Comments on: Sublime Peony Scent

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:16:30 +0000

Amy, ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is a type of Paeonia lactiflora, which is the common garden peony, and they are sometimes called a Chinese peony. The common names can sometimes get confusing, as they can go by different names in different areas. There are many different cultivars, or types, of Chinese peony, since they have been bred for different colours, petals and looks for a long time. ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is one of my favourites, since it has an attractive soft colour and so many petals, giving the blooms a pompom look.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:44:41 +0000

Does anyone know if a Chinese peony is the same as a Sarah Bernhardt peony? I read conflicting articles. Thanks!

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:40:12 +0000

Sue, it’s hard to resist going out and sniffing them when they’re in bloom. They are coming to the end of their blooming period, and today’s thunderstorm should clean up the blossoms for me. ;)

By: Sue

Sue — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:43:58 +0000

There are some compensations to living in zone , then. I love peonies but it’s far too hot for them here.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:48:28 +0000

Kerri, thank you. The scent of peonies drifting through your room from the bouquets sounds lovely. I tried to plant some fragrant plants, such as lilac and peony, outside my bedroom window, so the scent would float through the window. However, it hasn’t quite worked yet. Perhaps I need a climbing rose under the window.

By: kerri

kerri — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:43:52 +0000

Like the other commenters, I love all peonies, but the scented ones are at the top of the list. The perfume is glorious. I’ve so enjoyed having bouquets on the dining room table behind me as I work at the computer, every so often catching a whiff of the heavenly scent as it drifts over my shoulder.
I think my large soft pink is quite possibly Sarah Bernhardt. It looks the same and has the qualities you mention. I was given most of my peonies and don’t know any of their names.
The pink looks so pretty next to the lovely bellflowers. Your photos are beautiful!

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:48:53 +0000

Barbara, it is hard, asking people to play favourites with a perennial that has so many good varieties. Scent is at the top of my list when choosing a peony too.
Although it is in part shade, it gets a reasonable amount of sun too.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:07:46 +0000

I LOVE peonies of all sorts. It would be difficult to name only one favourite. Of course I prefer the ones with fragrance, and Sarah Bernhardt also belong to them. Mine are growing in the sun and only a few p.officinalis have a place with a lot of shadow (but with still a few hours of sunshine).

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:41:48 +0000

Shady Gardener, Sarah Bernhardt is my only peony now too. Like you, in my last garden, I had inherited a white one, a red one and a pink one (probably Sarah), but I didn’t know their names. The red one was a tree peony, and I wish knew the variety name, as it was very beautiful.

By: Shady Gardener

Shady Gardener — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:42:24 +0000

At this point in time, Sarah is my favorite. But that’s probably because it’s the only one I have! ;-) Several years ago, before we moved here, I had a red one and a white one (names unknown) as they were gifts from a friend’s yard. They were beautiful, though.

I really enjoy the foliage, too. Once the blossoms are spent, I cut the stalks back to the ground and a nice round “bush” remains. :-)