Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Paeonia x 'Cora Louise'
Cora Louise Itoh Peony
- Family
- Paeoniaceae
- Height
- 24–36 inches
- Width
- 30–48 inches
- Flower color
- White petals with deep lavender central flares and a dark magenta-pink ring
- Foliage color
- Dark green, deeply cut leaves that may exhibit bronze tinges in spring and autumn
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moist but well-drained soil
- Maintenance
- Low; remove spent flowers and cut back foliage in autumn when it dies back
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3–8
- Wildlife
- Attracts butterflies
About this plant
Paeonia x 'Cora Louise' is a charming hybrid peony with semi-double flowers and elegant color contrast. The blooms feature white petals with lavender central flares, and a magenta ring around a yellow center, creating a beautiful and eye-catching effect. The flowers have a slightly ruffled appearance, with a full, rounded form that adds a sense of lightness to the garden. These fragrant blooms appear in late spring to early summer, providing a lovely contrast against the plant's dark green foliage.
'Cora Louise' is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal care beyond occasional watering during dry spells. The semi-double, fragrant flowers and sturdy growth habit make 'Cora Louise' a beautiful addition to flower beds, borders, or containers, offering both color and fragrance throughout its bloom period.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Rain Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Sedums · Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies · Japanese anemones · Bleeding hearts
Design tip
Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. Because it is easy about light, use it to carry a planting from a sunny end of the bed into the shadier side.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Center for Urban Horticulture.
