Paeonia L. ‘Duchesse De Nemours’ 2Gal

Latin Name: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Duchesse de Nemours’

Common Name: Duchesse de Nemours Peony / Chinese Peony / Garden Peony

Zones: 3-8 

Height & Spread: 24-36 inches tall, spreading 24-36 inches wide

Descriptive Features: A beloved heirloom peony bred by Calot of France and introduced in 1856, a garden standby for well over 150 years. Large, fully double, fragrant flowers open pure white with a touch of cream to soft canary-yellow at the center, held on sturdy, red-tinged stems in mid to late spring or early summer. The strong, sweet scent and the rounded, full form make it a classic for cutting and for cottage gardens. Glossy, deep green, lance-shaped foliage forms a shrubby, rounded clump that stays attractive through summer and early fall, and the stems die back to the ground after frost. Staking may be needed when it is in bloom, since the heavy flowers can weigh down the stems. Needs full sun to part shade in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil, with the crown planted no deeper than 1-2 inches. Needs a cold winter dormancy, performing best in Zones 5-7, though it often does well in the northern parts of Zone 8. Long-lived and best left undisturbed, with old foliage removed in fall to help prevent disease. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators, and is deer- and rabbit-resistant. An excellent choice for borders, cottage and cutting gardens, specimen planting, small hedges, and mass plantings.