Peony 'Shirley Temple'

Double Peony 'Shirley Temple'

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Shirley Temple’
Shirley Temple Peony / Garden Peony

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Shirley Temple’ is a classic herbaceous peony with dark green, divided foliage and large, fragrant, fully double flowers that open soft rose-pink and fade to creamy white or buff-white as they mature. It blooms in late spring to early summer and is valued for its romantic flower color, fragrance, strong garden presence, and excellent cut-flower use. RHS lists ‘Shirley Temple’ as a herbaceous perennial to about 80 cm with fragrant, fully double rose-pink flowers fading to buff-white, and notes its Award of Garden Merit status.

Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Size: 30–36 in. wide × 30–36 in. tall
USDA Zones: 3a–8b
Form: Upright, rounded clump; large double blooms may need support
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil / Water: Fertile, well-drained soil; moderate water, especially during establishment and bud development
Bloom Time / Length: Late spring to early summer; typically 7–10 days of main bloom, longer in cool weather
Wildlife: Flowers may attract bees; generally deer and rabbit resistant

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for perennial borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, foundation plantings, formal gardens, and mass plantings. The soft pink-to-white flowers pair well with iris, salvia, catmint, allium, nepeta, hardy geraniums, roses, and ornamental grasses. The American Peony Society registry notes ‘Shirley Temple’ as a lactiflora peony and describes it as an outstanding cut flower with firm stems and early flowering.

Care:
Plant crowns shallowly, with the eyes about 1–2 inches below the soil surface. Provide full sun, good air circulation, and avoid soggy soil. Because the flowers are large and fully double, use a peony ring or staking before bloom to keep stems upright after rain. Deadhead after flowering, leave foliage through summer to feed the roots, then cut stems to the ground after frost.

Plant type

Perennial

Height

30-36''

Width

30-36"

Hardiness zones

3–8

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Moderate

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Dark Green

Fall color

Dark Green

Attracts

Bees

Soil

Moist well-drained, Rich

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Border, Container, Mass Planting

Shape

Clump, Rounded, Upright

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No