A refined and distinctive single peony, offering rich color and excellent substance in a compact, well-balanced plant. The cupped blossoms stand upright like their namesake—small, rounded, and neatly formed—giving the flowers a poised, almost sculptural presence in the garden.
The color is a royal lavender-red, deep and saturated, with purple carpels tipped in red at the center. Golden stamens provide contrast and structure, and the flowers carry pollen and set seed, adding value for breeders as well as gardeners. One to three buds per stem extend the bloom period, allowing the plant to put on a generous early-season display.
Plants grow to about 24 inches tall, with strong stems, excellent vigor, and rich medium-green foliage that supports the flowers cleanly without staking. Everything about Emperor’s Buttons feels deliberate and well-made—from its tidy habit to its confident color.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Emperor’s Buttons has a wonderfully compact, mounding habit that feels intentional and well contained in the garden. The rich, cupped blooms sit proudly above the foliage, saturated in color and unmistakably regal. It’s a peony with presence and poise—elegant without ever being overstated.