Paeonia x lactiflora She's my star - Chinese Peony

The peony or Paeonia lactiflora 'She's my star' is a perennial plant sought after for its magnificent goblet-shaped flowers forming a tightly packed pompom combining soft pink and cream. It is a rather early variety that also stands out for its pleasant fragrance and sturdy stems. Plant it in a sunny bed, and you can cut its flowers to make romantic bouquets.

Herbaceous and hybrid peonies are mainly derived from Paeonia lactiflora, a perennial plant native to central and eastern Asia (from eastern Tibet and northern China to eastern Siberia), where it naturally grows in woods and meadows. This plant now belongs to the peony family. Its deciduous foliage emerges in spring and disappears in autumn. It grows from a large, fleshy root that does not like to be moved. It is a plant of very good hardiness.

The Paeonia lactiflora 'She's my star' was obtained by Roy G. Klehm in the United States in 2000. This cultivar has an upright habit and its vegetation reaches a height of about 70 cm. The plant grows moderately, forming a dense clump of light green foliage, composed of small and fine segment-like leaves, of a fairly light and shiny green. Flowering begins around May 10th in warm climates, rather at the end of May in cooler regions. The flowers, with a diameter of 16 to 17 cm, are spectacular: a corolla of wide petals of a light praline pink surrounds a dense and round ball composed of small cream and pink petals. This unique combination of colours, the "goblet" shape, and the fragrance of the flowers give this variety something magical.

The Paeonia lactiflora 'She's my star' is a versatile and easy-to-grow perennial. It can be planted in a bed or in a large flower border, and its cut flowers can be used to create luxurious bouquets. To accompany it, you can choose Iris germanica 'Blue Sapphire', Oriental poppy 'Helen Elisabeth', meadow sage Salvia pratensis 'Lyrical Blues', and peach-leaved bellflower.

For the Chinese, the Chinese peony is the queen of flowers, a symbol of feminine beauty and love.

Our bouquet secret: Cut your peonies at daybreak, when the buds start to colour. Don't delay putting them in water.