Herbaceous Peonies (P. lactiflora) are hardy, bushy perennials that die back every year. They have glossy deeply divided foliage on 3’ plants. The flowers are large and showy ranging in colors of white, pinks, bi-colors to deep red. Peonies have different style flowers, Japanese, Single and Double. Japanese have a double row of petals and often some of the stamens have become peltoids (enlarged stamens), these are a little fuller than single forms. Doubles and semi-doubles are rounded flowers in which most of the stamens are developed into petals. Singles are more flat or cupped flowers with a single row of petals and a distinct center. Peonies should be part of any perennial border as individual specimens or as small groups. They go well with Iris, Lavender, Nepeta and Ornamental grasses.

Be sure to also visit our ITOH or intersectional peony (crosses of tree and herbaceous peonies) page. They combine the beautiful foliage and flowers of the tree peonies with the hardiness of the herbaceous peonies (the eyes are safely underground).

Paeonia lactiflora
	Albert Crousse Light rose and cream colored double flower, late boomer, Height 36-38”		Blaze Single true red with yellow center, early bloomer 30-36”
	Bowl of Beauty Single pink with yellow eye, mid season bloomer 30-36”		Butter Bowl Japanese variety, rose pink fading to shell pink with yellow center, mid to late blooming  30-36”
	Coral Supreme Semi-double designer peony with cupped shaped coral pink blooms Early bloom 30-36”		Duchess de Nemours Double white flower with yellow center, mid- season bloomer 30-36”
	Edulis Superba Double very fragrant, bright rose pink, early season bloomer 30-36”		Festive Maxima Double white flower with red flecks, mid-season bloomer 30-36”
	Green Lotus Single white and lime green with pink highlights, early season bloom 28-32”		Karl Rosenfield Semi-double purple- red flower, early blooming 30-36”
	Krinkled White Single crepe paper texture white flower, mid-season bloomer 36”		Martha Bullock Double silvery rose pink late bloomer 32-38”
	Mme De Vernville Double rose shaped white with crimson flecked flower, fragrant early bloomer 30-36”		Nippon Beauty Japanese deep pink fragrant flower 30-36”
	Peppermint Twist Semi-double pink and white streaked fluted petals, early season bloom 30-36”		Sarah Bernhardt Double medium pink color, fragrant late bloomer 32-38”

Peony Care

It is very important that Peonies are planted correctly, The fleshy eye should be 1.5-2” below the soil level, if they are planted too shallow or too deep they will not bloom. They need full sun for proper bud formation and survive with limited amounts of fertilizer, if they receive too much nitrogen they will produce lush foliage but no blooms. Peonies require well drained soil and like to be watered to the bottom of their roots, the soil should be allowed to dry out slightly between watering's. Most Peonies need some sort of staking and cages work well if put in place early in the spring so that the plant can grow up through them.

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