Paeonia lactiflora 'Mischief'

Chinese Peony'

Location

The Rose Garden

Description:

Paeonia lactiflora are herbaceous perennials native to central and eastern Asia. 60-100 cm tall with large compound leaves 20-40 cm long. The flower buds are large and round, opening into large flowers 8-16 cm diameter, with 5-10 petals and yellow stamens. Widely grown as an ornamental plant, with several hundred selected cultivars it was first introduced to England in the mid-18th century, and is the species that most common garden peonies belong to.

Site and Care:

Peony clumps may survive for 50 years in cool climates, in full sun, with periods of winter chilling, in any soil. Propagation is by seed or division but make certain that the eyes will be no deeper than two inches when the planting is completed, or it may fail to bloom.