Images Depict Mature Plants
Duchesse De Nemours Peony
Paeonia lactiflora 'Duchesse De Nemours'
Duchesse de Nemours Peony plants are prized for their elegant, double white blooms with a soft lemony fragrance, making them a timeless favorite for spring gardens. Ideal for perennial borders, cottage gardens, and cutting beds, these deer-resistant peonies offer long-lasting beauty, strong stems, and classic charm in sunny landscape designs.
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Duchesse De Nemours Peony
Duchesse De Nemours Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Duchesse De Nemours') is a timeless garden favorite known for its luxurious, double white blooms and rich, sweet fragrance. This heirloom variety dates back to the mid-1800s and continues to enchant gardeners with its elegant, ruffled petals and soft lemony-yellow centers. Blooming in late spring to early summer, Duchesse De Nemours is perfect for cutting gardens, borders, and classic perennial beds where it adds a touch of old-world charm and refinement.
Growing 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, this herbaceous peony features strong, upright stems that hold the large blossoms aloft, making it ideal for fresh floral arrangements. The glossy, dark green foliage remains attractive long after the blooms fade, offering lasting interest in the landscape. Hardy in USDA zones 3–8, Duchesse De Nemours Peony thrives in full sun to light shade and prefers rich, well-drained soil. With minimal maintenance and a long lifespan, it’s a reliable perennial that returns year after year with even more abundant blooms.
In the landscape, Duchesse De Nemours Peony pairs beautifully with roses, irises, salvia, and early summer-blooming perennials. It’s deer-resistant and drought-tolerant once established, making it as practical as it is beautiful. Whether you're designing a formal garden, enhancing your cottage border, or adding fragrance to a walkway, this peony’s classic white blooms and lush form bring unmatched grace and sophistication to any garden setting.
| Hardiness Zone: | 3-8 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 30 to 36 Inches |
| Mature Width: | 30 to 36 Inches |
| Sunlight: | Full sun |
| Water Requirements: | Water well until established |
| Flower Color: | Soft pink almost white double form |
| Bloom Season: | May |
| Details: | Red flowers, fragrant, good cut flower, attracts butterflies |
How to Care for Duchesse De Nemours Peony
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy Duchesse De Nemours Peony plants for years to come!
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How should I plant my Duchesse De Nemours Peony plants?
To plant your Duchesse De Nemours Peony plants successfully, choose a location with full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. These classic herbaceous peonies prefer a spot that receives at least six hours of sunlight daily and offers good air circulation to prevent disease. Begin by digging a hole that is about two feet wide and twelve to eighteen inches deep. Amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to enrich the planting area. Position the peony root so the “eyes” (the pink or white buds) are no more than 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface—planting too deeply can result in poor blooming. Backfill the hole, gently firm the soil, and water thoroughly. Once planted, Duchesse De Nemours Peonies benefit from a light mulch to regulate soil temperature and retain moisture, but keep mulch away from the crown to prevent rot. These long-lived perennials are best planted in the fall, allowing the roots to establish before winter. Avoid planting in areas with standing water or overly wet conditions, as peonies dislike soggy roots. With their lush, creamy white blooms and intoxicating fragrance, Duchesse De Nemours Peonies are ideal for cutting gardens, borders, and cottage-style landscapes. Proper planting ensures your peonies will thrive and provide stunning flowers year after year.
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How should I water my Duchesse De Nemours Peony plants?
Watering your Duchesse De Nemours Peony plants correctly is key to encouraging healthy root development and abundant blooms. During their first growing season, deep watering is essential—aim to provide 1 to 2 inches of water per week, either through rainfall or supplemental irrigation. It's best to water deeply but infrequently, allowing the moisture to soak into the root zone. Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal issues like botrytis. Early morning watering is ideal, as it allows leaves to dry quickly and helps prevent disease. Once established, Duchesse De Nemours Peonies are relatively drought-tolerant but will perform best with consistent moisture, especially during dry spells or when forming buds in late spring. Avoid overwatering or allowing soil to remain soggy, as peony roots can rot in overly wet conditions. Always check the soil moisture before watering—if the top 2 inches are dry, it’s time to water again. Maintaining a 2–3 inch mulch layer around the base of the plant can help retain soil moisture and reduce the frequency of watering. With the right watering routine, your Duchesse De Nemours Peonies will reward you with stunning, fragrant white blooms season after season.
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How should I fertilize my Duchesse De Nemours Peony plants?
Fertilizing your Duchesse De Nemours Peony plants properly ensures strong stems, healthy foliage, and abundant blooms. For best results, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer—such as a 10-10-10 or 5-10-5 formula—in early spring when new shoots begin to emerge. Scatter the fertilizer around the base of the plant, keeping it at least 6 inches away from the crown to avoid burning the tender shoots. Lightly scratch the fertilizer into the soil and water thoroughly to help the nutrients reach the root zone. Avoid over-fertilizing, as too much nitrogen can lead to lush foliage at the expense of flower production. In addition to spring feeding, you can give your Duchesse De Nemours Peonies a light boost in the fall by top-dressing with compost or well-aged manure. This organic matter enriches the soil and improves long-term fertility without the risk of overfeeding. Avoid using high-nitrogen lawn fertilizers near your peonies, as these can cause weak, floppy stems and poor flowering. With a thoughtful fertilizing schedule, your Duchesse De Nemours Peonies will thrive in the landscape, producing large, fragrant white blooms that brighten garden borders, perennial beds, and cutting gardens year after year.
How and when should I prune my Duchesse De Nemours Peony plants?
Pruning your Duchesse De Nemours Peony plants is essential for maintaining plant health, encouraging strong blooms, and keeping your garden tidy. The primary time to prune peonies is in the fall after the foliage has died back naturally—usually after the first hard frost. Cut the stems down to just above ground level using clean, sharp pruners. Removing the spent foliage helps prevent the spread of fungal diseases such as botrytis, which can overwinter in decaying plant material. Dispose of the cut foliage instead of composting it to ensure you eliminate any lingering pathogens. During the growing season, minimal pruning is needed for Duchesse De Nemours Peonies. You can deadhead spent blooms in late spring or early summer to redirect energy back into the root system and improve the plant’s appearance. Be sure to remove the entire flower stem down to the next leaf node. Avoid cutting back foliage while it's still green and actively photosynthesizing, as this energy supports root growth and next year’s blooms. Proper seasonal pruning will help your Duchesse De Nemours Peonies remain vigorous and beautiful, rewarding you with show-stopping, creamy white flowers year after year.
