1 / 3

Key characteristics

Height: 24–36 inches (commonly around 28 inches tall)
Width: 24–30 inches
Flower color: Soft blush-salmon pink that matures to pale apricot-pink
Foliage color: Glossy medium to dark green
Bloom time: Midseason in late spring to early summer
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low, remove spent flowers, cut foliage to ground after frost, mulch before winter
Growing zone: USDA zones 3–8
Wildlife: Fragrant blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; deer- and rabbit-resistant

Perennials

Paeonia lactiflora 'Serene Pastel'

Serene Pastel Peony

Paeonia lactiflora 'Serene Pastel' is known for its large, fully double blooms and soft, shifting colors. The flowers emerge in late-spring, opening in a delicate salmon-pink that gradually fades to creamy ivory with hints of blush. Rounded guard petals frame a dense cluster of lightly ruffled inner petals, with occasional glimpses of golden stamens at the center. A subtle, mint-like fragrance accompanies the blooms, which are held on strong stems that resist flopping even in wind or rain.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Midseason in late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Cut Flower Gardens

Companion plants

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

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.