Paeonia lactiflora Laura Dessert

Paeonia lactiflora Laura Dessert is a vigorous, floriferous, and highly fragrant herbaceous peony in a pastel palette. Its flowers are double, medium-sized, and of the anemone type. A corolla of pinkish cream petals surrounds a large cluster of creamy dark stamens, giving an impression of soft lemon yellow. The plant develops sturdy stems with a terminal bud accompanied by secondary buds, ensuring a long flowering period. This variety illuminates flower beds in the heart of May and is excellent for cutting.

Chinese herbaceous peonies are mainly derived from Paeonia lactiflora, a perennial herbaceous plant native to central and eastern Asia (from eastern Tibet, northern China, to eastern Siberia), where it naturally grows in woodlands and meadows. This plant belongs to the Ranunculaceae or Paeoniaceae family.

The Laura Dessert variety was obtained in France by Auguste Dessert in 1913. The plant forms an herbaceous and bushy clump from spring onwards, reaching up to 85 cm (34in) in all directions. Its highly fragrant flowers, 13-14 cm (5-6in) in diameter, appear in mid-May, earlier or later depending on the climate, lasting for two to three weeks. They emerge as a large pale pink bud at the end of sturdy stems, as well as from lateral buds. The numerous stamens are transformed into small, delicate, undulate, creamy yellow petals, lemon yellow at the base. They occupy the heart of the flower, forming a rather flat pompom set in the centre of a corolla of flattened and wider white-cream-pink petals that quickly turn white. This vigorous variety tolerates some summer drought better than others. The young purple and shiny foliage unfurls into large, deeply cut, bright green leaves. They are borne on a petiole that divides into 3, with lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate segments. The leaflets are entire or sometimes lobed. They disappear in winter, while the buds persist at ground level and will develop again in spring. This long-lived plant grows from a large fleshy root that does not appreciate being disturbed.

Peonies are among those plants that form the foundations of a garden. In the past every garden, from the humblest to the most elaborate, proudly displayed clumps of peonies that made their way into the house, keeping lilacs and bluebells company in bouquets. Opulent and generous, the Chinese peony thrives in flowerbeds or alongside pathways, in combination with timeless perennials such as columbines, bellflowers, foxgloves, bearded irises, carnations, or Christmas roses. It can also be grown in the vegetable garden to supply cut flowers for the house. Growing it in a pot is not recommended, as its needs will not be met. Over time, the peony becomes majestic and blooms more and more abundantly, producing up to 60 flowers.