Peony 'Felix Crousse'

Peony 'Felix Crousse'

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Félix Crousse’
Felix Crousse Peony / Garden Peony

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Félix Crousse’ is a classic herbaceous peony with deep green foliage and large, fully double, fragrant blooms in rich raspberry-red to deep rose-red tones. It blooms in late spring to early summer and is valued for its bold flower color, old-fashioned form, fragrance, and excellent cut-flower use. The American Peony Society lists it as a lactiflora cultivar and describes it as very floriferous, with medium height and somewhat weak stems.

Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Size: 24–36 in. wide × 28–36 in. tall
USDA Zones: 3a–8b
Form: Upright, rounded clump; flower stems may need support
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; individual plants usually bloom about 7–10 days, 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 strong red-pink double flowers pair well with white peonies, iris, salvia, catmint, allium, hardy geraniums, roses, and ornamental grasses. Because the blooms are large and double, staking or a peony ring is often helpful, especially after rain. RHS recommends removing faded flowers and cutting the plant back after the foliage dies down in autumn.

Care:
Plant crowns shallowly, with the eyes about 1–2 inches below the soil surface. Provide full sun, good air circulation, and avoid soggy soil. Deadhead after flowering, leave the foliage through summer to feed the roots, then cut stems to the ground after frost. Avoid planting too deeply, which can reduce flowering.

 

Plant type

Perennial

Height

28-36"

Width

24-36"

Hardiness zones

3–8

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Early Summer, Late Spring

Flower color

Fuchsia, Rose

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Butterflies

Soil

Moist well-drained, Rich

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Border, Container, Mass Planting

Shape

Clump, Rounded, Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No