Peony 'Duchess De Nemours'

Peony 'Duchesse De Nemours'

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Duchesse de Nemours’
Duchesse de Nemours Peony / Garden Peony

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ is a classic herbaceous peony with glossy, deep green foliage and large, fragrant, double white flowers with creamy-yellow centers that mature to a soft white. It blooms in late spring to early summer and is valued for its elegant flower form, fragrance, strong garden presence, and usefulness as a cut flower. This old French cultivar was introduced in the 1800s and has received the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Size: 30–36 in. wide × 30–36 in. tall
USDA Zones: 3a–8b
Form: Upright, rounded clump
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 fragrant white double flowers pair well with iris, salvia, catmint, allium, nepeta, roses, hardy geraniums, and ornamental grasses. Its dark green foliage remains attractive after bloom and helps provide structure in the summer garden. Chicago Botanic Garden lists it as a garden peony with full sun to partial shade use and late spring bloom.

Care:
Plant crowns shallowly, with eyes about 1–2 inches below the soil surface. Provide good air circulation and avoid overly wet soil. Staking may be helpful because the large double flowers can become heavy after rain. Deadhead after bloom, leave foliage through the growing season, and cut stems to the ground after frost in fall.

Plant type

Perennial

Height

24-36''

Width

24-36''

Hardiness zones

3–8

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Early Summer, Late Spring

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Dark Green

Fall color

Dark Green

Attracts

Bees

Soil

Clay, Moist well-drained, Rich

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Border, Mass Planting

Shape

Clump, Rounded, Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No