Peony 'Paula Fay'

Peony 'Paula Fay'

Paeonia ‘Paula Fay’
Paula Fay Peony / Garden Peony

Paeonia ‘Paula Fay’ is an award-winning herbaceous peony with glossy green foliage and large, semi-double, bright pink to raspberry-pink flowers surrounding golden-yellow stamens. It blooms in late spring to early summer and is valued for its vivid color, strong garden performance, and usefulness as a cut flower. The American Peony Society registry lists ‘Paula Fay’ as a hybrid introduced by Orville Fay in 1968, and RHS lists it as an herbaceous perennial with semi-double pink flowers.

Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Size: 24–36 in. wide × 30–36 in. tall
USDA Zones: 3a–8b
Form: Upright, rounded clump with strong flowering stems
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; typically 7–10 days of main bloom, 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 beds, and mass plantings. The vivid pink semi-double flowers are less heavy than many fully double peonies, so stems often hold up better, though light support can still help in rain or wind. It pairs well with iris, salvia, nepeta, allium, hardy geraniums, roses, catmint, and ornamental grasses. American Meadows notes that ‘Paula Fay’ is a winner of the American Peony Society Gold Medal.

Care:
Plant crowns shallowly, with eyes about 1–2 inches below the soil surface. Provide full sun, good air circulation, and avoid soggy soil. Deadhead after bloom, leave foliage through summer to feed the roots, then cut stems to the ground after frost in fall. Avoid planting too deeply, which is one of the most common reasons peonies fail to bloom.

Plant type

Perennial

Height

30-36''

Width

24-36''

Hardiness zones

3–8

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Early Summer, Late Spring

Flower color

Dark Pink, Rose

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Bees

Soil

Rich, Well Drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Border, Container, Mass Planting

Shape

Clump, Rounded, Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No