Characteristics

Paeonia ‘Scarlet Heaven’ doesn’t bloom—it ignites. Each single flower opens wide, unfurling dark red petals that fall somewhere between velvet and flame. At the centre, a burst of golden stamens flickers like a matchstrike, pulling the eye straight in. With no side buds and a midseason rhythm, every stem offers one strong, clean statement. Moderate in height, disciplined in form, and rich in contrast, this intersectional cultivar earns its place not with volume, but with clarity. Introduced in 1999, ‘Scarlet Heaven’ is still one of the boldest midseason reds on the field—unbothered and unmissable.

Origin Scarlet Heaven Peony

At the turn of the millennium, growers wanted more than novelty—they wanted reliability, structure, and visual strength. ‘Scarlet Heaven’ answered that call. Born from Itoh hybridisation, it was bred to combine the punch of tree peony colour with the field practicality of herbaceous growth. And it stuck. Still standing tall in commercial blocks across the globe, this variety proves that dramatic doesn’t have to mean difficult. It holds its shape. It blooms when it should. And it looks good doing it.

INTERSECTIONAL

As a true intersectional, ‘Scarlet Heaven’ blends the best of both peony parents. Its compact form resists droop, its foliage stays clean deep into the season, and its blooms open with intent—wide, symmetrical, and luminous in full light. There are no side distractions: every stem leads with one central bloom, channelled and complete. It’s the kind of variety that doesn’t need staking or second chances—just a decent plot of ground and a season to do its thing.

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