Peony (Paeonia 'Scarlett O'Hara')

Overview

Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ is a spectacular herbaceous perennial celebrated for its vibrant, eye-catching blooms and lovely fragrance. This specific Peony cultivar brings reliable color to the late spring garden, featuring large, single flowers with striking scarlet red petals and attractive gold centers. As an herbaceous type, it reliably returns year after year, offering established beauty without demanding constant relocation or division.

Developed from a cross involving P. Lactiflora and P. Officinalis, Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ offers the best traits of its lineage, including strong performance and deep color. Gardeners value this Peony for its classic structure and its ability to anchor perennial borders, providing structure through summer even after the bloom period concludes.

This long-lived plant requires medium maintenance but rewards effort with decades of magnificent color. Ensure proper planting depth to encourage flowering, and enjoy the stunning display that this classic Peony variety provides from May onward.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Paeoniaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 2.5-3 ft
  • Spread: 2-2.5 ft
• Bloom Time: May
• Bloom Description: Red
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Medium

How to Grow

The best time to plant Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ is in the fall, allowing the root system to establish before the spring growth flush. Plant these peonies in sites receiving full sun to light afternoon shade, which encourages robust flowering. Soil preparation is key; ensure the area features rich, fertile, well-drained soil with medium moisture retention, amended with compost before setting the rootstock.

Water needs are medium; aim for consistently moist soil, especially during the first growing season after establishment. Mature plants are relatively drought-tolerant but benefit from deep watering during dry spells. This Peony variety does not require routine division and is long-lived when undisturbed.

After the showy red flowers fade in May, remove the spent blossoms to tidy the appearance. A crucial annual task involves cutting the foliage to the ground late in the season, specifically after the first hard frost, to prevent potential disease carryover into the next year.

Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ plants can take a few years to reach full maturity and begin blooming prolifically. If your existing Peony does not flower, check that it wasn’t planted too deeply in the ground, as the eyes must be close to the surface. Early to mid-season bloomers, this cultivar enhances the overall garden display when paired with later-flowering varieties.

Landscape Uses

Peonies are foundational elements in traditional and cottage garden designs due to their spectacular floral display. Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ works beautifully as a specimen plant where its individual structure can be appreciated, or planted in groups of three or five to create impactful drifts of color against green foliage.

This robust perennial is excellent at framing structural elements in the landscape. Use it effectively along sidewalks, defining the edge of a driveway, or as a low, herbaceous hedge flanking a fence or wall. The foliage remains attractive throughout the summer, acting as a sophisticated backdrop for shorter, mid-summer blooming perennials.

Because this Peony offers such strong vertical structure, consider pairing it with lower-growing plants that can appreciate its mid-season shade, such as Hostas or Japanese Forest Grass, provided those companions do not compete heavily for root space or moisture.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy
• Fragrant

Noteworthy Characteristics

Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ is an herbaceous, soft-stemmed peony resulting from a historic cross between P. Lactiflora and P. Officinalis. Like other herbaceous peonies, the stems die completely back to the ground annually after the first frost. It produces large, single, fragrant flowers featuring scarlet red petals surrounding bright gold center stamens, typically blooming early to mid-season.

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Deer

Potential Problems

Peonies are famously tough and generally resist most common garden pests; ants observed on the developing spring buds are harmless visitors attracted to the nectar. Generally, the primary concerns involve fungal issues like Botrytis blight or Phytophthora blight, which are often tied to excessive soil moisture or poor air circulation.

Preventative measures against blight include ensuring excellent drainage, as noted in the culture requirements, and always removing all foliage promptly after the first hard autumn frost. If your Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ fails to bloom, inspect the planting depth first, as buds planted too deeply will not develop flowers. Also, confirm the location receives adequate light, as overly shaded plants may focus energy on leaf production rather than blooms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ suitable for?

Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ is well-suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8.

How large does Peony grow?

This variety typically reaches a mature height between 2.5 and 3 feet tall, with a spread ranging from 2 to 2.5 feet wide.

When does Peony bloom?

The bloom time for Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ is typically in May, producing red flowers.

What sun exposure does Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ need?

This Peony prefers conditions ranging from full sun to part shade conditions for optimal growth and flowering.

Conclusion

The Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ offers gardeners a magnificent combination of vivid scarlet color and delicate fragrance, making it a treasured staple in perennial beds. This reliable, long-lived Peony requires medium care but provides dramatic visual returns throughout late spring. Before planting, confirm your growing location falls within USDA Zones 4-8 and ensure the site benefits from full sun to partial shade exposure.

Companion Planting

Choosing appropriate companions allows you to extend the interest in your garden after the Peony bloom finishes. Look for plants that enjoy similar cultural conditions—rich soil and medium moisture—but bloom later in the summer. Excellent partners for Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ include silver-leaved Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina), which contrast nicely with the dark green foliage, or late-blooming Salvia varieties, which offer spiky blue or purple flowers above the spreading Peony leaves.

Avoid planting vigorous shallow-rooted plants directly next to the peony crown, as competitive roots can stunt the growth of your established herbaceous perennial. Since the foliage of the Peony may thin or yellow slightly by late summer, groundcovers that creep slightly without swamping the base are ideal for masking this transition period.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Spring care for your Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ starts as soon as the new shoots emerge from the ground; this is the ideal time to apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer if needed, or supplement the soil with aged compost. Water consistently during bud development to support the heavy flower load. Summer requires monitoring moisture levels, ensuring the blooms that last about 7-10 days are protected from intense heat if you are in the warmer end of its hardiness range.

In autumn, wait patiently until the foliage has been killed back by a killing frost before cutting all the stems down close to the ground. This removal step is vital for disease prevention in this genus. There is usually no specialized overwintering protection required for Paeonia ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ once established in its appropriate hardiness zone, as this tough cultivar handles winter dormancy well.