Paeonia lactiflora 'Kansas'

Peony Kansas

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Kansas’ is a herbaceous perennial peony known for its large, fully double, bright clear red to carmine-red flowers. The blooms hold their color well with very little fading and are carried on strong upright stems above glossy, dark green foliage. It is a dependable old garden peony and an excellent cut flower. ‘Kansas’ was introduced by Bigger in 1940 and received the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1957.

Type: Herbaceous perennial peony
Mature Size: 30–36 in. wide × about 30 in. tall
USDA Zones: 3a–8b
Form: Upright, bushy, clumping perennial with strong stems
Light: Full sun to part shade; best flowering in full sun
Soil / Water: Fertile, rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil; avoid wet, poorly drained sites
Bloom Time / Length: Mid to late spring; about 7–10 days, depending on weather
Wildlife: Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects; generally deer and rabbit resistant

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for perennial borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, specimen planting, mass planting, and mixed sunny beds. ‘Kansas’ is valued for its strong stems, bold red double flowers, dependable bloom, and excellent garden color. Monrovia describes it as having huge double carmine-red blooms on bold, erect stems and notes it is a good cut flower and American Peony Society award recipient.

Care:
Plant peony eyes about 1–2 inches below the soil surface; planting too deeply can reduce bloom. Provide good air circulation and water at the base when possible. Remove spent flowers after bloom, but leave foliage standing through summer so it can feed the roots. Cut stems to the ground after frost in fall and remove old foliage from the garden. Peonies need winter chill to bloom well and are long-lived when left undisturbed. 

Plant type

Perennial

Height

30-36''

Width

30-36"

Hardiness zones

3–8

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Slow

Bloom time

Early Summer, Late Spring

Flower color

Red, Rose

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Dark Green, Green

Attracts

Bees, Butterflies

Soil

Moist well-drained, Rich

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Border, Mass Planting

Shape

Clump, Compact, Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No