They might be an old-fashioned garden plant, but there are so many more varieties available today that will fit your preferences. Some are fragrant, some are tall and need support, but many stand without staking and make great backdrop plants after the flowers fade. You just can't have too many peonies!

1. ‘Al’s Choice’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 1

2. ‘Al’s Choice’
• Type: Intersectional
(cross between herbaceous and tree peony)
• Introduced by: Allan Rogers in 2005
• Form: single to semi-double
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 2

3. 1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr
‘Angel Cheeks’
3

4. ‘Angel Cheeks’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: Roy Klehm in 1970
• Form: bomb
• fragrant
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 4

5. ‘Joker’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 5

6. ‘Joker’
• Type: Herbaceous hybrid
(containing two or more different species)
• Introduced by: Allan Rogers in 2004
• Form: double
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 6

7. ‘Clown’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 7

8. ‘Clown’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: Roy Klehm in 2007
• Form: single
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 8

9. ‘Madame Ducel’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 9

10. ‘Madame Ducel’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: Etienne Mechin in 1880
• Form: double
• Fragrant
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 10

11. ‘Pink Parasol Surprise’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 11

12. ‘Pink Parasol Surprise’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: Roy Klehm in 1988
• Form: bomb with unusual center tuft of petals
• Fragrant
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 12

13. ‘Red Charm’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 13

14. ‘Red Charm’
• Type: Herbaceous hybrid (P. lactiflora x P. officinalis)
• Introduced by: Lyman Glasscock in 1944
• Form: double bomb
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 14

15. ‘Neon’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 15

16. ‘Neon’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 16

17. ‘Neon’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: J. C. Nicholls in 1941
• Form: Japanese
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 17

18. 1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr ‘Coral Sunset’ 18

19. ‘Coral Sunset’
• Type: Herbaceous hybrid
• Introduced by: Charles Klehm in 1965 (hybridized by Samuel Wissing)
• Form: semi-double
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 19

20. 1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr ‘Duchesse de Nemours’
20

21. ‘Duchesse de Nemours’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: Jacques Calot in 1856
• Form: double
• Fragrant
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 21

22. ‘Diana Parks’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr
‘Joker’ 22

23. ‘Diana Parks’
• Type: Herbaceous hybrid
• Introduced by: Henry Bockstoce in 1942
• Form: double
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 23

24. 1/30/2012
‘Tom Cat’
copyright Jean Starr 24

25. ‘Tom Cat’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: Roy Klehm in 2000
• Form: Japanese
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 25

26. ‘White Cap’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 26

27. ‘White Cap’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 27

28. ‘White Cap’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: G. E. Winchell in 1956
• Form: Japanese
• Very fragrant; lots of secondary buds
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 28

29. ‘Martha’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 29

30. ‘Martha’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: Roy Klehm in 2003
• Form: double
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 30

31. ‘Elsa Sass’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 31

32. ‘Elsa Sass’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: H. P. Sass in 1930
• Form: double
• Fragrant
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 32

33. ‘Dayton’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 33

34. ‘Dayton’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: William H. Krekler in 1962
• Form: double
• Very fragrant
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 34

35. ‘The Fawn’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 35

36. ‘The Fawn’
Photo by Klehm’s Songsparrow Farms
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: B. B. Wright in the early 20th century
• Form: double
• Very unusual speckled petals
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 36

37. 1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr
‘Salmon Glory’ 37

38. ‘Salmon Glory’
• Type: Herbaceous hybrid
• Introduced by: Lyman Glasscock in 1947
• Form: double
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 38

39. ‘White Wings’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 39

40. ‘White Wings’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: Aart Hoogendoorn in 1947
• Form: single
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 40

41. ‘Lois Kelsey’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 41

42. ‘Lois Kelsey’
• Type: Herbaceous lactiflora cultivar
• Introduced by: Ernest Flint Kelsey in 1934
• Form: single to semi-double
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 42

43. ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 43

44. ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’
• Type: Herbaceous hybrid
• Introduced by: Roy Klehm in 1981
• Form: semi-double
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 44

45. ‘Yellow Doodle
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr
Dandy’ 45

46. ‘Yellow Doodle
Dandy’
• Type: Intersectional hybrid
• Introduced by: Donald Smith in 2002
• Form: double
• Lightly fragrant flowers can be 8” across
1/30/2012 copyright Jean Starr 46