Paeonia 'Primevère'

Paeonia 'Primevère': White and Butter-Yellow, Sunny Side Up

'Primevère' looks like somebody set a lemon tart on a white lace doily and walked away. Creamy outer petals, a canary-yellow cushion in the middle and a perfume that makes people lean in way too close. THE DESSERT TABLE IS NOW OPEN.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Paeonia lactiflora 'Primevère'
• Common Name: Garden Peony
• Height: 90 cm (3 ft)
• Spread: 90 cm (3 ft)
• Flowers: Anemone form; creamy white guard petals around a cushion of canary-yellow petaloids that fade to cream; fragrant
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May to June)
• Foliage: Deep green and divided, on an upright, tidy clump
• Features: Fragrant, long-lived, good cut flower

Where to Plant: Its soft white and yellow work in nearly any colour scheme, so plant it in a white or moonlight garden, a cottage border, or anywhere yellow and blue meet. It's a lovely, sweet-scented cut flower, so give it a spot where you can cut stems at the soft-bud stage.

Companion Plants: Digitalis Arctic Fox™ Lemon Cream echoes the soft yellow in this peony with its own yellow spires, about 60 cm tall from June to August. Tradescantia 'Concord Grape' adds deep purple flowers from June to September, a rich contrast to the pale petals. Tuck Campanula rotundifolia along the front, where its violet bells nod on fine stems through summer. The result is a gentle, cottage-style planting for sun or part sun.

Plant Care: Give it full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Set the eyes no deeper than 5 cm (2 in) below the surface. Planting too deep is the usual reason a peony won't flower. Keep it watered through the first season. Established plants are tough and handle dry spells. A peony ring helps keep the flowers upright after heavy rain. Cut foliage to the ground in fall and remove it. Avoid moving the clump. If you need to divide, September is the time.

History: 'Primevère' was introduced by the famous Lemoine nursery of Nancy, France, in 1907, and the name is French for primrose, a nod to the pale yellow centre. French breeders like Lemoine shaped many of the garden peonies still grown today.

Final Thoughts: Peonies outlive mortgages, marriages and most patio furniture. Plant this one now and let your grandkids fight over the divisions. IT'S IN THE WILL.