Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony

Paeonia x 'Simply Scrumptious'

Plants that Work®

Blush-Pink Ruffled Blooms with Coral and Yellow Undertones Deliver Simply Scrumptious Garden Color
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-9
Grows 3 ft Tall and Wide
Showy Pink Blooms in Late Spring
Deer Resistant, Heat Tolerant, Rabbit Resistant

$138²⁰

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Plant Size

#2 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: For the most abundant blooms and strongest stems, plant in full sun, meaning at least 6 to 8 hours of direct light daily. While it can handle light afternoon shade in hotter climates, too much shade will lead to fewer flowers and a higher risk of fungal issues.
Soil: These peonies thrive in rich, well-drained soil that is slightly alkaline to neutral. If you have heavy clay, mix in compost or organic matter to improve drainage, as "wet feet" will quickly lead to root rot.

Watering Requirements

During the first two growing seasons, provide deep watering once or twice a week to help the root system reach deep into the soil. Once established, these peonies are surprisingly drought tolerant, though consistent moisture is necessary to prevent the foliage from browning early in late summer. Inconsistent watering during the bud-setting stage can cause "bud blast," where the flower buds dry up and fail to open.

Pruning Tips

Unlike woody tree peonies, this Itoh variety should be cut back to the ground in late autumn after the first hard frost has turned the foliage brown. This prevents diseases from overwintering in the debris and ensures a clean start for new growth, which emerges entirely from the root crown each spring. Think of it like a seasonal "reset" that keeps the plant vigorous and maintains its tidy, mounded shape.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a low-nitrogen "bloom booster" in early spring just as the red shoots begin to peek through the soil. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this encourages soft, leafy growth that is highly susceptible to powdery mildew and won't have time to harden off before winter.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony: Fragrant Blush

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.

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

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.

Botanical Name

Paeonia x 'Simply Scrumptious'
Class

Saxifragales
Species

x
Cultivar

Simply Scrumptious
Growing Zones

4-9
Height

3 ft
Width

3 ft
Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color

Pink
Leaf Color

Green
Fragrant

Yes
Bloom Period

Late Spring
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

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Growing Zones 4-9

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Frequently Asked Questions

What USDA hardiness zones is Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony suitable for?

The Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony is cold-hardy down to USDA Zone 4. This makes it suitable for most northern climates where it can receive the necessary chill period to fuel its spectacular spring bloom cycle.

What is the mature size of Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony?

Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony reaches 2-3 feet tall and wide at maturity. This compact, mounding perennial maintains a tidy form that works well in borders or cutting gardens. Shop at Nature Hills for this long-lived beauty that's hardy to Zone 4.

How often should I water Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony, especially when first planting?

Water newly planted Itoh peonies deeply 2-3 times per week for the first month, then reduce to weekly watering once established. These deep-rooted perennials are quite drought tolerant after their first season. Water at soil level to avoid wetting foliage and reduce disease risk.

Does Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony need staking, or do the stems stay upright?

The stems stay upright without staking. This Itoh peony hybrid has strong, non-flopping stems that maintain their structure throughout the blooming season and beyond. Unlike traditional herbaceous peonies, the sturdy stems make it excellent for cut flowers and eliminate the need for support structures.

How do I prune or cut back Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony in the fall?

Cut back Itoh peonies after the first hard frost when foliage turns golden and dies back naturally. Unlike tree peonies, these herbaceous hybrids should be pruned to 2-3 inches above ground level. This hardy Zone 4 perennial available at naturehills.com will emerge fresh next spring.

What kind of fertilizer does Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony need?

Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony thrives with balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in early spring. As a low-maintenance perennial, it doesn't require heavy feeding. Apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer around the base in March, avoiding the crown to prevent rot.

Is Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony resistant to diseases like powdery mildew?

Yes, this Itoh peony is disease-resistant and naturally more robust than traditional herbaceous peonies. The hybrid vigor from crossing herbaceous and woody peonies creates stronger resistance to common issues like powdery mildew. Plant in full sun with good air circulation for best disease prevention.

How is Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony shipped, and is it bare root?

Itoh peonies are typically shipped as bare root divisions with 3-5 eyes during their dormant season in fall or early spring. These hardy perennials (Zone 4) establish quickly when planted in well-draining soil. Plant bare root divisions 2 inches deep with eyes facing up for best results.

When should I plant Garden Candy™ Simply Scrumptious™ Itoh Peony upon receiving it?

Plant your Itoh peony in fall for best establishment, though early spring works too. This zone 4-hardy perennial needs time to develop its deep root system before blooming season. Choose a full sun to part shade location and plant while dormant for strongest performance.