SEARCH PLANT
Powered by
Paeonia lactiflora 'Doctor Alexander Fleming'
Common Name: Doctor Alexander Fleming Garden Peony
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Doctor Alexander Fleming’ is a herbaceous perennial peony with large, fragrant, fully double rose-pink to hot pink flowers that soften toward the petal edges as they mature. It forms an upright, bushy clump of glossy, deep green divided foliage. The flowers are long-lasting, useful for cutting, and often extended by side buds. Gardenia lists it as a late-midseason peony and notes that it received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit. Type: Herbaceous perennial peony Mature Size: 28–36 in. wide × 28–36 in. tall USDA Zones: 3a–8b Form: Upright, bushy, clumping perennial; large double blooms may need support Light: Full sun to part shade; best flowering in full sun Soil / Water: Fertile, humus-rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil; water during dry weather and avoid soggy sites Bloom Time / Length: May–June; late spring to early summer, usually about 7–10 days Wildlife: Fragrant flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects; generally deer and rabbit resistant Features & Landscape Uses: Excellent for perennial borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, foundation plantings, specimen planting, mass planting, and mixed sunny beds. ‘Doctor Alexander Fleming’ is especially valued for its large fragrant pink blooms, long-lasting cut flowers, strong garden presence, and reliable performance. Hoffie Nursery lists it as a full-sun peony with hot pink double spring blooms and long-lasting cut flowers. Care: Plant peony eyes about 1–2 inches below the soil surface; planting too deeply can reduce flowering. Provide good air circulation and water at the base when possible. Use a peony ring or support cage early in spring because the large double flowers can bend after rain. Remove faded flowers after bloom, leave foliage through summer to feed the roots, then cut stems to the ground after frost in fall and remove old foliage from the garden.
| Plant Type: | Perennial |
| Width: | 28-36" |
| Height: | 28-36" |
| Fragrant: | Yes |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Zone: | 3 - 8 |
| Deer Resistant: | Yes |
| Salt Tolerant: | No |
| Drought Tolerant: | No |
| Attract: | Butterflies, Bees |
| Exposure: | Full Sun |
| Bloom Time: | Late Spring, Early Summer |
| Landscape/Use: | Container, Foundation, Mass Planting, Accent Plant, Border |
| Shape: | Clump, Upright, Compact |
| Soil Type | Rich, Moist well-drained |
| Flower Color: | Pink |
| Leaf Color: | Green |
| Fall Color: | Green |