Herbaceous vs. Itoh Peonies: What’s the Difference, and Which Should You Grow?

When I’m choosing a new peony, the first things I notice are usually the color and the shape of the flower. I love big double blooms—the more ruffled, the better—but I’m realizing that the more varieties I discover, the harder it gets to pick a favorite.

If you’re trying to decide between an herbaceous and an Itoh peony, the basic difference is pretty simple. Herbaceous peonies are the traditional garden peonies most of us are familiar with, and they come in a huge range of colors, flower forms and fragrances. Itoh peonies are hybrids between herbaceous and tree peonies. They tend to have stronger stems and a bushier growth habit, and some have flower colors that are harder to find among traditional peonies.

Itohs are also usually more expensive.

Does that make them better? I don’t think so. I sell both at Frolic & Flora, and if I had to choose for my own garden, I actually lean toward herbaceous peonies.

Here’s why.

What Is an Herbaceous Peony?

Herbaceous peonies are the classic garden peonies that come up every spring and die completely back to the ground after frost. The plant isn’t dead—the roots and crown are still alive underground and will send up new growth the following spring.

What I love most about herbaceous peonies is the variety.

Sarah Bernhardt has that classic peony look: big, soft pink flowers and a beautiful fragrance. Then you have something like Red Charm, which is completely different. I recently fell in love with Red Charm because of how huge the blooms can get and how deep the red color is.

There are whites, blushes, pinks, corals and reds, and the flowers can range from fairly simple singles to huge, densely packed doubles. Fragrance can also be completely different from one variety to another.

I’m definitely biased toward the big doubles.

Herbaceous peonies also make excellent cut flowers, which is another reason I like them so much. One thing to keep in mind is that some of those enormous double blooms get heavy, especially after rain. Depending on the variety, the plant may appreciate a peony ring or some other support to keep the flowers upright.

So What Makes an Itoh Different?

Itoh peonies are also called intersectional peonies. They were created by crossing herbaceous peonies with tree peonies, so they have characteristics of both.

They go dormant in winter much like herbaceous peonies, with most of the growth above ground dying back. But you can see some of their tree-peony heritage in the way they grow. Itohs tend to form broad, substantial plants with sturdy stems and attractive foliage.

Those stronger stems are one of their big advantages. If you’ve ever watched a giant double peony flop over after a heavy rain, you can probably appreciate a peony that’s better at holding itself up.

Then there are the flowers.

Bartzella is the Itoh that really caught my attention. The yellow is just so unusual for a peony. There are other yellow and yellow-toned peonies out there, but it’s still not the color most people picture when they think of a peony.

Herbaceous vs. Itoh Peonies

Here’s the easiest way I’d compare them:

Why Are Itoh Peonies So Expensive?

I’ll admit, when I first started offering them, I didn’t really understand why an Itoh root could cost so much more than an herbaceous peony. I knew they were different, but I didn’t know what was behind the price difference.

A lot of it comes down to how Itohs came about and how they’ve been propagated.

Successfully crossing herbaceous and tree peonies was historically difficult. Once breeders developed desirable intersectional varieties, multiplying those plants also took time. Compare that with a classic herbaceous variety such as Sarah Bernhardt, which dates back to the 1800s and has been commercially propagated for generations.

Itohs are much more widely available today, but many varieties still sell at a premium.

I think that distinction is important because more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a better peony. You’re getting a different kind of peony with a more complicated breeding history and some traits that you might—or might not—care about.

Why People Love Itohs

Even though herbaceous peonies are my personal favorite, I get the appeal of Itohs.

They can develop into really substantial plants, and their strong stems are a nice advantage in the garden. Mature plants can carry a lot of flowers, and some varieties produce side buds that open after the main flowers. Exactly how long they bloom will depend on the variety, weather and growing conditions, but a mature Itoh can put on an impressive show.

I think they make the most sense for someone who wants a peony that’s a little more unusual, or someone who already has the classic pinks, whites and reds and wants to add something different.

And then there’s Bartzella. If you want a big yellow peony in the garden, I can understand the temptation.

But I Still Prefer Herbaceous Peonies

If I were spending my own money and had to choose, I’d probably buy several herbaceous peonies before spending the same amount on one Itoh.

Part of that is simply because there are so many varieties I want.

Shirley Temple

If you made me choose a favorite right now, it would probably be Shirley Temple. I love the blush coloring and the big, ruffled flowers. There’s something really gentle about it. I know this sounds a little funny, but I actually find the flowers calming to look at.

Sarah Bernhardt

Sarah Bernhardt is the classic for me. Big pink flowers, lots of petals and that familiar peony fragrance—it’s pretty much what comes to mind when I picture a traditional peony.

There’s a reason people have been growing it for such a long time.

Red Charm

Red Charm is a more recent favorite of mine. The flowers can be huge, but it’s really that deep red color that got me.

It also shows why I have such a hard time choosing between herbaceous varieties. Shirley Temple and Red Charm are both herbaceous peonies, but they give you two completely different looks.

Mother’s Choice

Mother’s Choice is my current waiting game.

I recently planted it because I was drawn to the blush-to-creamy coloring and those big ruffled blooms. I’m hoping I’ll get to see it flower next year.

That’s one thing about peonies—you have to be willing to wait. Sometimes you plant a root knowing that the really good part might still be a couple of seasons away.

Which Would I Buy?

If you want classic peony flowers, lots of varieties to choose from, fragrance and great flowers for cutting, I’d look at herbaceous peonies first. They’re also usually less expensive, so if you’re anything like me and have trouble choosing just one variety, your money goes a little further.

If you want a strong, bushy landscape plant, unusual flowers or simply something you don’t see in every peony garden, take a look at Itohs. You’ll usually pay more for the root, but you’re getting a genuinely different type of peony.

If you have room for both, even better.

What About Tree Peonies?

Every once in a while someone asks me about tree peonies. I don’t currently stock them, but they’re different from both of the types we’ve been talking about.

A tree peony keeps woody stems above ground through the winter instead of dying all the way back. New growth develops from that woody structure the following year.

So, in very simple terms: herbaceous peonies die back to the ground, most of an Itoh’s top growth dies back, and tree peonies keep their woody stems.

And Why Are There Always Ants on Peonies?

This was another thing I learned after I started growing them.

If you’ve ever looked closely at a peony bud in spring, you may have noticed ants crawling all over it. I had heard that the ants were somehow helping the peony open by removing the sticky coating from the bud.

Turns out, peonies don’t need ants to open.

The buds produce sugary nectar that attracts the ants, so they’re basically there because they found a food source. Seeing ants on your peonies is normal and generally isn’t something you need to worry about.

A Few Quick Questions

Are Itoh peonies better than herbaceous peonies?

No. They’re just different. Itohs are known for their sturdy growth and distinctive flowers, while herbaceous peonies give you an enormous selection of colors, fragrances and flower forms.

Why do Itoh peonies cost more?

Their unusual hybrid origin and historically more difficult propagation are part of the reason. They’re more widely available now, but many Itoh varieties still cost considerably more than common herbaceous varieties.

Do Itoh peonies come back every year?

Yes. They’re perennials and will go dormant over winter before growing again in spring.

Do Itoh peonies need staking?

Usually not. Their strong stems are actually one of their big selling points.

Which is better for a beginner?

I’d be comfortable growing either. Personally, I think herbaceous peonies are a great place to start because there are so many varieties and you can usually buy several roots for what you might spend on a few higher-priced Itohs.

What Would I Plant?

Right now? Shirley Temple would probably be first.

I love the blush color, the ruffled double flowers and just how delicate it looks. But ask me again after Mother's Choice finally flowers and I might give you a completely different answer.

If I were building a peony garden from scratch, I’d probably spend my money on several different herbaceous varieties before buying one Itoh. That’s purely personal preference. I like having different colors, fragrances and flower shapes to look forward to.

If you're choosing for your own garden, I'd pay more attention to the individual variety than whether the label says herbaceous or Itoh. Look at the flower, fragrance, mature growth and how you want to use it. Peonies can live for decades, so I'd choose the one you're actually excited about seeing come back every spring.

Happy growing,
Ian
Frolic & Flora

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