Paeonia 'Krinkled White'

Paeonia 'Krinkled White': Tissue-Paper Petals Left Unironed

'Krinkled White' looks like it just came out of the dryer and decided ironing is overrated. Broad, crinkled white petals around a bright yellow centre, and the bees are absolutely here for it. WRINKLES ARE A PERSONALITY.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Paeonia lactiflora 'Krinkled White'
• Common Name: Garden Peony
• Height: 75 cm (30 in)
• Spread: 90 cm (3 ft)
• Flowers: Single, with broad, crinkled white petals around a centre of yellow stamens; lightly fragrant
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May to June)
• Foliage: Deep green, divided leaves on a tall, upright clump
• Features: Long-lived

Where to Plant: It's at home in a white garden, a cottage border or a naturalistic planting, where its simple flowers look as relaxed as wildflowers. Single flowers shrug off rain better than doubles, so it looks good even after a storm.

Companion Plants: Edge the bed with Alchemilla mollis, whose soft yellow sprays start in June and hide the peony's base. Behind it, Phlomis tuberosa sends up lavender whorls on stems 90 to 150 cm tall, carrying colour from early to late summer once the white blooms are done. Add Geranium 'Max Frei' at the front for low magenta flowers from June to August. It's an easy sun to part-sun grouping that keeps the bed busy long after peony season.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun to part sun, in rich, well-drained soil. Set the eyes on the crown no more than 5 cm (2 in) below the soil surface. Planting too deep is the classic reason a peony won't bloom. Water well through the first season. Single flowers are light, so it rarely needs staking. Deadhead after bloom, or leave a few seed heads for interest. Cut the stems to the ground in fall and remove the old leaves. It doesn't need dividing and will happily stay in one place for decades.

History: 'Krinkled White' was introduced in 1928 by A. M. Brand, one of the leading American peony breeders of his day, whose catalogue called it the finest of the white singles. In 2009 the American Peony Society gave it the Award of Landscape Merit.

Final Thoughts: Long-lived, deer resistant and happy with dry spells. Plant it and throw out the iron. EFFORTLESS IS THE NEW POLISHED.