Itoh Peony Care Tips: How to Grow and Care for Itoh Peonies

The Itoh peony (Paeoniaceae) is a hybrid peony with fragrant, anemone-shaped blooms and strong stems. In 1948, after many years of development, a Japanese horticulturist named Dr. Toichi Itoh successfully crossbred a tree peony with an herbaceous peony to create the intersectional peony now known as the Itoh peony. As a result of the crossbreeding, Itoh peonies produce large blooms and dark green foliage atop strong, sturdy stems that do not require staking. Itoh peony flowers come in a wide array of vibrant colors including dark pink, deep lavender, and white.

These plants have a mounded growth habit, making them great for planting in a perennial border or hedge. Their bloom time lasts from late spring to early summer. At the end of the bloom season, the foliage will die back down to the ground. The foliage is deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant.

Consider these factors before growing Itoh peonies.

1. 1. Climate: Plant Itoh peonies in early spring in USDA hardiness zones three to eight.
2. 2. Light: Itoh peonies will grow dense foliage when planted in areas that receive full sun. However, their flowers can benefit from part shade coverage in warm climates—particularly during hot afternoons.
3. 3. Water: Water your Itoh peony consistently in the plant's first year to help it firmly establish roots. Keep the soil moist throughout the growing season but avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.
4. 4. Soil: Plant your peony plants in rich, well-draining soil. Itoh peonies will tolerate a soil pH ranging from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.
5. 5. Spacing: To allow for proper air circulation, plant your peonies two to three feet apart.
6. 6. Fertilizer: Itoh peonies are sensitive to high levels of nitrogen, so use a fertilizer with a low level of nitrogen for the best results. Only fertilize your plants at the beginning of the growing season in early spring to encourage new growth.

Consider planting one of these Itoh peony cultivars.

1. 1. ‘Bartzella’: One of the most favored Itoh hybrids, Peony 'Bartzella' produces vibrant yellow flowers with a slight red stain at their center. They're vigorous growers in USDA zones four to eight.
2. 2. ‘Takara’: This cultivar produces large blooms that are six inches across. Their light yellow petals are flushed with deep pink and purple, giving them a mostly pink appearance. This cultivar is hardy in USDA zones four to eight.
3. 3. ‘Keiko’: This cultivar produces large, semi-double or double blossoms. Early in the growing season, their blooms emerge boasting dark lavender petals. Over time, they fade to a delicate pink. These peonies are hardy in USDA zones four to eight as well.

Peony plants are considered toxic to humans and animals. Ingesting any part of the peony plant can cause adverse symptoms, so keep your plants away from pets and children.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.