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Paeonia lactiflora Felix Crousse

Paeonia x lactiflora Félix Crousse
Common Garden Peony, Chinese Peony

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This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty

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An ancient peony, always appreciated for its large and beautiful very double flowers, of a deep pink tending towards red, composed of a crown topped with a large pompom finely edged with silver. In this variety the beauty of the flowers is accompanied by sturdy stems that hold up impeccably in the garden as well as in a vase. Of reliable value, blooming towards the end of the peony season, in late May or early June.
Flower size
17 cm
Height at maturity
80 cm
Spread at maturity
80 cm
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time October to November
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

The Felix Crousse Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is one of the easy-to-grow peonies that bloomed faithfully in old gardens, providing beautiful flowers for borders as well as casual bouquets. Surviving passing trends and the whims of time, this grand classic is still beloved for the abundance and beauty of its large, double flowers, glossy, of an intense and rich carmine pink, finely edged with silver on the petals. In this variety the beauty of the flowers is accompanied by a subtle fragrance and sturdy stems that hold up well in the garden and in vases. Easy to grow, Chinese Peonies thrive in loose, moist soil and prefer full sun. Robust and reliable, they sometimes take a little time to establish, but they grow year after year and can live for over 50 years, even outlasting the one who planted them.

Chinese herbaceous peonies are mainly derived from Paeonia lactiflora, a perennial herbaceous plant native to central and eastern Asia (from eastern Tibet, northern China, to eastern Siberia), where it naturally grows in woods and meadows. This plant belongs to the family of Ranunculaceae or Paeoniaceae.

The Felix Crousse variety is an old French cultivar dating back to 1881, awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in England. The plant forms a herbaceous and bushy clump from spring onwards, moderately dense, reaching 80 cm (32in) in all directions. Its very large double flowers appear rather late, in May-June depending on the climate, lasting for about three weeks. They appear at the ends of the stems but some also as secondary buds. They emerge as a large dark pink bud and then open into a skillfully disordered pompom set in the centre of a crown of larger, flat petals, of the same vibrant pink-red hue. The centre of the flower is darker, and the edges of the petals are edged with silver. The foliage of this variety is good and has remarkable longevity. The young purple and glossy foliage unfolds into large dark green, deeply dissected leaves. They are borne on a petiole that divides into 3, with lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate segments. The leaflets are entire or sometimes lobed. The vegetation disappears in winter, while the buds persist at ground level and will develop in spring. This long-lived perennial plant grows from a large fleshy root that does not appreciate being moved.

Peonies are among those plants that form the foundation of a garden. In the past every garden, from the humblest to the most elaborate, proudly displayed clumps of peonies that made their way into the house, keeping  lilacs and bluebells company in bouquets. Opulent and generous, beautifully fragrant, the Felix Crousse Chinese peony will thrive in flowerbeds or alongside pathways, associated with timeless perennials such as columbines, bellflowers, foxgloves, bearded irises, carnations, or Christmas roses. It can also be grown in the vegetable garden to supply cut flowers for the house. Growing it in a pot is not recommended, as its needs will not be met. Over time, the peony becomes majestic and blooms more and more abundantly, producing up to 60 flowers.

By combining different varieties with staggered flowering times, it is possible to have flowers for 6 weeks from spring to early summer.

Paeonia lactiflora Felix Crousse in pictures

Paeonia lactiflora Felix Crousse (Flowering) Flowering
Paeonia lactiflora Felix Crousse (Foliage) Foliage
Paeonia lactiflora Felix Crousse (Plant habit) Plant habit

Flowering

Flower colour pink
Flowering time May to June
Inflorescence Double
Flower size 17 cm
Fragrance slightly scented

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour dark green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 80 cm
Spread at maturity 80 cm
Growth rate slow

Botanical data

Genus

Paeonia

Species

x lactiflora

Cultivar

Félix Crousse

Family

Ranunculaceae

Other common names

Common Garden Peony, Chinese Peony

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference845051

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Planting and care

The best time to plant peonies is in autumn. Install in a sunny or well-lit location, spaced 60 cm (24in) apart. They appreciate cold winters that promote dormancy and flower formation. The soil should be loose, deep, fertile, and moist. They need space and are sensitive to competition from other species. Prepare a hole 50 cm (20in) deep and mix organic fertiliser into your soil, partially backfill, place your plants inside, and cover with 6 cm (2in) of soil above the eyes. After planting, tamp down and water generously. Our bouquet tip: cut your peonies at sunrise when the buds start to colour. Don't delay in putting them in water.

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Planting period

Best planting time October to November
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, deep, loosened

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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