Paeonia 'Sarah Bernhardt'

If your florist sometimes has bunches of cut peonies in spring, odds are good that this variety is represented. Sarah Bernhardt is a very floriferous pink double with crimson speckles sprinkled on the petal tips. For more than 100 years this variety has delighted gardeners and their friends, the ones who have been given lush, fragrant bouquets of pink blossoms. If your grandmother grew peonies, this cultivar may well have been in her garden. Why Grow Peonies? Peonies are often referred to as Queen of the Flowers because of their lush beauty and rich fragrance An individual peony plant can live more than 50 years - talk about a modest investment returning long term benefits! Once settled in, peonies require very little care, they almost care for themselves Peonies produce outstanding cut flowers Deer, rabbits and rodents tend to ignore peonies The peony Sarah Bernhardt was named after a Victorian actress and has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This variety is a favorite of commercial growers because of its productivity and reliability.

A beauty with apple- blossom, double pink flowers tipped with a silverish hue. Gertrude Jeykell always wanted Paeonia with roses, and it is a good combination as they complement each other. Again, great for cutting! Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens.

An especially nice cut flower with its large double soft-pink flowers on 3' stems; late

Double light pink flowers, slightly paler at the edge. Fragrant. Early summer, Herbaceous. Zones 3-8.