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Key characteristics

Height: 24–30 inches tall
Width: 18–24 inches wide
Flower color: Pink, single bowl-shaped, fragrant
Foliage color: Deep to medium glossy green
Bloom time: Late spring to mid-summer
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low, remove spent blooms, cut foliage to ground after frost, mulch for winter; sturdy stems may benefit from staking or support in heavy bloom
Growing zone: USDA zones 4–8
Wildlife: Highly appealing to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; generally deer- and rabbit-resistant

Perennials

Paeonia lactiflora 'Mischief'

Mischief Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Mischief' bears elegant single blossoms in pink with bright yellow, pollen-rich stamens at their heart. It blooms in late spring to early summer, offering delicate flowers atop upright, gray-green stems that seldom require staking. The petals are subtly fragrant, each bloom opening with airy simplicity and later forming seed pods that add visual interest post-bloom.

'Mischief' is a classic heirloom in herbaceous peony collections.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Late spring to mid-summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Pollinator Gardens

Companion plants

Lady's mantle · Hellebores · Hardy geraniums · Hostas · Ferns · Astilbes

Design tip

The long summer show pairs well with plants that peak earlier, keeping one area interesting for months. Because it is easy about light, use it to carry a planting from a sunny end of the bed into the shadier side.