Peony (Paeonia 'Pink Double Dandy' KEIKO)
Stunning Peony! Paeonia 'Pink Double Dandy' KEIKO delivers showy, fragrant, lavender pink blooms. Easy care Itoh hybrid for Zones 4-8.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO is highly sought after as a premier Itoh (intersectional) hybrid Peony, blending the best traits of its tree and garden peony parents. Gardeners prize this variety for its strong stems, which support very large, semi-double to double flowers reaching up to 6 inches across. These blooms emerge in mid-spring, displaying a beautiful dark lavender pink hue that gracefully fades as they mature.
This herbaceous perennial forms a compact, mounding shrub-like habit, remaining attractive from spring through fall, dying back only after the first hard frost. As a long-lived plant, Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO serves as a stalwart specimen in established garden settings, requiring relatively low ongoing effort once sited correctly. Its flower qualities—showy, fragrant, and excellent as cut flowers—make it indispensable for spring color palettes.
Cultivating the Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO Peony is rewarding, provided it receives its preferred full sun exposure, though it tolerates light partial shade. While it possesses the improved stem strength characteristic of Itoh types, careful placement and adequate richness of soil will ensure decades of spectacular, hassle-free blooms from this excellent Peony cultivar.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Paeoniaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-2.5 ft
- Spread: 2-2.5 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: Lavender pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
The ideal time to plant containerized Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO is typically spring or fall, ensuring the roots establish before extreme weather hits. Plant this Peony in rich, fertile, well-drained soil, amending with compost before planting to maximize growing potential. While KEIKO prefers full sun for the best flowering, it will tolerate light part shade, though this might reduce bloom intensity.
Maintain consistent moisture levels, providing medium water, particularly during dry spells in the growing season. This variety is generally low maintenance, but removing spent flowers after blooming helps direct energy back into root development. A critical annual task for all herbaceous peonies is cutting the foliage to the ground after the autumn frost has killed it back, removing the debris from the garden to prevent disease carryover.
These flowers are renowned for their longevity in the garden and their size, though Itoh peonies like this one boast stronger stems than traditional garden peonies. Do not be tempted to divide your established Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO; these plants are long-lived and perform best when left undisturbed for many years.
Landscape Uses
Peonies offer unparalleled structure and early-season drama in the landscape. The Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO is a standard component for perennial borders, working beautifully as a focal point or planted in complementary groups of three or five. Its sturdy, upright habit, even when blooming, makes it effective as a low, informal herbaceous hedge along walkways or near driveways where its foliage remains attractive all season.
When considering companions, pair this vibrant Peony with plants that take over blooming duties later in the season, such as Salvias, Echinacea, or tall ornamental grasses. The dense, divided green foliage of Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO serves as an excellent frame or backdrop for shorter, spring-blooming bulbs that finish before the peony begins. Furthermore, due to their stunning size and fragrance, utilize several plants near seating areas or entrances where their magnificent blooms and scent can be fully appreciated.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Paeonia is a genus of about 30 species of herbaceous perennials and subshrubs from Europe to Asia and in Western North America. Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO is specifically an Itoh peony, a hybrid cross that maximizes the large flower size of tree peonies while retaining the herbaceous growth habit of garden types. This specific cultivar flaunts very large, semi-double to double flowers in dark lavender pink atop strong upright stems, creating a rounded mound up to 30 inches wide and tall.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
Potential Problems
Peonies, including Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO, are generally considered a pest-free group in the garden. However, fungal issues such as Botrytis blight or phytopthora blight can occasionally pose a threat, especially in overly damp conditions or where air circulation is poor. An easily managed, harmless occurrence is the presence of ants on the buds; these should be left alone, as they are not detrimental to the plant’s health or flowering.
If your Peony fails to produce flowers, several environmental factors are common culprits that require checking: ensure the plant was not set too deeply or too shallowly, confirm adequate sun exposure, and rule out damage from a late spring frost on the developing buds. While the large blooms can sometimes arch, staking is often less necessary for this structurally improved Itoh peony compared to classic garden varieties, though extremely heavy rain might still cause bowing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Peony suitable for?
The Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Peony grow?
This herbaceous perennial typically reaches a mature height between 2 and 2.5 feet tall, with a similar spread of 2 to 2.5 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Peony need?
For optimal flowering, Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO performs best with full sun exposure, although it can tolerate a position receiving part shade.
When does Peony bloom?
This beautiful Peony displays its lavender pink blooms primarily from May to June.
Conclusion
The Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO stands out as a robust, visually stunning herbaceous perennial, offering large, fragrant, lavender pink flowers on stems stronger than traditional types. Its low susceptibility to pests and long lifespan make it a fantastic, reliable investment for any perennial border. Remember to check your local USDA zone compatibility and plan for planting this magnificent Peony during the cool seasons for the best establishment results.
Companion Planting
When selecting neighbors for Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO, prioritize plants that complement its cultural needs—rich, medium-moisture, well-drained soil, and a preference for full sun. Companion plants that bloom later in the season are ideal, filling the gap left once the Peony finishes its spectacular show. Consider planting shorter, late-season Perovskia (Russian Sage) or fine-textured ornamental grasses like Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ behind the structure of the Peony.
Using spring-blooming companions sparingly is advised, as the Peony’s foliage will become prominent once the bulbs fade. Early spring bulbs like true Daffodils (Narcissus) work well because their bloom time overlaps briefly, and their foliage will die back before the Peony completely overshadows them. Ensure adequate space is left, as the robust mound of Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO needs room for air circulation to help prevent potential fungal issues noted in its care profile.
Propagation Tips
As herbaceous perennials, Peonies like this cultivar are generally propagated by division, though this task should be approached with caution, as plants are long-lived and prefer to remain undisturbed for years. Division, if necessary, should occur in the early fall, after the foliage has begun to yellow but before the ground freezes. Carefully excavate the clump and gently separate the root mass, ensuring each division retains at least three to five healthy “eyes” (the pinkish buds found at the crown).
Planting depth is crucial for any peony—the eyes must be situated no more than 1.5 to 2 inches below the soil surface, as planting too deep is a common reason Paeonia ‘Pink Double Dandy’ KEIKO might refuse to bloom. While Itoh Peonies do not require the same division cycles as standard garden peonies, dividing an overcrowded clump every decade or two may rejuvenate vitality and flowering performance. Seeds are rarely used by home gardeners as they result in unpredictable traits and take many years to mature.
