Paeonia 'Flame'

Paeonia 'Flame': A Bold Ember in the Spring Border

Glowing with vivid intensity, Paeonia 'Flame' ignites the garden with its fiery single blooms in saturated cerise-red. Each petal is luminous in the spring sun, surrounding a golden centre of prominent stamens that draw in early pollinators. Compact, upright, and early to flower, it brings clarity and heat to the cool freshness of late spring.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 65–75 cm
• Spread: 70–80 cm
• Flower Colour: Intense cerise-red with a golden-yellow centre; single form
• Flowering Period: Late spring
• Foliage: Glossy, dark green, with an upright, bushy habit
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to light shade
• Soil Requirements: Fertile, well-drained soil; tolerates a range of soil types if drainage is adequate

Uses and Benefits: Paeonia 'Flame' brings a bold pop of early colour to borders, low hedging, and the front of sunny perennial beds. Its compact size makes it ideal for smaller gardens or container displays, while its single flowers offer open access to bees and early-season pollinators. With its reliable bloom and tidy form, it is as useful in naturalistic plantings as it is in formal designs. Excellent as a cut flower, it adds vibrancy and warmth to spring arrangements.

Companion Plants: Combine Paeonia 'Flame' with Nepeta 'Purrsian Blue', whose cool-toned blooms soften the peony’s heat and bloom in harmony. Add Achillea 'Sassy Summer Taffy' for its pastel coral umbels that echo and extend the warm palette into summer. Introduce the vertical structure of Calamagrostis 'Eldorado', a golden-striped ornamental grass that provides upright contrast and lasting seasonal texture.

Care Instructions: Plant in a sunny location with well-drained soil. Avoid heavy clay or areas prone to standing water. Water regularly during establishment, and apply mulch in spring to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Deadhead after blooming and cut back stems after frost. 'Flame' prefers not to be moved once settled but may be divided in fall if needed after several years.

History: Paeonia 'Flame' is an early-blooming herbaceous hybrid developed in the mid-20th century, prized for its clear, vibrant red colouring and reliable flowering. Though simple in form, it continues to be favoured for its strong stems, compact size, and eye-catching garden presence.

Final Thoughts: Bright and spirited, Paeonia 'Flame' sparks joy in every spring garden—proof that even the earliest blooms can burn with unforgettable brilliance.