Many gardeners search for peonies that look like roses because these varieties combine the elegance of a rose with the reliability and low-maintenance nature of peonies. Their densely layered petals, lush textures, and rich fragrance create a romantic look that fits beautifully in both bouquets and garden borders. These peonies deliver the charm of classic roses without the demanding care.
In this guide, we’ll explore 10 of the best peony varieties that look like roses, along with tips on care and design to help you choose the perfect rose-like peony for your garden.
Why Some Peonies Look Like Roses
The resemblance between peonies and roses comes from both botanical structure and visual characteristics. Many peonies that look like roses feature densely layered petals, rounded flower forms, and soft textural folds that mimic the appearance of classic garden roses. Their color range — from pastel blush to deep rose pink — adds to this illusion, making these blooms appear like lavish, oversized roses in full display.
Breeders have intentionally developed peonies that resemble roses, selecting parent plants with fuller petal structures, stronger fragrance, and more romantic shapes. These rose-like traits were refined over decades to create varieties with the lush, ruffled look many gardeners now love.
Despite their resemblance, these peonies are far easier to grow than roses: they are cold-hardy, disease-resistant, and long-lived. Many also offer a sweet or floral scent comparable to roses, which you can explore further in our article about what does peony smell like.
Because of their beauty and durability, rose-like peonies have become a favorite among florists and landscape designers. They bring romance and fullness to arrangements, hold their shape longer than many roses, and require significantly less maintenance in the garden.
10 Peony Varieties That Look Just Like Roses
If you’re searching for peonies that look like roses, these ten standout varieties offer the romantic, layered appearance of classic roses — paired with the durability and ease of peony care. Each one brings full, ruffled blooms and luxurious color to both the garden and the vase.
1. Peony ‘Duchesse de Nemours’
A timeless white peony with creamy, rose-like petals that resemble a perfectly shaped tea rose.
- Bloom season: Late spring.
- Care: Prefers full sun and rich, well-drained soil.
- Why it looks like a rose: Its tight, domed form and soft ivory glow give it the elegance of a white heirloom rose.
2. Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
A beloved blush-pink variety with lush double petals.
- Bloom season: Late spring to early summer.
- Care: Benefits from staking and consistent moisture.
- Rose-like trait: Its full, romantic flower head mirrors antique rose blooms.
3. Peony ‘Bowl of Beauty’
Features a striking two-tone combination of pink outer petals and creamy centers, echoing the look of old garden roses.
- Bloom season: Mid-season.
- Care: Thrives in sunlight and fertile soil.
- Rose resemblance: The contrasting petal structure creates a vintage rose appearance.
4. Peony ‘Gardenia’
A pure white variety with wavy, fragrant petals reminiscent of soft, fully opened roses.
- Bloom season: Late spring.
- Care: Keep soil evenly moist and provide airflow.
- Rose-like look: Its swirling, ruffled form strongly resembles a gardenia-like rose.
5. Peony ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’
Known for its coral-pink petals that fade beautifully to blush.
- Bloom season: Early to mid-season.
- Care: Enjoys full sun and moderate watering.
- Why it looks like a rose: The layered, gradient petals mimic modern coral rose hybrids.
6. Peony ‘Red Charm’
Displays rich crimson, full-bodied blooms similar to deep burgundy roses.
- Bloom season: Early.
- Care: Fertile soil and regular deadheading.
- Rose resemblance: Its velvety texture and dramatic shade closely echo dark red roses.
7. Peony ‘Kansas’
A bold, bright rose-pink variety with a dense, double bloom.
- Bloom season: Mid-season.
- Care: Benefits from staking due to large flower heads.
- Rose-like feature: Its rounded, saturated petals make it look like a hybrid tea rose in full bloom.
8. Peony ‘Raspberry Sundae’
A playful, ruffled variety with cream, yellow, and pink layers.
- Bloom season: Mid to late season.
- Care: Prefers steady moisture and organic-rich soil.
- Rose resemblance: The frilly texture gives it the lushness of old-fashioned cabbage roses.
9. Peony ‘Coral Sunset’
A peachy-pink peony with warm tones that shift as the bloom matures.
- Bloom season: Early season.
- Care: Plant in full sun and avoid overly wet soil.
- Why it looks like a rose: Its semi-double form and romantic color palette evoke soft, sunset-toned roses.
10. Peony ‘Bartzella’ (Itoh Hybrid)
A lemon-yellow peony with large, layered petals and an elegant structure.
- Bloom season: Late spring to early summer.
- Care: Heat-tolerant, vigorous, and long-blooming.
- Rose-like quality: The rounded, abundant bloom silhouette closely resembles full English roses.
Gardeners often choose peonies that look like roses to create romantic, cottage-style borders without the intensive care that true roses require. Together, these peonies similar to roses offer rich color, fragrance, and timeless beauty. They look stunning in cut arrangements and bring luxurious charm to any garden setting.
How to Style Rose-Like Peonies in Your Garden
Creating a garden that resembles a romantic rose border — using peonies that look like roses — is easier than many gardeners expect. These varieties pair beautifully with soft, cottage-style companions such as lavender, delphiniums, phlox, and asters. Their rounded blooms contrast perfectly with the vertical spires of delphinium and the airy texture of lavender, creating depth and movement.
When designing your layout, consider height: plant taller peonies like ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ or ‘Kansas’ toward the back, while mid-height varieties like ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ can fill the middle layer. For color harmony, group peonies with complementary hues — soft pinks with purples and whites, or warm corals with peach and cream companions.
Seasonality also matters. To keep the rose-like aesthetic throughout spring and summer, mix early, mid, and late blooming peony varieties. Surround them with perennials that maintain structure even after peonies finish blooming. These peony garden companions help maintain a polished, romantic look all season long. For more pairing inspiration, explore our peony companion plants guide.
Care Tips for Peonies That Resemble Roses
Peonies that look like roses thrive best when planted in a sunny location with at least six hours of direct light each day. While they can tolerate partial shade, full sun encourages the most abundant, rose-like blooms. Good drainage is essential, as peonies dislike waterlogged soil; planting them in a slightly elevated bed or amending heavy clay with compost helps prevent rot. These peonies with rose-like blooms appreciate organically rich, loose soil where their roots can establish easily.
Watering should be consistent during spring growth and bud formation. Aim for deep, infrequent watering that encourages strong roots, rather than shallow, frequent sprinkling. Mulching helps retain moisture, but it’s important to keep mulch away from the crown to avoid excess humidity. Feeding peonies once in early spring with a balanced fertilizer keeps plants vigorous — learn more in our peony care guide. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which can reduce bloom count and make stems floppy.
After flowering, remove spent blooms to tidy the plant and prevent seed formation, which drains energy. Leave the foliage through summer so the plant can photosynthesize and store nutrients for the next year’s blossoms. Once frost kills the leaves in late fall, cut the stems back to the ground to reduce disease pressure.
Winter preparation is simple: peonies are naturally hardy, far more cold-tolerant than roses, and typically require no heavy protection. A light layer of mulch in colder regions is helpful, especially for young plants. With proper care, peonies that look like roses will reward you with full, luxurious blooms year after year.
Why Choose Peonies Instead of Roses
Gardeners often discover that peonies that look like roses deliver all the charm of traditional rose blooms but with far fewer complications. One of the greatest advantages is their exceptional cold tolerance. While roses often require winter wrapping, pruning strategies, and ongoing protection, peonies naturally withstand harsh winters and come back stronger each spring.
These peonies similar to roses are also far less prone to common pests and diseases. They don’t struggle with black spot, powdery mildew, aphid infestations, or Japanese beetles to the extent that roses do. This reduced vulnerability means less spraying, less maintenance, and a healthier, more environmentally friendly garden.
Longevity is another major reason to choose peonies. A well-planted peony can thrive in the same spot for decades, sometimes even generations, with minimal intervention. Roses, by contrast, often require replacement or rejuvenation pruning to maintain vigor.
Peonies also offer lush, romantic blooms that easily rival the beauty of classic roses — full, layered, and fragrant, depending on the variety. When arranged in bouquets, peonies that look like roses add a luxurious, vintage aesthetic that rivals even the most elegant heirloom rose varieties. Yet they demand far less labor: no constant deadheading, no complex feeding routines, and no vigilant disease monitoring.
For gardeners seeking elegant, rose-like flowers without the upkeep, peony varieties that look like roses are an ideal choice. They provide the same sophisticated aesthetic while remaining easy to grow, reliable, and incredibly rewarding year after year.
Conclusion: Discover the Beauty of Rose-Like Peonies
Peonies that look like roses offer an irresistible combination of elegance, fragrance, and old-world charm. Their lush, romantic blooms capture the same soft, layered beauty that gardeners love in roses — yet peonies require far less maintenance and reward you with reliable, abundant flowering year after year. These peonies that resemble roses bring a graceful, timeless quality to any landscape, whether planted as focal points, massed in borders, or arranged as cut flowers indoors.
For gardeners seeking beauty without the challenges of traditional roses, rose-like peonies provide the perfect solution. Their cold hardiness, long lifespan, and resilience make them an exceptional choice for both new and experienced growers.
Explore the full selection in our shop of all peonies and discover varieties that bring rose-like sophistication to your garden with ease.
FAQs About Peonies That Look Like Roses
Are there peonies that look exactly like roses?
Yes — there are several peonies that look like roses, especially varieties with densely layered petals and rounded, cupped blooms. While no peony is genetically identical to a rose, many cultivars mimic the same romantic, full form seen in old-fashioned English roses. Their soft textures, lush petals, and elegant color tones often make them indistinguishable from roses in bouquets or garden borders, providing a similar aesthetic with far easier care.
Which peony variety looks most like a rose?
Some of the most rose-like peonies include Sarah Bernhardt, Duchesse de Nemours, Gardenia, and Red Charm. These cultivars feature rich petal layers, rounded blooms, and classic shapes that closely resemble roses. Their structure is especially similar to hybrid tea and David Austin–style roses. Gardeners often choose these peonies that resemble roses for romantic borders, wedding gardens, and luxurious cut-flower arrangements.
Do peonies smell like roses?
Many peonies have fragrance, and some do smell surprisingly similar to roses. Duchesse de Nemours offers a soft, lemon-rose scent, while Sarah Bernhardt smells sweet and floral. Not all peonies are fragrant, but the varieties that do have scent often provide a perfume reminiscent of traditional rose gardens. Their fragrance tends to be gentler and more subtle, making them ideal for indoor arrangements.
Can I grow peonies and roses together?
Yes — peonies and roses grow beautifully together as long as they receive full sun and well-drained soil. Their bloom times overlap in late spring to early summer, creating a luxurious, layered display. Peonies offer structure and seasonal drama, while roses can extend flowering into fall. Pairing them creates a classic, romantic garden look with complementary colors, forms, and textures.
What colors of peonies look most rose-like?
Blush pink, warm ivory, deep red, and coral tones tend to appear the most rose-like. These hues mimic beloved rose varieties and enhance the visual similarity between the two flowers. Cultivars with soft pastel petals or richly saturated reds often resemble English roses, hybrid teas, or antique garden varieties. These shades help create a timeless, rose-inspired atmosphere in the garden.