Paeonia japonica Early season blooms. Striking fragrant white single blossoms with ample golden-yellow stamens bloom early. While most garden peonies are sterile and were selected for heaps of petals rather than stamen and pistils, this peony is fertile and provides forage for pollinators. We love the wild and whimsical charm of this straight species, native to northern Japan and Korea.
An added bonus is their large seed pods that add interest and texture to the garden long after the blooms fade. Allow the pods to mature and open to reveal their large seeds, deep-blue to black, and red! The seed is viable, so experiment at home with propagating your own peonies.
True to its name, this peony thrive in a woodland environment, preferring part sun to part shade; they do best under deciduous trees. Many resources list Zone 5, but ours are propagated at a small nursery in Zone 4 northern New England. Zone 4/5.