Paeonia x lactiflora Monsieur Jules Elie

The 'Monsieur Jules Elie' Peony is a Chinese peony dating back to 1888, remarkable for the shape and size of its flowers, double, tall and globular, very voluminous. Delicately scented, it blooms in fresh, satin and pearly pink, with silver hints, that fades over time. Under the flowers abundant foliage thrives, of a beautiful light green. This early flowering variety blooms from the beginning of May, expressing perfectly the charm of old-fashioned peonies. In the garden, this perennial is a safe bet that will faithfully bloom and become more majestic year after year. Create beautiful bouquets with its gorgeous flowers! 

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 woods and meadows. This plant belongs to the Ranunculaceae or Paeoniaceae family.

The variety Monsieur Jules Elie is an excellent cultivar obtained in France in 1888 by Felix Crousse, the originator of 6 more recent varieties. From spring onwards the plant forms a herbaceous and bushy clump that can reach 1.20 m (4ft) in height and 1m (3ft) in width under favourable conditions. Its large flowers appear early in the season, sometimes as early as the end of April, and bloom for about 2 weeks, each living for 7 to 10 days. They emerge as a big candy pink bud, then unfold into a voluminous, skillfully disordered pompom composed of small in-curved petals of pearly pink-gray colour, surrounded by a collar of broader petals of a very fresh chrysanthemum pink. The fragrance in this variety is considered delicate and floral. The young foliage, purple and shiny, unfolds into large, finely dissected light green leaves. They are carried by 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 in spring. This very perennial plant grows from a large fleshy root that does not appreciate being moved.

Peonies are among those plants that form the foundation 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. The Chinese peony Monsieur Jules Elie, luscious, devilishly romantic and of beautiful stature, settles at the back of a border, and goes well with timeless, unpretentious perennials such as columbines, bellflowers, perennial larkspurs, carnations, garden irises or Christmas roses. It can also be grown in the vegetable garden to supply cut flowers for the house. Only pot cultivation 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. A bouquet composed of Monsieur Jules Elie peonies, light blue and white irises, and vibrant pink tulips will have a great impact in the house.