Paeonia lactiflora 'Coral Sunset'

Coral Sunset Peony

Height: 24–36 inches tall
Width: 24–30 inches wide
Flower color: Semi-double coral‑pink blooms that fade through salmon and cream to pale yellow‑white
Foliage color: Glossy medium green divided foliage
Bloom time: Early to late spring
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low, remove spent blooms; cut foliage to ground after first frost; sturdy stems rarely need staking
Growing zone: USDA zones 3–8
Wildlife: Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and general pollinators; deer- and rabbit-resistant; makes excellent cut flowers

About this plant

Paeonia lactiflora 'Coral Sunset' opens with bowl-shaped, semi-double blossoms in a glowing coral‑pink that gradually softens to peach‑ivory with age. It blooms in late spring to early summer, often producing its earliest blooms among herbaceous peonies. The lightly fragrant flowers are supported by sturdy upright stems that stand firm without staking, and their lush, ruffled petals combine to create a luminous, sunset-like aura in garden beds and vase arrangements.

'Coral Sunset' has earned top accolades including the American Peony Society's Gold Medal in 2003 and the Award of Landscape Merit in 2009. The cultivar grows vigorously, forming a neat mound of glossy, green foliage that provides an elegant backdrop for its blooms. Deer and rabbit resistance, along with a strong vase life when cut in bud stage, make it both a dependable and enchanting choice for borders and floral displays.

Works well in

Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens

Companion plants

Catmint · Heucheras · Lady's mantle · Hellebores · Hardy geraniums · Hostas

Design tip

The early flowers arrive when the garden is still waking up, so give it a spot you pass often in spring. Because it is easy about light, use it to carry a planting from a sunny end of the bed into the shadier side.

Where to see it

This plant can be seen at Peonies at Glencoe Farms.