Paeonia 'Duchesse de Nemours'

Paeonia 'Duchesse de Nemours': A Regal Glow in Pure White

Refined and luminous, Paeonia 'Duchesse de Nemours' bears fully double, ivory-white blooms that seem to catch and reflect the light. Each flower opens with a soft lemon glow at its centre, adding warmth and depth to the pristine outer petals. Gently fragrant and historically cherished, it blooms in early summer with an air of timeless elegance.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 85–95 cm
• Spread: 80–90 cm
• Flower Colour: Ivory-white with creamy yellow centre glow; fully double
• Flowering Period: Early to mid-summer
• Foliage: Rich green, deeply lobed, forming a full, upright mound
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil with good organic content

Uses and Benefits: Paeonia 'Duchesse de Nemours' is a classic for formal borders, white gardens, and refined cutting beds. Its pure colouring and graceful habit make it ideal for brightening mixed perennial plantings or serving as a stand-alone feature. Beloved by florists for its form and subtle scent, it’s also a pollinator-friendly choice in its early bloom phase. With decades of reliable flowering, this cultivar is a staple of traditional garden design.

Companion Plants: Pair Paeonia 'Duchesse de Nemours' with Digitalis 'Dalmatian Cream', whose soft vertical accents echo the bloom’s creamy centre and add architectural form. Introduce Geranium macrorrhizum to provide a fragrant, spreading ground layer with bright green foliage. Finish with Sesleria 'Autumn Moor Grass', a fine, tufted ornamental grass that brings movement, subtle contrast, and year-round texture to the planting.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun or partial shade with fertile, well-drained soil. Position crown buds just below the soil surface. Water regularly during dry periods and mulch in early spring. Deadhead after blooming and cut foliage down in fall. Peonies prefer not to be moved once established and can thrive for generations with minimal care.

History: Paeonia 'Duchesse de Nemours' was introduced in 1856 by French breeder Calot and remains one of the most esteemed white peonies in the world. It has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for its exceptional performance and enduring beauty.

Final Thoughts: With its noble poise and luminous blooms, Paeonia 'Duchesse de Nemours' is a living heirloom—an enduring emblem of garden elegance and quiet splendour.