In Praise Of Peonies

From bowl-shaped blooms and tissue paper-esque petals to sumptuous scent and fine foliage, there’s more to this floral favourite than you might think, says Louise Curley

- Louise Curley

WITH their voluptuous blooms, handsome foliage, fine fragrance and range of colours, peonies are the epitome of an exuberant, romantic English cottage plant. And according to Claire Austin, Chelsea gold-medal-winning nursery owner and holder of the National Collection of hybrid herbaceous peonies, their attractions do not end there. “Peonies are very hardy, long-lived and tolerant of neglect – perfect for busy gardeners,” she says. “They’re great for cutting, too, although they can take up to three years to produce a lot of flowers.”