When most flower farmers think of peonies, they envision lush herbaceous types or the stately tree peonies. But there's a third, often-overlooked category that deserves a place in any cut flower operation: Itoh peonies. Also known as intersectional peonies, Itohs are a cross between herbaceous and tree peonies, combining the best traits of both. For cut flower farmers looking to diversify their peony crop, extend the bloom window, and offer premium stems to florists and customers, Itoh peonies are a savvy investment.

Here’s why you should consider planting Itoh peonies in your field:

1. Exceptional Flower Quality

Itoh peonies boast huge, ruffled blooms in rich, saturated colors that often aren't available in traditional herbaceous varieties. Their flowers resemble tree peonies in size and exotic appearance, but grow on sturdy, herbaceous stems. Many varieties feature multiple blooms per stem, offering a more prolific and impressive harvest.

A standout example is the ‘Scrumdiddleumptious’ Itoh peony—yes, that’s its real name. This variety is as playful as its name suggests, with massive, creamy yellow blooms kissed with blush and raspberry edges. The blooms appear almost watercolor-painted and can reach up to 8 inches wide, making them irresistible to floral designers and customers alike. Their novelty and refined color palette add a truly luxurious option to your seasonal lineup.

*Kyle inspects bare root peonies prior to shipping*

2. Longer Blooming Window

One of the key advantages of Itoh peonies is their extended bloom period. While herbaceous peonies often bloom all at once in a short, intense window, Itohs can bloom a bit later and for longer—sometimes for several weeks under the right conditions. This allows you to stretch your peony sales season and avoid the bottleneck of a one-week flush.

For growers who already have a mix of early, mid, and late-blooming herbaceous varieties, adding Itohs creates a more continuous peony harvest that helps meet demand for weddings and events over a longer period.

3. Sturdy Growth and Excellent Vase Life

Itoh peonies are known for their strong stems and excellent vase life—two critical traits for cut flower production. Unlike tree peonies, which can be temperamental and don’t respond well to frequent cutting, Itohs regenerate from the ground each year like herbaceous peonies, making them much easier to manage for commercial harvest.

4. Disease Resistance

Yes, Itoh peonies generally have better disease resistance than traditional herbaceous peonies.

Here’s why:

Foliage stays cleaner longer: Itoh peonies inherit strong, disease-resistant foliage from their tree peony parentage. The leaves are typically thick, deeply lobed, and remain healthy and attractive throughout the growing season—often into fall—whereas herbaceous peonies can begin to yellow or show signs of botrytis and powdery mildew by mid-to-late summer.
More resistant to botrytis blight: Botrytis is a common fungal issue in herbaceous peonies, especially in wet, humid climates. Itohs tend to be less affected due to their more open growth habit, stronger stems, and foliage that is less prone to dense clumping.
Sturdier stems, less lodging: Stronger stems mean Itohs are less likely to fall over or trap moisture around the crown, reducing the microclimate conditions that encourage fungal diseases.

While no peony is entirely immune to disease, Itohs are a smart choice for farmers looking to reduce maintenance and minimize crop loss due to foliar issues. This resilience makes them especially appealing in regions with humid summers or growers seeking low-input, long-term perennials.

5. Cold Hardy and Perennial Workhorses

Like their herbaceous cousins, Itoh peonies are incredibly winter hardy and long-lived. Once established, they’ll produce for decades with minimal maintenance. They tolerate cold climates (even down to USDA zone 3) and require fewer inputs than many other cut flower crops. Once they’re in the ground and happy, they’re about as close to “set it and forget it” as you can get in flower farming.

6. Premium Price Point

Because Itoh peonies are still relatively rare in the cut flower market, they command a higher price per stem. Their unusual colors and luxurious appearance make them popular for high-end floral work, bridal bouquets, and seasonal subscriptions. Offering Itoh peonies can help differentiate your farm from others at the market and elevate your overall brand.

7. A Long-Term Investment

While Itoh peonies can be more expensive upfront compared to herbaceous divisions, they more than make up for it in reliability, beauty, and market appeal. They also multiply, allowing you to increase your stock through division over time.

Final Thoughts

Adding Itoh peonies to your field gives you a competitive edge: share unique flower colors, longer bloom times, and premium stems that turn heads. For farmers already growing herbaceous peonies, they offer an easy way to diversify and deepen your peony program. And for new growers, they're a resilient, rewarding crop that will keep giving year after year.

If you’re looking to stand out in a crowded flower market, Itoh peonies are a golden opportunity—quite literally, if you’re planting yellow varieties like ‘Bartzella’, ‘Lemon Chiffon,’ or ‘Garden Treasure’.

Interested in growing Itohs?
Look for strong 3-5 eye divisions from reputable growers, and plant in full sun with well-drained soil. They may take a couple of years to settle in, but once they do, they’re showstoppers worth the wait.

Do you grow Itohs?