Paeonia officinalis
Probably one of my favorite flowers Peonies comes in a large variety. Paeonia officinalis is the common peony that is native to Switzerland and France and Italy. It is from the Paeoniaceae family but this particular Peony or Paeonia is a hybrid related to Paeonia peregrina and P. parnassica.
It has beautiful dark pink flowers that are about 5 inches wide and the plant grows to about 30″ or 70cm, the leaves are bright green and divided into nine leaflets. Paeonia officinalis is a herbaceous perennial and considered a deciduous shrub. The flowers appear late spring and throughout summer, depending on the climate.
How to grow Paeonia officinalis:
It is best to give Paeonia officinalis some shelter but with full or partial sun. Plant them in any south, east, or west-facing location. They love moist but well-drained soil probably a combination of chalk, clay, loam, and sand, but rich humus-rich.
Propagate Paeonies by division in autumn and spring. They don’t need much care, remove flowers after they are dead and prune back after the plant has died down in autumn.
