Peony Sarah Bernhardt 2g

Peony Sarah Bernhardt (Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt') 

Description:
Peony Sarah Bernhardt (Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt') is the most iconic and beloved peony variety, celebrated for its massive, fully double, blush-pink blooms that sometimes feature flecks of fuchsia. These fragrant, ruffled flowers appear in late spring to early summer, creating a dramatic display against lush, dark green foliage. Sarah Bernhardt is a long-lived, hardy perennial that can thrive for generations, providing three seasons of interest with deep buds in spring, spectacular blooms in early summer, and bronze or purple-tinted foliage in fall. This award-winning peony is perfect for borders, mixed beds, and makes an exceptional cut flower for arrangements. Deer and rabbit resistant, drought tolerant, and easy to care for once established, it is a true garden classic.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt'

• Common Name: Sarah Bernhardt Peony

• Type: Herbaceous perennial

• Mature Height: 34–36 inches

• Mature Spread: 24–36 inches

• Growth Habit: Upright, mounded clump

• Foliage: Glossy, dark green; bronze or purple tinge in fall

• Flower Color: Soft blush-pink, sometimes flecked with fuchsia; fully double, 7–9 inches across

• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

• Fragrance: Strong, sweetly scented

• Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade (prefers afternoon shade in hot climates)

• Soil: Moist, well-drained, rich loamy soil; pH 6.5–7

• Water Needs: Average; prefers cool, damp soil but well-drained

• Hardiness Zones: USDA 3–8

• Maintenance: Low; deadhead spent blooms, cut back stems in fall, divide every 8–10 years

• Resistances: Deer resistant, rabbit resistant, drought tolerant, disease resistant

• Wildlife: Attracts butterflies; pollinator friendly

• Uses: Borders, mixed beds, specimen, cut flower, cottage gardens

Care Tips:

• Plant with the buds ("eyes") 1–2 inches below the soil surface.

• Water regularly during establishment; mulch to retain moisture.

• Stake stems if needed to support large blooms.

• Prune stems to 2–3 inches above ground in late fall.

• Allow foliage to die back naturally for best root health.

Bring timeless elegance and unforgettable fragrance to your garden or bouquets with Peony Sarah Bernhardt-the queen of classic peonies!