Paeonia Lady Alexandra Duff

Peony Sunny Girl is a striking semi- to fully double hybrid with soft buttery to pale yellow blooms—an uncommon and elegant colour among herbaceous peonies with full petals. The flowers are large, lush, and appear early in the season, bringing a warm glow to garden beds. Stems are long but tend to spread, so mechanical support is recommended when planted in the garden. The foliage is dark green, healthy, and ornamental throughout the season. Sunny Girl performs very well as a cut flower thanks to its long stems, large buds, good production, and early blooming. It has also proven to be a valuable parent plant in breeding programs. The plant grows to 80–90 cm tall and prefers a sunny position with well-drained, fertile soil. Ideal for romantic borders or as a beautiful focal point in the landscape.

How to grow Paeonia lactiflora - the Chinese peony

The Chinese peony or common garden peony is native to central and eastern Asia from eastern Tibet across northern China to eastern Siberia. There are several hundred selected cultivars of Chinese peony in a range of colors, sizes and forms. Many have double flowers, and many colors are available, from pure white, to pink, rose, and near red, along with single to fully double forms. Most of the cultivars are fragrant. The Chinese peony is an easily grown and undemanding perennial. Paeonia lactiflora prefers full sun, although a few types will tolerate light shade. They prefer a good, fertile, well-drained soil, which is preferably neutral to alkaline. These large perennials are tolerant to a wide range of soil conditions, but will not survive if the soil becomes waterlogged or too dry.