Sarah Bernhardt Peony
Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt'
Height
90–100 cm
Flower size
18–20 cm
Bloom time
June (late)
Light
Full Sun
Watering
Regular (20-30 L)
Hardiness
Zone 3 (up to -40°C)
Fragrance
Pleasant, moderate, sweet
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Fantastic hardiness (survives without cover even in Siberia)
- Huge flower heads in delicate pearl-pink
- Long-lived: can grow in one spot for 20-30 years
- Perfect for cutting (lasts up to 10 days in a vase)
Disadvantages
- Stems cannot support the weight of flowers and flop (requires staking)
- Flowers get waterlogged and can rot during rainy weather
- Typically starts blooming only 2-3 years after planting
Use in Landscape Design
Sarah Bernhardt needs support, so the ideal place is in the center of a flower bed surrounded by a support ring. It looks great in row plantings along paths, but always with supports. In mixed borders, it pairs well with delphiniums, lupines, and lady's mantle.
Variety Description and History
Bred by French hybridizer Lemoine in 1906, this variety was named after the great actress. It remains a gold standard. Flowers are densely double, rose-shaped, up to 20 cm in diameter. The color is iridescent: from lilac-pink to pearl-white at the edges. Stems are powerful, but even they often can't hold the giant wet flower heads, causing the bush to sprawl.
Planting: The Main Secret to Blooming
90% of 'why my peony won't bloom' complaints are due to incorrect planting. 1. Depth: Renewal buds (eyes on the rhizome) must be buried strictly 3–5 cm below the soil surface. Too deep — leaves but no flowers. Too shallow — buds will freeze. 2. Hole: Peonies are long-lived. Dig a 60x60 cm hole and fill 2/3 with a nutrient mix (humus, superphosphate, ash). Planting is best done in August-September.
Watering and Fertilization
Peonies have deep roots. Water rarely but thoroughly: 2–3 buckets per adult bush every 10 days. The critical period is July and August when flower buds are set for the NEXT year. Spring feed with nitrogen; during budding use a full complex; after blooming use potassium and phosphorus.
Care During Blooming and Ants
Install a support ring in spring while stems are still short. Trying to lift a collapsed bush later without breaking it is impossible. Ants often appear on buds to eat the sweet nectar. Don't poison them! Ants don't harm the flowers and will leave once the bud opens.
Pruning and Winter Prep
Sarah Bernhardt is herbaceous, meaning the foliage dies back in winter. In autumn, after the first frost when stems flop, cut all foliage TO THE GROUND (leave 1-2 cm stumps). Burn the foliage to destroy fungal spores. Mature bushes don't need winter cover; young ones can be mulched with peat.
Diseases
Main enemy is Gray Mold (Botrytis). Young shoots turn black at the base and fall over. Caused by dampness and excess nitrogen. Prevent by drenching the soil around the bush with fungicides in spring.