Flower anthocyanins in Japanese and Western herbaceous peony cultivars, Paeonia lactiflora, P. officinalis cultivars, P. tenuifolia, P. obovata, P. japonica and Manchurian herbaceous peony were identified. Six kinds of anthocyanins were detected; cyanidin 3, 5-diglucoside, cyanidin 3-glucoside, peonidin 3, 5-diglucoside, peonidin 3-glucoside, pelargonidin 3, 5-diglucoside and pelargonidin 3-glucoside. Dark red or purplish red flowers contained 4 to 5 anthocyanins and their anthocyanin contents were greater than those of light color flowers. Six kinds of anthocyanins detected in herbaceous peony were identical with those detected in tree peony.