Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00001021
11/12/99

Paeonia lactiflora--Common Garden Peony


Hardiness Zones: 2 to 10
Height: 36 in Spread: 24 in
Type: herbaceous perennial
Flowers: Pink, red, white

Comments: Peony is long-lived and produces large, showy
and fragrant flowers (Vis. 4). There are several flower
types borne on plants 2 to 3 feet tall. The plant prefers
full sun and tolerates most soils. Support the plants to
keep the flowers from being beaten down by rain. Early fall
planting is best although plants are offered for sale in
the spring. Make sure the root top is no deeper than 2
inches after settling at planting. Once they are
established leave peonies alone. Larger flowers may be
obtained by removing all but the large terminal bud.
Reasons why peonies fail to bloom are; planting too deep,
lack of proper fertilization, low plant vigor, excessive
nitrogen applications, root competition, too much shade
and botrytis blight.

Propagation: Propagation is by division in September.
Each division needs at least one eye and preferably five.

Cultivars:
'Ann Cousins' - Large, double, white flowers.
'Autens Pride' - Double, light pink flowers.
'Best Man' - Dark red, double flowers.
'Better Times' - Bright pink, double flowers.
'Bowl of Beauty' - Semi-double, pink flowers.
'Bowl of Cream' - White, double flowers.
'Bride's Dream' - Creamy white flowers with pale yellow
centers, Japanese flower type.
'Butter Ball' - Yellow flowers have pink centers,
single Japanese flower type.
'Buttercup' - Single white flowers with yellow centers.
'Charlie's White' - Double, white flowers.
'Cherry Bomb' - Dark red, double flowers.
'Chestine Gowdy' - Pink with a creamy-yellow center.
'Coral 'N Gold' - Single coral-pink flowers.
'Coral Sunset' - Coral-colored, semi-double flowers.
'Couronne D'or' - White flowers have crimson centers.
'Doreen' - Light, rose-pink flowers, japanese flower
type.
'Dr. Alex Fleming' - Salmon-pink flowers.
'Duchess de Nemours' - Double, white flowers (Vis. 1).
'Duchess de Orleans' - Double, deep pink flowers, centers
are flushed purple.
'Edulis Superba' - Pink flowers
'Elsa Sass' - White flowers.
'Fairy's Petticoat' - Double flowers are pink in the
center and white on the edges.
'Felix Crousse' - Ruby red flowers, double Japanese
flower type.
'Felix Supreme' - Red flowers (Vis. 2).
'Festiva Maxima' - Double white flowers are flecked
with red, double Japanese flower type.
'Francis Ortegot' - Red flowers.
'Glowing Candles' - Pale pink, single flowers.
'Gold Standard' - Singe white flowers have a large
cluster of yellow stamens in the center.
'Golden Wheel' - Pale yellow, double flowers.
'Grover Cleveland' - Large, double, dark red flowers.
'Illini Warrior' - Dark red flowers on tall plants, 3
feet tall.
'Japanese Beauty' - Carmine red flowers, Japanese
flower type.
'Japanese Pink' - Rich pink, Japanese flower type.
'Johnny' - Red flowers have yellow centers, single
Japanese flower type.
'Kansas' - Bright red, double flowers.
'Karl Rosenfield' - Double, dark red flowers.
'Krinkled White' - Single, white flowers.
'L'Eclante' - Red flowers.
'Lady Alexandra Duff' - Double, pale pink.
'Lora Dexheimer' - Red, double flowers.
'Lord Cavin' - Creamy white with red stripes, double.
'Mikado' - Dark red flowers, single Japanese flower
type.
'Mister Ed' - Large, cream-colored blooms.
'Monsieur Martin Cahuzac' - Double, red flowers.
'Monsieur Jules Elie' - Double pink flowers have
silvery centers, double Japanese flower type.
'Mrs. F. D. Roosevelt' - Double, pink flowers.
'Mrs. Wilder Bancroft' - Double, cream-colored flowers.
'Nick Shaylor' - Light pink flowers fade to white.
'Nippon Beauty' - The red flower petals are tipped with
yellow, Japanese flower type.
'Nippon Chief' - Dark red flowers have yellow centers.
'Nippon on Parade' - Bright red petals become lighter
near the center of the flower, single Japanese flower
type.
'Paul M. Wild' - Dark red, double flowers.
'Philomile' - Double, pink flowers.
'Pink Parfait' - Large, double, pink flowers.
'Pink Tranquility' - Large, single, bright pink
flowers.
'Rachel' - Bright red, double flowers.
'Raspberry Sundae' - White flowers are pink near the
center.
'Reine Hortens' - Double, pale pink flowers.
'Rosabel' - Large, double, rose-red flowers.
'Royal Charter' - Crimson, double flowers.
'Sarah Bernhardt' - Double, (Vis. 3) apple-blossom pink
flowers.
'Scarlet O'Hara' - Bright red flowers with a cluster of
yellow stamen in the center.
'Shirley Temple' - Double, white and pink flowers.
'Sorbet' - Cream-colored flowers.
'Souvenier De Louis' - Double, pink flowers.
'Sword Dance' - Japanese flower type with red petals
that are a background for a large cluster of yellow
stamen.
'Vivid Rose' - Dark pink, double flowers.
'Walter Faxon' - Double, pink flowers.
'White Wings' - Single, white flowers.

References for Cultivars: Walters Gardens 1997, Ray
Wiegand's Nursery 1999, Weston Nurseries 1999, Lake County
Nursery 1999, Bailey Nurseries 1999, White Flower Farm 1997,
Sheridan Nurseries 1999, Berryhill Nurseries 1999, Scarff's
Nursery 1999, Midwest Groundcovers 1999.


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