Peonies Duchesse De Nemours - Bare Root

Overview

Paeonia 'Duchesse de Nemours': The Fragrant Queen of the Belle Époque

Paeonia 'Duchesse de Nemours' is a masterpiece of 19th-century French breeding that remains the gold standard for white scented peonies. For over 150 years, this heirloom variety has been adored for its exquisite, crown-shaped double blooms that open with a hint of primrose yellow before maturing into a luminous, creamy white. Its petals have a distinctively soft, incurved texture, giving the flowers a light and airy appearance despite their large size. Beyond its visual beauty, the "Duchesse" is perhaps most famous for its unrivalled fragrance—a deep, clean, lily-of-the-valley scent that can perfume an entire garden on a warm June afternoon.

Key Features

• Elegant Crown-Shaped Blooms: The flowers feature a unique structure of large outer guard petals supporting a dense, ruffled centre, creating a sophisticated silhouette that epitomises classical garden style.

• Exceptional "True" Fragrance: Often cited as the best-scented peony in cultivation, it produces a sweet, refreshing perfume that is highly sought after by the perfume industry and floral designers alike.

• Glow-in-the-Dark Appeal: The soft, sulphur-yellow tint at the base of the inner petals gives the white flowers a warm, inner glow, making them particularly striking in the evening "blue hour."

• Reliable Garden Performer: Despite its delicate appearance, this is a vigorous and hardy variety with strong stems and healthy, mid-green foliage that stays attractive long after the flowering season has ended.

Gardener's Tip

To get the most out of your 'Duchesse de Nemours', patience is key. Bare root peonies can sometimes take a year or two to settle in before they produce their first "true" double flowers. To speed up the process, ensure the site is weed-free and rich in nutrients; a mulch of well-rotted manure in the autumn (keeping it away from the crown) will provide the fuel needed for those massive blooms. Because the fragrance is so extraordinary, plant this variety near a path, doorway, or open window where you can enjoy the scent every time you pass by.

Specifications

Green's of Ireland - Online Garden Shop