Paeonia mairei
A species peony native to the woodlands of western China. An upright and bushy herbaceous perennial with attractive, dissected dark green foliage tinged bronze-red in spring. Short, erect stems holding showy, spicily scented, saucer-shaped pink flowers with a centre of prominent yellow stamens sitting very close to the foliage appear in early spring.
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink | Bronze Red | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Paeoniaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Paeonia may be herbaceous perennials or deciduous sub-shrubs with large, divided leaves and showy large bowl-shaped flowers, usually in early summer
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Will grow well in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade in a sheltered position. See herbaceous peony cultivation for more details.
Propagation
Propagate by division in autumn and early spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- City and courtyard gardens
- Wall side borders
- Flower borders and beds
- Cut flowers
Pruning
Remove spent flowers and cut back foliage in autumn when it dies back
Pests
May be susceptible to leaf and bud eelworm and soil-dwelling swift moth caterpillar
Diseases
May be susceptible to a virus, honey fungus, Verticillium wilt, peony leaf blotch and peony wilt
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