Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Paeonia x lactiflora 'Carol'
Carol Peony

- Height
- 30–36 inches tall
- Width
- 24–30 inches wide
- Flower color
- Ruby-red fully double blooms with a neat rosette form; lightly fragrant
- Foliage color
- Deep glossy green, divided leaves
- Bloom time
- Early–mid season
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low, remove spent blooms, cut foliage to ground after frost;
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3a–8b
- Wildlife
- Fragrant blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; deer- and rabbit-resistant
About this plant
Paeonia × lactiflora 'Carol' presents fully-double, cardinal-red blossoms arranged in a neat rosette, blooming in late spring. The petals remain uniformly red until they fall, and the flowers are supported on robust, upright stems that occasionally benefit from light staking after heavy rain. Glossy, divided foliage complements the blooms, creating a lush backdrop in garden beds or floral arrangements.
'Carol' is an heirloom hybrid rooted in early breeding efforts. The cultivar earned significant recognition, including the American Peony Society Best of Show and Gold Medal in 1968, affirming its excellence in form, color, and stem quality. With its sturdy stems and long-lasting blooms, 'Carol' is a favored choice for cut flower use and landscape appeal where bold red blooms are desired.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Catmint · Heucheras · Lady's mantle · Hellebores · Hardy geraniums · Hostas
Design tip
Foliage and form do most of the work here, so lean on texture and repetition rather than one flowering moment. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Peonies at Glencoe Farms.
