Botanical name
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
Other names
Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
Genus
Paeonia
Variety or Cultivar
‘Sarah Bernhardt’ _ ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is a bushy, clump-forming, deciduous perennial with dark green leaves divided into nine elliptic or lance-shaped leaflets and, in late spring and early summer, strong, erect stems bearing large, fragrant, double, rose-pink flowers with ruffled inner petals.
Native to
Garden origin
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Clump-forming, Erect flower stem
Toxicity
Any part of the plant may cause stomach discomfort if consumed.
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
COLOUR
Flower
Rose-pink in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn
HOW TO CARE
Watch out for
Specific pests
Eelworms (leaf and bud) , Caterpillars , Swift moth larvae
Specific diseases
Peony wilt , Honey fungus
General care
Pruning
Deadhead regularly. Cut back in autumn after the leaves have died down.
Propagation methods
Division
WHERE TO GROW
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’) will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.9m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Underplanting
Cultivation
Plant in moist, humus-rich, free-draining soil in full sun to partial shade. May take a while to establish before flowering; moving the plant will disrupt flowering for this reason.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered