Peony vs Itoh peony 'Bartzella'
An Itoh peony is a cross between a garden peony and a tree peony. It dies down in winter like a garden peony, but has the tree peony's big leaves and its colours, including the clear yellow of 'Bartzella'. Its stems are strong enough to hold the flowers up, where the heavy double heads of many garden peonies end up face-down after rain.
 PeonyPaeonia lactiflora |  Itoh peony 'Bartzella'Paeonia 'Bartzella' | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 3 ft tall, 3 ft wide | 3 ft tall, 3½ ft wide |
| Plant | 3 ft apart | 3 ft apart |
| Zones | 3 to 8 | 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun | Full sun to part sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, rich fertility | Well-drained, rich fertility |
| Flowers | Late May to late June; pink, white, red | Late May to mid June; yellow |
| Leaves | Medium, herbaceous | Medium, herbaceous |
| Job in a bed | Specimen | Specimen |
| Pets | Toxic (mild) | Toxic (mild) |
| Deer | No record | No record |
| Native | No | No |
| Spread | Low risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose peony for colder gardens (to zone 3).
- Choose Itoh peony 'Bartzella' for more shade and warmer gardens (to zone 9).
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. Beside peony, Itoh peony 'Bartzella' is in flower together for three weeks, from late May. They share full sun and zones 4 to 8.
Read more: all about peony, and all about Itoh peony 'Bartzella', each with a bed the planner designed around it.