Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’

Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’ (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Early summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 80cm

Eventual Spread: 80cm

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Paeoniaceae

Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’ is a large flowered deciduous herbaceous perennial. Its dark green leaves are biternate with entire margins up to five lanceolate leaflets and are up to 15cm long. Its leaflets are elliptic with entire margins and up to 11cm long. Its fragrant very pale yellow flowers have yellow stamens, are single, appear in the leaf axis terminally and are up to 13cm across. Its roots are tuberous.

Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’ Flower (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’ is a cross between Paeonia lactiflora and Paeonia mlokosewitschi.

The etymological root of the binomial name Paeonia is named after Paeon, a Greek physician of the gods who, in mythology, was changed into a flower by Pluto.

The landscape architect may find Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’ useful as part of a herbaceous planting scheme with its attractive large fragrant flowers. This perennial is not attractive to deer or rabbits.

Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’ Leaf (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’ flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’ prefers moist, deep, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will not tolerate dry soils.

Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’ requires little maintenance. Once planted the roots of this plant should not be disturbed.



Landscape Architecture

Paeonia officinalis

Paeonia officinalis (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Late spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 70cm

Eventual Spread: 70cm

Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a

Family: Paeoniaceae

Paeonia officinalis Flower (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Paeonia officinalis is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its mid green leaves are divided into up to nine ovate leaflets are and up to 25cm long. Its red single hermaphrodite flowers are bowl shaped, appear in the leaf axis terminally and are up to 13cm across.

Paeonia officinalis, commonly known as Common Peony or Garden Peony, is native to the south of Europe, including Italy, France and Switzerland. In its native habitat it grows at forest margins and meadows.

Paeonia officinalis Leaf (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Paeonia is named after Paeon, a Greek physician of the gods who, in mythology, was changed into a flower by Pluto. Officinalis is from the Latin meaning ‘of the shop’, in reference to its use a medicine historically.

The landscape architect may find Paeonia officinalis useful as part of a herbaceous planting scheme with its attractive flowers.

Paeonia officinalis Seed Pod (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Paeonia officinalis flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

Paeonia officinalis prefers moist, deep, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Paeonia officinalis requires little maintenance. Once planted the roots of this plant should not be disturbed.



Landscape Architecture

Paeonia mascula ssp mascula

Paeonia mascula ssp mascula (23/04/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Late spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 90cm

Eventual Spread: 1m

Hardiness: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a

Family: Paeoniaceae

Paeonia mascula ssp mascula is a deciduous herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its mid green leaves are divided into up to three ovate leaflets and up to 20cm long. Its red single flowers appear in the leaf axis terminally and are up to 20cm across.

Paeonia mascula ssp mascula Flower (23/04/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Paeonia mascula ssp mascula, commonly known as the Wild Peony or Male Peony, is native to south eastern Europe to Iran. In its native habitat it grows at forest margins, meadows and limestone slopes.

The etymological root of the binomial name Paeonia is named after Paeon, a Greek physician of the gods who, in mythology, was changed into a flower by Pluto. Mascula is derived from the Latin masculinus menaing ‘male’.

The landscape architect may find Paeonia mascula ssp mascula useful as part of a herbaceous planting scheme with its attractive flowers. Once established this perennial is drough tollerant.

Paeonia mascula ssp mascula Leaf (23/04/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Paeonia mascula ssp mascula flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

Paeonia mascula ssp mascula prefers moist, deep, humus rich, well-drained soils. It prefers a neutral to acid pH of soil, although it will tolerates most soils.

Paeonia mascula ssp mascula requires little maintenance. Once planted the roots of this plant should not be disturbed.



Landscape Architecture