About
Paeonia tenuifolia, the fernleaf peony, is a herbaceous perennial to 60 cm producing very finely divided, feathery, bright-green foliage � quite unlike other peonies � and single, deep-red flowers with a central mass of yellow stamens in late spring and early summer. A beautiful and distinctive peony for a sunny, fertile, well-drained border.
About the genus
Paeonia, the peonies, may be herbaceous perennials or deciduous subshrubs with large, divided, deeply lobed leaves and showy, bowl-shaped flowers in a wide range of colours, usually in early summer. Long-lived and rewarding garden plants.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden
Native toSerbia to Caucasus
ToxicityPets (dogs, cats): Skin irritant. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationBest in deep, fertile, humus-rich soil that is moist but well-drained in a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade. See herbaceous peony cultivation for further information.
PruningRemove dead flowers as they fade, then cut plant back as the foliage dies down at the end of summer
PropagationPropagate by division in autumn or early spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to leaf and bud eelworm and soil-dwelling swift moth larvae
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to a virus, honey fungus, Verticillium wilt, peony leaf blotch and peony wilt