Peony Mr Ed
Peony Mr Ed
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Mr. Ed’ is a distinctive herbaceous peony with glossy green foliage and large, fragrant, double flowers that can vary on the same plant from soft pink to blush-white, creamy white, or white with rose-pink markings. It blooms in late spring to early summer and is valued for its unusual variable flower color, full flower form, fragrance, and cut-flower use. The American Peony Society describes ‘Mr. Ed’ as a colchicine-treated chimera mutation of ‘Monsieur Jules Elie’, introduced by Klehm in 1980, with extra-early, high-centered flowers that may appear blush cream, frosty white, or rose-dappled.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Size: 28–36 in. wide × 28–36 in. tall
USDA Zones: 3a–8b
Form: Upright, rounded clump; large double flowers 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; usually 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, formal beds, foundation plantings, and specimen use. The unusual mix of pink, blush, cream, and white blooms makes it especially useful where a soft pastel effect is desired. It pairs well with iris, allium, salvia, nepeta, catmint, hardy geraniums, roses, and ornamental grasses. Some nursery descriptions note that ‘Mr. Ed’ can produce both white and mid-pink blooms on the same plant.
Care:
Plant crowns shallowly, with eyes about 1–2 inches below the soil surface. Provide full sun, good air circulation, and avoid soggy soil. Use a peony ring or staking before bloom to support the heavy double flowers, especially after rain. Deadhead after bloom, leave foliage through summer to feed the roots, then cut stems to the ground after frost.
- Plant type
- Perennial
- Height
- 36"
- Width
- 20-24''
- Hardiness zones
- 3–8
- Sunlight
- Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- 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, Rounded, Upright
- Fragrant
- Yes
- Deer resistant
- Yes
- Drought tolerant
- No
Plant photos (1)
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