Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Paeonia for Zone 5

89 Paeonia varieties rated hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 5 is classic northern gardening with a reliable snow blanket.

89 hardy hereof 89 Paeonia totalLast frost ~early May

The Paeonia that thrive in Zone 5

#1 most saved

Sarah Bernhardt Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt'

Zones 4–8· 86 saves· from $20

#2 most saved

Tree Peony 'Duchesse de Lorraine'

Paeonia x suffruticosa 'Duchesse de Lorraine'

Zones 4–9· 83 saves

#3 most saved

Tibetan Tree Peony

Paeonia deltoidea

Zones 4–8· 61 saves

Daydream Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Daydream'

Zones 4–8· 60 saves

Festiva Maxima Peony Chinese Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Festiva Maxima'

Zones 4–8· 52 saves· from $18

Rozella Peony

Paeonia officinalis 'Rozella'

Zones 4–8· 52 saves

Philomele Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Philomele'

Zones 4–8· 48 saves

Hillary Itoh Peony

Paeonia x hybrida 'Hillary Itoh'

Zones 4–8· 47 saves

Morning Lilac Peony

Paeonia x iliacus 'Morning Lilac'

Zones 4–9· 47 saves

Bowl of Beauty Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'

Zones 4–8· 46 saves· from $24

Duchess de Nemours Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Duchess de Nemours'

Zones 4–8· 46 saves

Bartzella Itoh Peony

Paeonia x hybrida 'Bartzella'

Zones 4–9· 45 saves· from $36

Mother's Choice Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Mother'

Zones 4–8· 45 saves

Julia Rose Itoh Peony

Paeonia suffruticosa 'Julia Rose'

Zones 4–9· 45 saves· from $45

Garden Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Gardenia'

Zones 4–8· 44 saves

Gay Paree Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Gay Paree'

Zones 4–8· 44 saves· from $34

Pillow Talk Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Pillow Talk Peony'

Zones 4–8· 44 saves

Dinner Plate Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Dinner Plate'

Zones 4–8· 42 saves

Brown's Peony

Paeonia warneri

Zones 4–8· 42 saves

Karl Rosenfield Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Karl Rosenfield'

Zones 4–8· 42 saves

Henry Bockstoce Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Henry Bockstoce'

Zones 4–8· 41 saves

Lady Alexandra Duff Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Lady Alexandra Duff'

Zones 4–8· 41 saves

Honey Gold Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Honey Gold'

Zones 4–8· 41 saves· from $29

Garden Treasure Itoh Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Garden Treasure'

Zones 4–8· 40 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 89 Zone 5–hardy Paeonia varieties. See the full Paeonia list →

Paeonia in Zone 5

Will Paeonia survive a Zone 5 winter?

89 of the 89 Paeonia varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Paeonia in Zone 5?

In Zone 5 the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Paeonia is best for Zone 5?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

All Paeonia

Every Paeonia variety (89)

Paeonia in other zones

More for Zone 5

See Paeonia in your Zone 5 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.