Fernleaf Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Raspberry Sundae') is a compact herbaceous perennial that brings elegant, fragrant blooms to late spring gardens in zones 3-8. This cultivar grows 12-24 inches tall and wide, flowering for 7-10 days in May with showy, cut-worthy blooms that attract butterflies and pollinators. Hardy to frost and naturally resistant to deer and rabbit damage, it thrives in full sun to partial shade with moderate water and moderate maintenance, reaching maturity in 55-60 days.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-8
24in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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Fernleaf peonies are long-lived garden anchors that reliably flower year after year with minimal fussing once established. The 'Raspberry Sundae' cultivar produces fragrant, showy blooms prized for cutting, while its compact size makes it workable in smaller gardens where full-sized peonies would overwhelm the space. Butterflies visit the flowers, and deer leave it alone entirely, giving you ornamental value without the typical pest pressures that plague other spring bloomers.
Fernleaf peonies are grown primarily as ornamental garden flowers, with blooms excellent for cutting and arranging. The flowers are fragrant, making them valuable for bringing scent indoors during their 7-10 day bloom window in May. While listed as edible in the data, peonies are grown as ornamentals in contemporary gardens rather than as a food crop.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors in early spring at 60-70°F in seed starting mix, covering very lightly. Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy until seedlings emerge over 14 days, providing good light. Transplant seedlings 2 inches apart into deeper containers when they develop several sets of leaves. Harden off gradually before moving plants outdoors.
Plant seedlings outdoors in a sunny, well-drained spot when they reach 2-3 inches tall and have been acclimated to outdoor conditions. Space plants 2 inches apart. Rootstock buds should be positioned about 2 inches below the soil surface.
Cut flowers for arrangements during their peak bloom in May, selecting stems with flowers just opening or recently opened to extend vase life. Each plant flowers for approximately 7-10 days, so plan harvests within this window. Cut stems early in the day after dew dries for the longest-lasting cut flowers.
After the bloom period ends, remove spent flower heads. In fall after frost, cut all foliage to the ground and remove from the garden to maintain plant health and appearance. While semi-double or large blooms may benefit from staking or support to prevent heavy flowers from bending toward the ground, the compact 12-24 inch size of Fernleaf Peony typically requires minimal support.
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“Paeonia lactiflora, the parent species, is native to central Asia, ranging from eastern Siberia to Mongolia to eastern Tibet, where it has been cultivated for centuries. The genus itself carries ancient prestige: its name derives from Paeon, the physician of the gods in Greek mythology, who was credited with discovering the medicinal properties of plants in the peony family. 'Raspberry Sundae' represents modern breeding work within this storied lineage, selecting for compact growth habit and the particular color and form of its flowers.”