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Most gardeners love having peonies in the garden. They are wonderfully fluffy and look just like pretty powder puffs.
What you may not like is that their flowering season is very short. No sooner have they bloomed, than they die.
What is a great thing is that nature has provided us with an alternative to peonies – in fact, several options of wonderful plants which look similar and bloom for longer.
A Little About Peonies
There are 30 peony species, and their flowers range from pink, purple and red to white and yellow. They are widely considered to be one of the most popular plants in the garden.
Peonies are native to Europe, Asia, and Western parts of North America. They grow to between 0.25 meters and 1 meter although some can grow to up to 3 meters tall. The blooms normally only last about 7-10 days before withering and dying.
While peonies are beautiful, it is unfortunate that they do not bloom for as long as we would like. This makes them expensive to add to arrangements as depending on the time you need them they may simply not be readily available.
It’s a great idea to have alternative flowers which you know will be available for longer periods – and at far less expense.
10 Flowers that Look like Peonies
The list below contains 10 beautiful flowers that look like peonies:
1) Carnations
2) Marigolds
3) Ranunculi
4) Dahlias
5) Hydrangeas
6) Anemones
7) Roses
8) Camellias
9) Begonias
10) Double Tulips
1) Carnations
These are just as frilly as peonies and come in several beautiful colours. They symbolise devotion and you may have seen them depicted in many religious renaissance paintings.
2) Marigolds
These plants have such cheery faces it is hard not to love them! They come in sunshine colours of yellow, orange and bronze – and any combination of them.
Marigolds are an excellent option for peonies as they will bloom for most of the summer and even into early Autumn.
If you are enjoying this article, check out our article on do marigolds attract bees.
3) Ranunculi
These plants are a cross between a peony and a rose. They are great to add to vases and bouquets. These flowers are a great alternative as they are look a like peonies.
4) Dahlias
These plants are native to Central America and Mexico, and it is not uncommon to find them in gardens all over the world as they are easy to grow and very rewarding.
5) Hydrangeas
A hydrangea when it is in a ‘happy position’ will provide you with heaps of beautiful blooms. Not only are they delicately coloured, but they also last from mid-spring all the way through to late summer.
6) Anemones
There are over 200 species of anemone with Japanese anemones being among the most desired. Beautiful petals and delightful colours make this a favourite for many floral arrangements.
7) Roses
It is the amazing colours of roses which makes them such a good option when peonies are not available. From bright reds to subtle pastels, they are suitable for any arrangements you would use a peony.
8) Camellias
The camellia plant delivers blooms until well into the cooler months so makes a great addition to Autumn wedding bouquets.
9) Begonias
These prefer to grow in shady areas, and you will find them growing in double or ruffled blooms. Colours range from white and yellow, to all shades of pink.
10) Double Tulips
This is exactly what the name says – a tulip with double the number of petals, giving the blooms a fluffy appearance.
If you’re enjoying this article, check out our article on what flowers only bloom once a year & once every 100 years.
Are Peonies Related to Roses?
The answer here is no, they are not related. Both plants flower at different times of the year and each have their own nutritional needs to be healthy.
The only similarity is that they look somewhat alike because of the fluffy, flouncy blooms on both. Rose blooms, however, will outlast peonies but several weeks.
When used in floral arrangements you will find that the price of peonies is far more than the price of roses because of the availability of the roses compared to peonies.
Are Ranunculi and Peonies the Same Thing?
There are similarities between the two in that they look similar and are both classed as herbaceous perennials. Both die off at the end of the growing season and start up again the following year and both are grown from tubers.
The difference is that ranunculi blooms are smaller than peony blooms and the blooming period is far longer with ranunculi than with peonies.
Both plants are very popular for gardeners, and both have a wide colour range.
What are the 3 Types of Peonies?
Peonies are divided into three different groups, namely:
- The North American peony
- The Eurasian peony
- The Asian peony
The North American Peony
This peony dies back to ground level when winter arrives. The flowers are sturdy and large, with many different colours in the range.
You will find that the foliage is very attractive all through the summer and well into fall.
Because the blooms are shorter than the other varieties they are well suited in the garden to be grown at the front of a border. Because of their height, it is not necessary to stake them.
These plants need 5-6 hours of full sun per day, and they bloom in June.
The Eurasian Peony
These are amazing plants because they can thrive in the same spot for up to 50 years! The stems die back to the ground each winter and reappear in the spring.
This variety is classed as low maintenance and need very little water although they benefit from a fertilizer application if the soil is poor.
One thing that they do need is good drainage as they do not do well in boggy soil conditions.
These plants need about 5 – 6 hours of full sunlight each day and flower from May to June.
The Asian Peony
This is also known as the tree peony as it can grow up to 3’ in height. These are native to China.
The Asian peony boasts enormous flowers, with some growing up to 10” across! The foliage is attractive in the autumn and can be deep green in summer with bronzes and purples in the fall.
This plant does not like to be moved so once you have chosen the spot for it, you need to leave it alone.
Asian peonies enjoy light shade during the heat of the day, and they bloom between April and May.
A mature Asian peony in the right spot can grow up to 7’ tall and 5’ wide so make sure that you have enough space for the mature plant when you set it out.
Final Thoughts: 10 Flowers that Look like Peonies
Peonies make great additions to a garden. Not only are they colourful but they simply look like the stuff of fairy tales with their fluffy blooms in a delightful selection of colours.
However, when their short blooming season ends – and you still want them for an arrangement – it is good to know that here are wonderful alternatives to the peony.
What is great about the similar blooms is that they will last longer and cost less and be readily available through the summer and well into the fall.
Peonies are great for the garden but save a little space for one or two of the alternatives as well. You will find that they will compliment each other perfectly through the year and provide your garden with a blaze of colour for longer.
Before you go, here are some more related articles I encourage you to read below to help solve more of your gardening issues:
15 Best Flowers for a Beautiful Front Yard & How to Plant Them