Astonishingly beautiful, these showy pink blooms burst onto the scene in May and peak in June – blink and you might miss them.

Easy to grow and cited as one of the most carefree of all perennials, the sun-loving genus paeonia (their botanical name) can live for 50 years or more, but it takes about three years for their opulent blooms to become full-sized.

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Best peony gardens to visit in the UK and Ireland

Originally native to Asia, for some peonies symbolise prosperity, good luck, love and honour. One of our favourite flowers, here’s where to catch the best bouquets…

1. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London

 
 
 
 
 
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One of Kew’s horticultural highlights on display this month, bees love peak peony season, especially when their petals open wide to reveal the pollen-rich stamens bees relish. The Sarah Bernhardt peony bears big baubles of white and pink flowers and their delicate fragrance is as gorgeous as their feathery petals.

2. Spetchley Park Gardens, near Worcester

 
 
 
 
 
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When you walk among the Instagram-worthy peonies in Spetchley Gardens, you might want to pack a small tape measure to size up their stars – the width of a golf ball, the buds open up to three times their size, with some varieties measuring 19cm across. Tree peonies bloom earlier than herbaceous peonies, boast larger blossoms and can grow up to – and even over – 150cm in height.

3. Aberglasney, Llangathen, Wales

 
 
 
 
 
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Head to the gardens at Aberglasney and chances are, their ornamental borders will stop you in your tracks. The ‘Bowl of Beauty’ peony has electric pink flowers with a fluffy yellow core of perfumed petals.

4. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scotland

 
 
 
 
 
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One of the oldest botanical gardens in Britain, the Woodland Garden at the RBG Edinburgh has an impressive array of peonies. An added bonus, you’ll come across some of the world’s tallest tree species with ‘a cathedral-like atmosphere’ to crown its precious plantings. Wonderful and worth seeking out.

5. Mount Congreve Gardens, County Waterford, Ireland

 
 
 
 
 
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Mount Congreve has a dedicated Peony Walk to celebrate the beauty of these splendid blooms. Scented shrubs of lavender edge the path with tall varieties of peonies in classic shades of pale pink and cerise basking in the limelight. A showcase for their brief but bedazzling flowering season.

Best-selling peony bulbs

Stuck for inspiration? Check out our list of best-selling Amazon products!

SaleBestseller No. 2
10 x Ranunculus Mix Summer Flowering Bulbs Persian Buttercup Aviv Colourful Peony Shaped Cut Flower...
  • Pack of 10 corms that produce beautiful multicoloured peony shape double blooms. Each stem produces one to several flowers.
  • Also known as the Persian buttercup these pretty colourful Ranunculus have fully double flowers with tightly clustered petals.
  • Ranunculus are ground-hardy in warmer areas and can be planted in the autumn between September and November for flowers in early spring or in the spring (when the danger of frost has passed) for...
Bestseller No. 3
10 x Ranunculus Asiaticus Pink Summer Flowering Bulbs Persian Buttercup Aviv Cut Flowers Hardy...
  • Nothing beats Ranunculus flowers to add that dash of whimsy and romance to the garden. Candy pink coloured tight clustered flowers not only look lovely, but combine beautifully with so many other...
  • Also known as the Persian buttercup these pretty pink Ranunculus have fully double flowers with tightly clustered petals
  • Ranunculus are ground-hardy in warmer areas and can be planted in the autumn between September and November for flowers in early spring or in the spring when the danger of frost has passed, usually...
Bestseller No. 4
You Garden - Herbeaceous Hardy Peony Plants Pink Red and White Bare Roots - Supplied as Bare Root...
88 Reviews
You Garden - Herbeaceous Hardy Peony Plants Pink Red and White Bare Roots - Supplied as Bare Root...
  • Now you too can have a gorgeous show of Peony flowers in your own garden!
  • They'll add impact and vivid colour to your beds and borders from this year onwards.
  • This collection includes 3 fabulous colours - crimson-red, shell-pink, and pure-white.
Bestseller No. 5
1 x Peony Pure White – Chic White Double Blooms – Classic & Fragrant Flowers – Summer...
  • WHEN TO PLANT: Plant between January to June and flowers will Bloom April to June. HEIGHT 80-90cm. Highlight your summer garden with the pristine blooms of white peonies. They are WINTER PLANTING...
  • HOW TO PLANT: Simply plant the bulbs 10cm deep and 50cm apart and wait for your colourful bulbs to bloom. Water regularly as the growth begins to appear and you can dead head when flowers begin to die...
  • CONTENTS: 1 x Peony Pure White. BOTANICAL NAME: Gladiolus Far West. Bulbs Size 2/3. Bulbs grown from cultivated stock
Bestseller No. 6
10 x Ranunculus Pink Summer Flowering Bulbs Persian Buttercup Aviv Peony Shaped Cut Flowers Hardy...
  • Pack of 10 corms that produce beautiful candy pink coloured peony shaped double blooms that not only look lovely, but combine beautifully with so many other plants,. Each stem produces one to several...
  • Also known as the Persian buttercup these pretty pink Ranunculus have fully double flowers with tightly clustered petals
  • Ranunculus are ground-hardy in warmer areas and can be planted in the autumn between September and December for flowers in early spring or in the spring (when the danger of frost has passed) for...

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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