Peony Karl Rosenfield (Paeonia 'Karl Rosenfield')
pay-OH-nee-ah 'Karl Rosenfield'

Deciduous Perennial in the Paeoniaceae Family
A classic cherry-red double peony and one of the most widely planted heirloom peonies in American gardens since 1908.

'Karl Rosenfield' is a vigorous heirloom peony introduced in 1908, prized for its large, fully double, cherry-red blooms with bright yellow centers peeking through at the base of the petals. More than a century after its introduction, it remains one of the most widely grown red peonies thanks to its reliable bloom and sturdy constitution.

Pros

  • Bold cherry-red color that holds up well in the garden and as a cut flower
  • Vigorous, dependable bloomer
  • Long-lived heirloom with over a century of garden performance
  • Attracts bees

Cons

  • Large double blooms may need staking after rain
  • Mildly toxic to pets if ingested
  • Slow to reach full size after planting
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 3 feet tall. 30 - 36 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Edging, Formal Garden, Fragrant, Fragrant Flowers, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Hedges, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rock Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Normal Soil, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Late Spring
Flower Color Cherry-Red with Bright Yellow Centers
 

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Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with Siberian Iris, Baptisia, and ornamental alliums, which fill in as the peony's own spring growth matures.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/24

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!