Paeonia lactiflora peregrina Flame

The Paeonia Flame is a hybrid of Paeonia peregrina and P. lactiflora, one of the most sumptuous botanical peonies in central Europe. This variety, quite rare in cultivation, offers an unprecedented red flowering, with coral accents, turning to almost fluorescent magenta pink, a truly incandescent flowering. It chooses the middle of spring to open its globe-shaped corollas, visible from afar, adorned with prominent golden stamens. Rather early flowering, enhanced by abundant foliage, dark green and beautifully cut, gathered in a compact clump. This perennial plant is cultivated in ordinary, well-drained soil, rather moist, in full sun or partial shade.

The Flame Peony, obtained in 1939 by Glasscock, comes from Paeonia lactiflora, a famous botanical species native to central and eastern Asia, and from P. peregrina 'Sunbeam'. This plant belongs to the Ranunculaceae or Paeoniaceae family. It is a hardy plant, with rather slow growth during the first years, eventually forming a bushy and dense clump averaging 70 cm (28in) in all directions. Its stems bear leaves divided into leaflets 5 to 12 cm (2 to 5in) long, shiny green on the upper side, duller and bluish on the underside. The flowers, in simple cup shape, globular, appear at the beginning or middle of May, at the end of very firm stems. They measure 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) in diameter and are composed of petals that shine like rayon, intense orange-red evolving towards magenta pink, surrounding a large heart of yellow stamens. In sandy soil, the coral colour of the flowers will be more pronounced. This flowering is followed by the formation of black, round and smooth seeds, which germinate after exposure to cold.

Peonies are among those plants that form the foundation of a garden. In the past every garden, from the humblest to the most elaborate, proudly displayed clumps of peonies that made their way into the house, keeping lilacs and bluebells company in bouquets. Incandescent and vigorous, the robust Flame peony will settle into well-drained borders, cool rockeries or alongside pathways, in combination with timeless perennials such as columbines, bellflowers, foxgloves, bearded irises, carnations, or Christmas roses. It can also be grown in the vegetable garden to supply cut flowers for the house. Growing it in a pot is not recommended, as its needs will not be met. Over time, the peony becomes majestic and blooms more and more abundantly.