Paeonia lactiflora 'Duchesse de Nemours'

Duchesse de Nemours Garden Peony

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ is a classic herbaceous perennial peony with large, fragrant, fully double white flowers. The blooms have cupped white outer petals and a full creamy-white to light canary-yellow center, sometimes with a soft greenish tone near the petal bases. It forms an upright clump of dark green divided foliage that stays attractive after bloom. This heirloom peony is dependable, very floriferous, and valued for both garden display and cutting. The Royal Horticultural Society lists it as an Award of Garden Merit plant.

Type: Herbaceous perennial peony
Mature Size: 30–36 in. wide × 30–36 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: Late spring to early summer; early to midseason, usually about 7–10 days
Wildlife: Fragrant flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects; generally deer and rabbit resistant

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for perennial borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, heirloom gardens, specimen planting, mass planting, and mixed sunny beds. ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ is especially valued for its strong stems, sweet fragrance, creamy-white double flowers, and reliable bloom. It is one of the best-known old white peonies and makes an excellent cut flower.

Care:
Plant peony eyes about 1–2 inches below the soil surface; planting too deeply 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. Use a support ring if blooms become heavy after rain.

Plant type

Perennial

Height

30-36''

Width

30-36"

Hardiness zones

3–8

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Early Summer, Late Spring

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Butterflies

Soil

Moist well-drained, Rich

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Border, Container, Mass Planting

Shape

Clump, Compact, Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No