Sarah Bernhardt Peony
Named after a French actress, the Sarah Bernhardt peony is a big, beautiful flower with ruffly pink petals and emerald green foliage.
What Do Sarah Bernhardt Peonies Look Like?
Sarah Bernhardt peonies are classic, soft rose-pink blooms. The ruffly petals are lighter toward the edges. A few of the most outer petals are streaked with a darker raspberry pink.
Sarah Bernhardt peonies are double flowers, which means they have extra petals.
The peony blooms are very large, measuring up to 8 inches wide (20 cm).
The shrub reaches a height of 36 inches and has a 32-36 inch spread.
Rich, glossy dark green foliage surrounds the large, pink blooms. The foliage is deer resistant and deters rabbits.
Where Do Sarah Bernhardt Peonies Get Their Name?
Sarah Bernhardt Peony is named after the French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt (1844 – 1923). She starred in some of the most popular French plays of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Sarah Bernhardt peony was bred in 1906 by French breeder Monsieur Lemoine.
Where to Plant
Sarah Bernhardt peonies grow in hardiness zones 3-8.
Like with all varieties of paeonia lactiflora , Sarah Bernhardt peonies prefer a location with good air circulation.
Planting peonies in a location that receives at least 8 hours of full sunlight is important. However, they can tolerate partial shade locations.
Sarah Bernhardt peonies also prefer rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil. Acidic, clay, loamy, and sandy soil is tolerated by the plant.
When Do Sarah Bernhardt Peonies Bloom?
Like every Chinese peony, Sarah Bernhardt is a herbaceous perennial. They bloom in late spring/early summer, making them a mid-season blooming peony. They flower for 7-10 days.
Staking Sarah Bernhardt Peonies
Because of their very large size, Sarah Bernhardt peonies require staking. If they aren’t staked, they will droop down to the ground and breakage can occur when there’s a heavy rain. They can be staked and supported with tomato cages, support cages, or garden stakes and twine.
Sarah Bernhardt Peony Companion Plants
Hardy Sarah Bernhardt peonies will bloom at the same time as Allium, Columbine, and Bearded Iris.
Where to Buy
Peony Sarah Bernhardt can be purchased at local nurseries and from online retailers.
Looking for cut flowers peonies? They can be found at Trader Joe’s and other grocers during spring time.
This is such useful info! I appreciate knowing what will bloom at the same time too. Thank you!