Peonies

This grand old lady is one of the oldest peonies, bred in France in 1856, and it is certainly the most famous double white peony grown in thousands of gardens around the world. Large double flowers with incurving petals of pure white that are lemony green at the base. Free flowering and highly scented, it is also one of the earlier flowering peonies generally opening in early June so it is an excellent choice for prolonging the flowering season.This is a shorter variety growing to approx 85cm making it a great choice for a windy garden. (Calot 1856).      

Stunning and very unusual! This wonderful peony in the "japanese" style is an absolute favourite of ours, with large single flowers of purest white without any sign of pink. In the centre of each bloom is a crest of bright yellow much narrower petals, punctuated with bright green carpels which are the potential seed pods. Distinctly this is also one of the very few peonies where the emerging shoots in the spring are bright green, rather than the pinky red  "dear rosy snouts" as described by Gertrude Jekyll the famous 19th centruy garden designer. Attains around 90cm in height and rarely needs staking. (Van Leeuwen 1928).

Said to be one of the best peonies ever bred! Very large bomb shaped double flowers of pure white with the occasional red fleck. The flowers have the most sensational scent. It's also a really good variety for cutting. Forms a sturdy plant growing to a height of arund 90cm and although it takes a while to establish but most definitely worth the wait! (Kelway 1909).

An exceptionally fine peony. Clear white double blooms which are wonderfully fragrant. Each flower is large and bomb shaped and the plant matures there will be more and more of them each year! A very good peony for cutting, the flowers lasting a long time in a vase. Grow to around 90cm in height an ideal peony for the back of the border.  

A really sumptuous peony and one of the best in this hue. Deep ruby red double scented flowers that become more purple as they mature. It's also a really good peony for cutting. Dark and lustrous foliage which adopts rich tints in the autumn.  Grows to around 90cm but is robust and rarely needs staking. (Seit 1937)

Such a cool name! Purple Spider has both extraordinary form and exceptional colour. The flowers are large and fully double. The broad outer petals are rich fucshia purple, with a centre of narrower spidery fuchsia-purple petals which billow out as the flower matures. The tip of each petal often develops a white tip. A distinctive peony which becomes a marvellous talking point. Grows to around 85cm in height.    

Rather like a highly refined version of the endearing Cottage Garden Peony, this fantastic hybrid between P.lactiflora and P.officinalis has produced a sturdy plant with magnificent deep blood red double flowers. No noticable scent but a peony to make a statement with!  Early flowering from the end of May which gives a marvellous opportunity to extend the peony season. Grows to around 80cm in height and rarely needs staking.    

(Winchell 1956). This has to be one of the most unique of all the japanese style peonies. Bright pale beetroot coloured guard petals cup a centre of buff coloured petaloids, which fade to white as the flowers open wide. This startling peony is mid season flowering and will grow to a height of around 85cm.    

Scarlet blooms which shout! Since most true scarlet peonies are early spring flowering, this one which flowers in mid June really extends the colour range of late flowering peonies to include this phenomenal colour. Deep dark foliage, forming a neat bushy plant up to around 80cm in height and spread.

Superlative in every way and  one of the best of all garden peonies! Huge fragrant double flowers opening a beautiful pale blush pink and soon changing to purest white. If grown in partial shade, the flowers will retail their pinky hue for longer and will also be darker on the shady side of the flower than on the sunny side! An outstanding variety for cutting, the plants have a solid upright habit with firm stems and good foliage which colors well in the autumn. Grows to approx 90cm in height and is also one of the last peonies to flower.