PLANT PORN: PEONY

Words by Jessica Peace

Sexy and you know it.

Like all the best stuff this beauty is short lived but this looks filthy, sexy, gorgeous from it’s tightly wrapped buds to its final flop. Great for growing for cut flowers and bulging bouquets.

RATING

Hard as

THE DEETS

Give it sun and shelter. You just might have to get creative with your canes to keep those heavy flower heads up - think nodding off on the night bus.

NAMECHECK

Got its name from a lad called Peon, the ancient Greek physician who mucked around with peonies in his medicine cabinet.

WE LIKE Paeonia lactiflora varieties, ‘lactiflora’: ‘with milk white flowers’ - extra delicate and frilly mate.