Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony

The Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony (Paeonia x 'Simply Scrumptious') is a hybrid herbaceous Peony with the best traits of both tree and garden Peonies, all wrapped into one wildly charming plant. Known for its large, ruffled, fragrant blooms in dreamy blush-pink tones with subtle coral and yellow undertones, this Peony puts on a springtime show worthy of a standing ovation!

Bred for form, fragrance, and floriferousness, this marvel produces waves of semi-double to fully double flowers that open in late spring and can persist into early summer. A cross between herbaceous and woody Peonies, Itoh hybrids are hardy, floriferous, and long-lived!

This beauty grows into a low, bushy mound with deeply cut, dark green foliage that remains attractive all season. Leaves are lobed and hold their structure even after blooming—no floppy Peony stems here! Standing around 3 feet tall and wide, the plant's tidy form makes it perfect for borders, mixed beds, or cutting gardens. In fall, its foliage takes on golden hues before dying back for winter.

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Key Features

• Huge, fragrant, blush-pink blooms with coral/yellow tones
• Reblooms through late spring into summer
• Strong, non-flopping stems—perfect for cut flowers!
• Herbaceous perennial form with lush, mounding foliage
• Cold-hardy down to USDA Hardiness Zone 4
• Long-lived, deep-rooted, disease-resistant, and low maintenance
• Grows 2–3 feet tall and wide

Landscaping Uses

The Peony plant symbolizes prosperity, romance, and bashful beauty—a delightful nod to its soft blush petals.

Native to regions of China and cultivated in Japanese gardens for centuries, the Peony has a long cultural history as a noble, auspicious flower. It performs best in full sun to part shade and appreciates a chill period to fuel its bloom cycle.

With a refined shape and a height/spread of about 30 inches, this herbaceous perennial is a designer's dream for adding elegance to the landscape.

• Centerpiece in Cutting Gardens, Pollinator Borders, and Cottage Gardens
• Front to mid-layer in mixed perennial borders and Bulb Gardens
• Showstopper in foundation beds!
• Container-friendly for patios and porches (with winter protection in colder climates)
• Companion to Roses, Salvia, and Nepeta

Care and Maintenance

Itoh Peonies, also called Intersectional Peonies, were developed by crossing herbaceous and tree Peonies and are cherished for their floriferous habit, long bloom season, and improved disease resistance.

Developed for adaptability, the Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony thrives in USDA Zones 4 through 9, showing exceptional cold hardiness and disease resistance. As an Itoh hybrid, it inherits the vigor and sturdy stems of Tree Peonies and the lush, full blooms of herbaceous types.

This herbaceous perennial is as tough as it is beautiful—heat tolerant, deer resistant, and bred to resist powdery mildew and botrytis blight. It's easy to grow with just a bit of seasonal care.

• Planting Time: Plant container Peonies in spring or fall, and plant bareroot Peonies in the autumn
• Sun Needs: Full sun to part shade (best blooms in full sun)
• Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil; tolerates clay if not waterlogged
• Moisture Needs: Moderate watering needs. Do not let soil stay soggy
• Mulch/Arborist Mulch: Apply a 3–4 inch layer of bark mulch or compost in early spring
• Fertilization Needs: Light application of balanced fertilizer in early spring
• Pruning Info: Cut back all foliage to the ground in the fall
• Special Needs/Perks/Growing Tips:
• Deer/rabbit resistant
• Disease resistant - resistant against powdery mildew
• Cold-hardy
• Thrives in both humid and dry climates once established
• Division Info: Divide every 8–10 years if needed, in fall after dieback

Read more on Peony after-flowering care in our Garden Blog!

A Blush-Worthy Bloom Bonanza

The Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony is more than just a name—it's an experience! With lush blooms, delicious fragrance, and sturdy growth, this Itoh Peony is the botanical equivalent of garden candy! You won't be able to stop at just one!

Buy yours now and Nature Hills will ship at the appropriate planting time for your growing zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Itoh Peony?
Itoh Peonies are hybrids between tree Peonies and herbaceous Peonies, offering the best of both—big blooms, strong stems, and lush foliage that dies back in winter.

Are Itoh Peonies deer resistant?
Yes! Deer tend to avoid them, making them great for unfenced gardens.

How long does it take for an Itoh Peony to bloom after planting?
You'll often see blooms within the first or second year after planting, depending on the size and planting time.

Do I need to stake this Peony?
No staking is needed! Simply Scrumptious™ has sturdy, upright stems that support even the largest blooms.

Can I grow this Peony in a container?
Yes, just make sure your container is at least 18–20 inches wide and deep and provide winter protection in colder zones.

Why didn't my Peony bloom?
Peonies need chill hours and sun. Make sure it's planted at the correct depth—not too deep—and receiving full sun.