Miss America Peony

Miss America Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Miss America')

Miss America Peony brings a bright, refined bloom season to sunny borders with flowers that feel classic, clean, and easy to pair. It is a long-lived perennial that settles in and improves each year, building a fuller clump and producing more blooms over time. The lighter bloom color brightens mixed plantings without feeling heavy, and the foliage stays lush after flowering for long season value. If you want an elegant peony that looks polished in the landscape and works beautifully for cutting, Miss America is a great choice.

Distinctive Features

This herbaceous peony forms a sturdy mound of deep green, finely cut foliage and produces large blooms in late spring to early summer. Miss America is known for flowers that open with a soft blush and mature to creamy white, often with a prominent center of golden stamens that adds warmth and detail. The bloom form is typically semi-double, giving it a full look while keeping a lighter, airy presence in the garden. After flowering, the foliage remains attractive through summer, helping borders look full and finished.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part sun, with at least 6 hours of sun for best flowering.
• Soil: Rich, well-drained soil is ideal, with compost added to improve structure and drainage.
• Water: Water regularly during establishment, then provide consistent moisture during dry stretches, avoiding soggy soil.
• USDA Zones: 3 to 8.
• Planting Depth: Set eyes just below the soil surface to support reliable blooming.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Plant where the creamy blooms and golden centers can be appreciated up close in late spring.
• Perennial Borders: Use to add a bright, refined highlight and lush green structure among companion plants.
• Cut Flowers: Grow in a cutting garden for elegant blooms that create a polished indoor arrangement.
• Foundation Planting: Place in front of evergreens or shrubs to create a layered look with a bright spring highlight.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water deeply during dry spells, especially in spring as buds form and after flowering as roots store energy.
• Support: Provide light support if stems lean after heavy rain, especially in very rich soil.
• Feeding: Top-dress with compost in spring and avoid heavy nitrogen that can reduce flowering.
• Fall Cleanup: Cut stems back to the ground after frost and remove debris to keep the planting clean.

Why Choose Miss America Peony?

• Blush to White Blooms: Flowers mature to a creamy white look that brightens late spring borders.
• Golden Center Detail: Prominent stamens add warmth and a refined, natural look.
• Long Lived Perennial: Establishes into a clump that returns reliably and improves over time.
• Great for Arrangements: Elegant blooms hold well in vases and bring the garden indoors.

Miss America Peony is a rewarding choice for gardeners who want a bright, classic peony with a lighter, more natural bloom look. Give it sun, well-drained soil, and a permanent home where it can mature without disturbance. As it settles in, it will deliver bigger bloom seasons and a lush, finished presence that keeps borders looking polished through summer.