Paeonia lactiflora Candy Stripe

Peony Paeonia lactiflora ‘Candy Stripe’ charms with its large double bicoloured flowers, finely striped with red on a white background, reminiscent of traditional Christmas candy canes. This variety flowers towards the end of the peony season. Striking in a border, it is particularly prized as a cut flower for its unique beauty and light fragrance. Easy to grow, Chinese peonies take some time to establish, but can live well over 50 years. 

Paeonia lactiflora 'Candy Stripe' belongs to the Paeoniaceae family. Native to central and eastern Asia, the natural range of the type species Paeonia lactiflora extends from eastern Tibet to northern China and eastern Siberia, where it thrives in steppes, forest edges and open meadows. The cultivar 'Candy Stripe' was raised by R.F. Anderson in the United States and officially registered in 1992. It results from a cross between 'Minnie Shaylor' and a red single-flowered seedling. This herbaceous perennial plant has a bushy habit and forms dense clumps. Its growth is fairly slow, eventually reaching a height of 75 to 90 cm. Dimensions may vary depending on growing conditions, but generally remain within this range. The double flowers are medium-sized (15 to 18 cm in diameter) and are white with red stripes, each flower offering a unique colour combination. They give off a light fragrance and appear in May-June. The foliage is deciduous, composed of dark green leaves divided into lanceolate leaflets. It dries up in autumn and reappears in spring. The long stems of this peony are fairly sturdy, but due to the weight of the flowers, they may require staking. The root system consists of fleshy, tuberous roots that store nutrient reserves essential for annual growth and flowering.​

In the garden, peony ‘Candy Stripe’ will not go unnoticed in a sunny or partially shaded border. Ideally, place it in the middle of a romantic flower bed, where its large bicoloured flowers can capture the light without being overshadowed by overly imposing neighbours. It combines well with the vertical spikes of delphiniums and white foxgloves. You can also associate it with the English rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’, iris ‘Mary Frances’ for its mauve hue, or peony ‘Bowl of Beauty’. In cut flower arrangements, peony ‘Candy Stripe’ mixes well with cream or pale pink old roses, sweet peas in pastel tones, or airy, white or mauve lisianthus.