Paeonia lactiflora Mr G.F. Hemerik

Paeonia lactiflora Mr G.F. Hemerik is an herbaceous "Japanese" Peony that is particularly generous, vibrant in pink and yellow, with a sweet and delicate fragrance. It is a mid-season variety that produces a large number of almost single, compound flowers consisting of a double row of round pink petals surrounding a core of golden yellow petaloids, but without stamens. They are well presented, borne on rigid stems above the foliage. Easy to grow in many regions, Chinese Peonies thrive in loose and fairly moist soil, in the sun. Robust and faithful, they sometimes take a little time to establish, but they grow year after year and can live for more than 50 years.

Chinese herbaceous peonies are mainly derived from Paeonia lactiflora, a perennial herbaceous plant native to central and eastern Asia (from eastern Tibet to northern China and eastern Siberia), where it naturally grows in woods and meadows. This plant belongs to the Ranunculaceae or Paeoniaceae family. Herbaceous Peonies, perennial by virtue of their roots, form a clump of foliage that completely disappears in winter.

Paeonia lactiflora Mr G.F. Hemerik forms a herbaceous and bushy clump from spring onwards, moderately dense, reaching up to 80 cm (32in) in all directions. Its large flowers, 16 to 18 cm (6 to 7in) in diameter, appear in mid-season in June, earlier or later depending on the climate, and last for about three weeks. They bloom at the end of the stems, but also from a few secondary buds. They emerge as a deep pink bud. The growth of this variety is good and it has remarkable longevity. The young purple and glossy foliage unfolds into large, dark green, finely cut leaves. They are borne on a petiole that divides into 3, with lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate segments. The leaflets are entire or sometimes lobed. The vegetation disappears in winter, while the buds persist at ground level and develop in spring. This long-lived perennial plant grows from a large fleshy root that does not like to be moved.

Japanese Peonies are among those plants that form the foundations of a garden. The Mr. G.F Hemerik peony can be planted in a border or alongside a path, associated with timeless and unpretentious perennials such as Bearded Irises, columbines, aquilegias, bellflowers, perennial geraniums, 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. By associating different varieties with staggered flowering times, it is possible to have flowers for 6 weeks from spring to early summer.