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Key characteristics

Family: Paeoniaceae
Height: 30–36 inches
Width: 30–36 inches
Flower color: Soft shell pink; large, fully double blooms with ruffled inner petals
Foliage color: Glossy green; deeply lobed leaves
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moist, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low; remove spent flowers to promote reblooming and cut back foliage after it dies down in fall
Growing zone: USDA zones 3–8
Wildlife: Attracts butterflies

Perennials

Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt'

Sarah Bernhardt Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt' is one of the most popular and classic peony varieties, known for its large, fully double flowers and lovely fragrance. The blooms are a soft, blush-pink with pale, creamy undertones and are densely packed with petals that create a rounded, full appearance. The plant's large, fragrant flowers make it a favorite for both ornamental gardens and cut flower arrangements, as they maintain their beauty for days after being harvested.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moist, well-drained soil

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Rain Gardens
Cut Flower Gardens

Companion plants

Ferns · Astilbes · Foxgloves · Bergenias · Sedums · Columbines

Design tip

Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)