Paeonia tenuifolia

Paeonia tenuifolia, sometimes known as the Blood Drop Peony, is a somewhat mythical and rare botanical species in cultivation, always highly sought after by plant hunters. This herbaceous peony of great beauty, nicknamed "fern leaf peony" in the UK, boasts deciduous foliage with astonishing patterns, composed of thread-like segments, shining like green hair. In the heart of April, the very dense fennel-like foliage with its vibrant dark green truly enhances the globular cup-shaped flowers of scarlet red. Flowers that are all the more precious as they are very ephemeral. This plant goes dormant in summer, thus avoiding heat and drought.

Originating from the steppes of southeastern Central Europe, the Caucasus, and the Balkan Peninsula, Paeonia tenuifolia sometimes grows in immense colonies, dotting open meadows and limestone grasslands with its incredible blood-red flowering as early as April. This species is one of the earliest to flower in spring, taking advantage of the still moist soil to reproduce before going dormant during the hot and dry season that characterises these steppe regions. It is a perfectly hardy plant, capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -20°C and dry summers. It belongs to the family of Ranunculaceae or Paeoniaceae.

Its growth is slow during the first years, after which its stump grows year after year and can even become weakly suckering. The plant eventually forms a bushy clump of at least 40 cm (16in) in height and 50-60 cm (20-24in) in width. Very different from other peonies, it develops deciduous and dense foliage, composed of numerous leaflets cut into very fine and elongated segments, of intense green colour, shiny. Flowering begins around April 15th, more or less early depending on the climate. The solitary flowers measure 6 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, they are globular, single, and seem to float above the foliage. They are of an intense red colour, iridescent and remarkably bright. The centre of the flower is adorned with beautiful golden-yellow stamens surrounding a red and cut pistil. 

Paeonia tenuifolia adapts to most climates, but shows a preference for those with well-marked seasons and for calcareous and well-drained soils. It will thrive in raised beds, cool rockeries, or the edge of beds, preferably alone or in the company of small plants such as the pumila iris of limestone scrublands, botanical tulips and narcissus, muscari, moss phlox, allium karataviense, or Omphalodes. Its combination with small blue countryside flowers such as certain annual delphiniums, Amur river pinks, Brunnera, Anchusa, perennial flax, bellflowers, or even Veronica prostrata is truly beautiful.