Paeonia x lactiflora Early Flamingo - Chinese Peony

The Early Flamingo Peony (Paeonia x lactiflora) is one of the first to bloom in the garden, starting in May. This herbaceous Peony produces many double flowers, slightly tousled, blending different shades of light pink, creating a cheerful display. Robust and reliable, Peonies sometimes take a little time to establish, but they become more beautiful with each passing year and can live well over 50 years.

Chinese Peonies are herbaceous perennial plants mainly derived from Paeonia lactiflora, a species native to central and eastern Asia (from eastern Tibet and northern China to eastern Siberia). In nature, this Peony grows in woods and meadows. This plant belongs to the family of Paeoniaceae. Perennial by their roots, they form a clump of foliage that completely disappears in winter.

The 'Early Flamingo' Peony was introduced to the horticultural market in 2022. It is the earliest of all pink Peonies, even flowering a little earlier than 'Red Charm'. Its foliage can reach 80 cm in all directions. Its round, double flowers, 13 to 15 cm in diameter, appear around May 15th, depending on the climate, for about three weeks. With a slightly irregular shape, they are composed of numerous soft pink petals with a deeper pink base. The young purple foliage unfolds into large dark green leaves, divided into segments. The foliage disappears in winter, while the buds persist at ground level and develop in spring. This highly perennial plant grows from a large, fleshy root that does not appreciate being moved.

While it may not be the most beautiful of pink Peonies, the 'Early Flamingo' Peony is an excellent cut flower. This variety is far from ugly and produces many joyful flowers, being the first pink variety that you can pick. It can be planted in beds or along pathways. To accompany it, choose perennials with light-coloured blooms. For example, pink hardy geraniums, wild delphiniums, and catmints. Growing it in a pot is not recommended as its needs will not be met. Over time, the Peony becomes majestic and blooms more abundantly, producing up to 60 flowers. By combining different varieties with staggered flowering times, it is possible to have flowers for 6 weeks from spring to early summer.

Peonies are among those plants that form the foundation of a garden. In the past, every garden, from the humblest to the most elaborate, showcased clumps of flowers that made their way into the house, keeping company in each bouquet with lilacs, Madonna lilies, and bellflowers.