. This is a soft pink peony. The outer petals have white centers that fade into a soft rose color. Then the frilly center of this bowl peony is an explosion of pink and yellow. It is a mid-season peony that is tolerant of heat and humidity.
What does a peony ‘Pink Dawn’ look like?
Lightly fragrant, Peony ‘Pink Dawn’ (Paeonia lactiflora) produces large, bright pink, single flowers with white overtones and a glowing center of golden-yellow stamens. The flowers fade in bright sunshine but retain their pink color in shaded areas.
What is a pink peony?
Sorbet peony is another favorite type of pink peony for gardens and as a cut flower. Sorbet peonies are bombe-type double flowers with alternating layers of pink and white-blush petals. Flowers are fragrant and reach 6″-7″ wide when fully blooming. The leaves are a glossy dark green color.
Which peony blooms are pink & orange?
For blooms that are both pink and orange, look no further than the Coral Charm peony, which butterflies love. Another coral option is the Pink Hawaiian Coral peony, which features coral-colored petals offset by a gorgeous yellow center. This beauty was an American Peony Society Gold Medal Selection.
What does a heavenly pink peony look like?
At the heart of each petal is a flare of maroon and the center of the plant features bright yellow stamens. Their pretty cupped form is only part of their charm. The blooms also have a dreamy sweet fragrance. Many tree peonies can grow seven feet tall or more, but ‘Heavenly Pink’ keeps it close to the ground.
What are yellow peonies?
The Canary Brilliants – these yellow peonies – are a stunning addition to any garden! Adding a vibrant burst of bright yellow, they come in a variety of mesmerizing shades. With radiant petals and lush foliage, these flowers create a striking contrast. They stand out for their vibrant and eye-catching hues!