Paeonia lactiflora 'Dancing Butterflies'

Dancing Butterflies Shrub Peony

aeonia lactiflora ‘Dancing Butterflies’ is a herbaceous perennial peony with bright pink, single to semi-single flowers and a showy yellow center of stamens. The petals are broad, slightly ruffled, and open in a light, airy form that gives the flower its “butterfly” look. It forms an upright clump of glossy green foliage that remains attractive after bloom. It is listed as a fragrant, single-flowered peony with ruffled pink-and-yellow flowers, blooming June to July.

Type: Herbaceous perennial peony
Mature Size: 24–36 in. wide × 30–32 in. tall
USDA Zones: 3a–9b
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; avoid wet or poorly drained sites
Bloom Time / Length: Late spring to early summer, often June; 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. ‘Dancing Butterflies’ is especially useful where a lighter, more open peony flower is wanted instead of a heavy double bloom. Its yellow center gives strong contrast against the bright pink petals, and the single/semi-single flower form usually holds up better after rain than large double peonies.

Care:
Plant peony eyes about 1–2 inches below the soil surface; planting too deep can reduce flowering. 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.

Plant type

Perennial

Height

24-30"

Width

24-30"

Hardiness zones

3–9

Sunlight

Full Sun

Bloom time

Early Summer, Late Spring

Flower color

Pink

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Bees, Butterflies

Soil

Moist well-drained, Rich

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Border, Container, Mass Planting

Shape

Clump, Compact, Upright

Fruit

Yes

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No