Paeonia lactiflora, 'Best of Velvet' Chinese herbaceous peony

Name in Chinese and pin yin: zi rong kui 紫絨魁

Notable characteristics: Large, fragrant dark purple red anemone double blossoms are well supported on string stems. Very late blooming cultivar. One which we imported from China in the late 1990s and have not offered for over a decade. 
 
Species, place of origin: Paeonia lactiflora, Luoyang city, Henan province, China.

Growth habit and size at maturity : Grows to 3.5' tall and wide. Strong stems.

Flower form and size: Well formed double, 6", upright blossoms borne on strong stems.

Flower fragrance: Very fragrant, spicy sweet scent.

Bloom time: Late-season herbaceous peony, blooms in our USDA zone 6a garden in the first or second week of June.

Zone hardiness: Proven in USDA zones 4-8.

Plant size: 4-5 'eyes' or buds with proportional roots. This size plant will most likely flower its second season in the ground.

When we ship: FALL 2024