Paeonia lactiflora
Common Name(s):
- Description
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Garden Peony is an herbaceous perennial flower native to China and Siberia. The wild-type species is rarely cultivated, but hundreds of cultivars have been selected and bred over many decades. The spring-blooming flowers are large, showy and may be fragrant (depending on the cultivar), and the foliage is attractive even when the flowers are spent. The plants have thickened rhizomes and can be quite long-lived once established. Plant in full sun to partial shade in rich well-draining soil. Plant them in the middle or back of a perennial border, as a specimen, in small groups or part of a cutting garden. Peonies can also be grown along sidewalks, driveways and other hardscape elements or up against fences.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Auguste Dessert'
- 'Cora Stubbs'
- 'Sarah Bernhardt'
Rose-pink double flowers late bloomer
- 'Auguste Dessert'
- 'Auguste Dessert', 'Cora Stubbs', 'Sarah Bernhardt'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Auguste Dessert'
- 'Cora Stubbs'
- 'Sarah Bernhardt'
Rose-pink double flowers late bloomer
- 'Auguste Dessert'
- 'Auguste Dessert', 'Cora Stubbs', 'Sarah Bernhardt'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Paeonia
- Species:
- lactiflora
- Family:
- Paeoniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Sibera, China
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- Horizontal follicles that split when mature
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Mid to late spring very large cup-shaped fragrant blooms
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green compound leaves 8"-12" long with 9 elliptical leaflets Leaves can turn orange in the fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems die back to the ground at the first frost.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pool/Hardscape
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Hedge
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
