Paeonia officinalis 'RUBRA PLENA' common peony

Rubra Plena is a peony variety frequently encountered in perennial gardens. It produces crimson red flowers formed in large heads with profusion of petals and yellow stamens that are only visible at the end of blooming time when the flowers open up completely. The stems are about 70 cm tall and may need a discreet support under the weight of the flower heads. Deciduous leaves are mid green, divided into broad, oval segments, and emerge burgundy red in early spring.

These peonies are great plants not only for perennial beds and borders, they also look very elegant combined with shrubs and trees to soften their woody structures. They are one of the easiest perennials to grow – just make sure you don’t put them too deep and you won’t have a trouble with them - they can take almost any kind of weather caprice and full neglect. Peonies are long-lived plants, there can be found some 100 years old specimens in royal gardens and arboretums.

Peonies need fertile, well-drained, preferably moist soil. If you want to be really nice to them water them freely on hot and dry days and feed them annually after they roll up foliage completely for profusion of flowers and healthy appearance. Still, this extra care is not required, once established they will grow without help. They don’t like transplanting. If you need to reduce the clump size, remove the unwanted part leaving the rest of the rhizomes in soil, untouched. Fully hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 14-01-2011