Peonies are native to Asia, Southern Europe and Western North America. There are about 40 known species of Peonies. Here is a list of 10 gorgeous peonies from around the world.
1. European peony
Scientific Name: Paeonia officinalis
Common Names: European peony or common peony
Native to: Europe in Spain, northern Portugal and southern France, Italy, Switzerland, western Romania and the Balkan peninsula.
Description: Flowers are fragrant and bowl-shaped measuring 10–13 cm (4–5 in) in diameter.
Colors: deep pink or deep red
2. Majorcan peony
Scientific Name: Paeonia cambessedesii
Common Names:Majorcan peony
Native to: Balearic Islands of the Mediterranean
Description: Gorgeous bowl-shaped flowers 8-10 cm in diameter.
Colors: mid to pale pink with conspicuous yellow stamens
3. Molly the witch peony
Scientific Name: Paeonia mlokosewitschii
Common Names: Caucasian peony, Molly the witch peony
Native to: Caucasus Mountains in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Dagestan,
Description: Large, single flowers five inches (10–12 cm) across.
Colors: pure lemon-yellow with pale yellow stamens
4. Greek peony
Scientific Name: Paeonia parnassica
Common Names: Greek peony
Native to: Mountains of south-central Greece
Description: The blooms are large, up to 12 cm in diameter and bear a boss of rich orange stamens.
Colors: deep maroon, red
5. Japanese peony
Scientific Name: Paeonia japonica
Common Names: Japanese peony
Native to: The islands of northern Japan
Description: single bloom with a large boss of yellow-tipped stamens.
Colors: pure white
6. Paeonia broteri
Scientific Name:Paeonia broteri
Common Names:Paeonia broteri
Native to: Grows only in Spain and Portugal
Description: The bowl shaped flowers are about about 12 cm in diameter.
Colors: Rose-pink
7. California peony
Scientific Name: Paeonia californica
Common Names:California peony or wild peony
Native to: Southwest California, United States
Description: drooping 2" flowers with 5-6 petals and numerous stamens.
Colors:maroon
8. Brown's peony
Scientific Name: Paeonia brownii
Common Names: Brown's peony, mountain peony, western peony
Native to: North America
Description: The bowl-shaped flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)
Colors: gold, green and maroon
9. Chinese peony
Scientific Name: Paeonia lactiflora
Common Names: Chinese peony or common garden peony
Native to: Central and eastern Asia
Description: Flowers are fragrant cup-shaped and elegant. The blooms measure 8–16 cm (3–6 in) across having pale yellow stamens.
Colors: creamy white, pink, or crimson
10. Himalayan Peony
Scientific Name:Paeonia emodi
Common Names: Himalayan peony
Native to: West Himalayas
Description: Flowers are very showy, coming in three types: single or semi-double, Japanese, with one row of petals and a large center, and highly ruffled double forms.
Colors: White, light pink to magenta and red.
