Paeonia 'Nippon Beauty'

Peony Lactiflora

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Nippon Beauty’ is a herbaceous perennial peony with deep red Japanese-form flowers. The broad red guard petals surround a center of red petaloids tipped and edged in yellow, giving the bloom a refined, two-tone look. It has glossy, dark green divided foliage and a bushy, upright habit. The American Peony Society describes it as a deep red Japanese-type flower and notes that it won the Brand Peony Farms special prize for a new Japanese variety of merit.

Type: Herbaceous perennial peony
Mature Size: 24–36 in. wide × 24–32 in. tall
USDA Zones: 3a–8b
Form: Upright, bushy, clumping perennial
Light: Full sun to part shade; best flowering in full sun
Soil / Water: Fertile, rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil; good drainage is important
Bloom Time / Length: Late spring to early summer; usually 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. ‘Nippon Beauty’ is valued for its dark red Japanese-form blooms, yellow-edged center petaloids, strong garden color, and ability to hold color well. Gardenia lists it as a vigorous, reliable peony with glossy dark green foliage reaching about 32 inches tall and 24–36 inches wide.

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 through summer so it can feed the roots. Cut stems to the ground after frost in fall and remove old foliage from the garden. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizer, which can reduce flowering.

Plant type

Perennial

Height

24-32"

Width

30-36"

Hardiness zones

3–8

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Slow

Bloom time

Early Summer, Late Spring

Flower color

Red, Rose, White

Fall color

Bronze, Dark Green, Green

Fruit color

Rose

Attracts

Bees, Butterflies

Soil

Moist well-drained, Rich

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Border, Container, Mass Planting

Shape

Clump, Compact, Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No