Paeonia x lactiflora Fringed Ivory - Chinese Peony

The Paeonia lactiflora 'Fringed Ivory' is a "white" herbaceous peony like no other. Its semi-double to double flowers form fairly flat, slightly fringed corollas in ivory white, enhanced by a cluster of always visible yellow stamens. With this Chinese Peony, the beauty of the flowering is accompanied by a sweet, sugary fragrance. It blooms in May-June, in the middle of the peony season. Stunning in borders, its flowers are exquisite in bouquets.

Chinese peonies are herbaceous perennial plants mainly derived from Paeonia lactiflora, a species native to central and eastern Asia (from eastern Tibet, northern China to eastern Siberia). In the wild, this peony grows in woods and meadows. This plant belongs to the peony family.

The 'Fringed Ivory' peony was introduced in 1989 in the USA by William Klehm. The robust plant forms a solid clump of vegetation reaching up to 90 cm in all directions. Its large flowers appear in the middle of the peony season, in May, more or less early depending on the climate. They emerge as a large white bud, then open up into flat corollas. They are first semi-double, then double, and even triple, as the number of petals increases at the heart of the flower. The inner petals are fringed, which gave this variety its name. A beautiful cluster of golden stamens occupies the yellow heart of the flower. This variety has large leaves of a beautiful dark green colour. They disappear in winter, while the buds that will develop in spring persist at ground level. This very perennial plant grows from a large, fleshy root that does not appreciate being moved.

Unusual, gently scented, the 'Fringed Ivory' peony will seduce enthusiasts of this timeless perennial. It can be planted in borders or along pathways, in full sun or partial shade. Plant light-flowering plants alongside it that won't smother it, such as columbines, catnips, or love-in-a-mist. It will also increase the flower reserve for bouquets in the vegetable garden. It is not recommended to grow it in pots, as its needs will not be satisfied. Over time, the peony becomes majestic and blooms more and more abundantly, producing up to 60 flowers.

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