Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt' (Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt')

ShootChecker™

STOP: Make sure you get the “Right Plant, Right Place.”

90% of plants die because they were the wrong plant choice. Shoot helps you to save valuable time and money to get the right plant choices for any garden.

Find out howHide details

How ShootChecker™ works

Get the Right Plant, Right Place

Provide details about your garden or your client's garden conditions

ShootChecker™ will help you assess if it is the right plant

Save money with Right Plant, Right Place.

Get started Book a demo

Other Shoot features

One-stop planning
Streamlined garden design and record-keeping all in one place

Monthly care advice
Receive tailored monthly care advice for plants in your garden

Present and collaborate
Share designs and care tasks with anyone

Join Shoot today to enjoy…

ShootChecker™
One-stop garden design
Monthly care advice for every plant in your garden
Saving money with Right Plant, Right Place

All you need to do is join.

Get started

Book a demo

Already a member? Sign in

Hide details

Add to plant list

1 of 4

Variety or Cultivar

'Sarah Bernhardt' is a bushy, clump-forming, deciduous perennial with dark green leaves divided into nine elliptic or lance-shaped leaflets and, in late spring and early summer, strong, erect stems bearing large, fragrant, double, rose-pink flowers with ruffled inner petals.

Season of interest

Flower
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Flower
Foliage
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Foliage

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Height and spread Metric \| Imperial
Size	Max height	Max spread	To maturity
0.9 m	0.9 m	2-5 years
2 ft	2 ft	2-5 years

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Size

Max height

Max spread

To maturity

0.9 m

2-5 years

2 ft

2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil

Soil type

Chalky
Clay
Loamy
Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained
Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid
Alkaline
Neutral

Conditions

Sunlight

Partial Shade
Full Sun

Aspect

East
West
South

Exposure

Sheltered

Check to see if this is the Right Plant, Right Place with ShootChecker™

Open ShootChecker™

Plant details

Additional plant details

Cultivation

Plant in moist, humus-rich, free-draining soil in full sun to partial shade. May take a while to establish before flowering; moving the plant will disrupt flowering for this reason.

Suggested uses

Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Underplanting

UK hardiness

USDA zones

Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8

Sunset zone

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 1, 2, 3, A1, A2, A3

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Moderate/Medium
Central Valley = Moderate/Medium
South Coastal = Inappropriate
South Inland = Inappropriate
High and Intermediate Desert = Inappropriate
Low Desert = Inappropriate

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Bushy, Clump-forming, Erect flower stem

Native to

Garden origin

Drought tolerant

Flood tolerant

Toxicity

Any part of the plant may cause stomach discomfort if consumed.

Plant care

Pruning and propagation

Pruning

Deadhead regularly. Cut back in autumn after the leaves have died down.

Propagation methods

Division

Pests and diseases

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (0)

Paeonia

Companion plants (3)

Select all Deselect all

0 selected Add to a plant list

0 selected

Tulipa 'Early Harvest' Tulip 'Early Harvest'

Skimmia japonica 'Rubella' Skimmia 'Rubella'

Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana 'Chilan Choice' Skimmia 'Chilan Choice'

Related content

Discuss this plant

Re: This photo doesn't look right. Isn't Sarah Bernhardt a pale pink flower?

Nicola

603 0

Thanks Selina, I will have it checked out and replaced if wrong. Thanks for letting us know!
Nicola
p.s. do you have this one? Can you add some photos for us?

Posted: Wednesday 4th of February 2015 08:51 AM

This photo doesn't look right. Isn't Sarah Bernhardt a pale pink flower?

Selina Botham

603 1

This photo doesn't look right. Isn't this a pale pink flower?

Posted: Tuesday 3rd of February 2015 05:10 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 10:24 AM

Re: Re: odd paeony leaves

susie

1005 0

I moved them from elsewhere in the garden 2 years ago, since when , this problem. So perhaps I should wait & hope, then? I'll keep the forgetmenots away to give more light & make sure it doesn't dry out- thanks!

Posted: Friday 22nd of April 2011 08:18 AM

Re: odd paeony leaves

Kathy N

1005 1

Hi, Susie,
Did you just plant these last year? Sometimes peonies can be tempermental after moving/planting as they roots are slow to heal. Or, it could need a little more light and/or a light feed of a balanced fertiliser. I'm assuming the weather hasn't been dry where you are?
Kathy C

Posted: Thursday 21st of April 2011 08:04 PM

odd paeony leaves

susie

1005 1

I have a paeony Sarah Bernhardt with a problem: last year- and this- its leaves didn't open properly, but just stayed rolled up. There are no signs of mould/ blotchy patches. The flower buds didn't develop either. The one next door is fine, oddly. They are in a semi- shady position, not excessively dry/wet , which should be OK for a lactiflora.This isn't in the list of standard paeony diseases/ problems- can anyone help, please?

Posted: Wednesday 20th of April 2011 01:26 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 10:23 AM

Re: Re: peony sarah bernhardt

Shoot User

1240 0

Thanks Peter, that pretty much confirms what I was thinking. Have done that and shall keep my fingers crossed! Anna.

Posted: Monday 4th of April 2011 03:57 PM