Paeonia ‘Magical Mystery Tour’

Let Peony ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ lead the way into summer with its bright burst of exotic-looking, coral-pink ruffled blooms. If you want to introduce a tropical splash of colour into your garden but don’t have the time to tend to tropical plants, this resilient and hardy perennial which is dressed in silky holiday attire with perfume to match is a sensible choice for you!

A cross between a herbaceous and a tree peony, intersectional (Itoh) Peony ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ is compact, bushy and easy to grow. Once it’s settled in you can leave it to flaunt its magic every year with very little intervention. Bursting forth into bloom from around May to June, it’s a real treat for the eyes during the spring-to-summer changeover.

Peony ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ has beautiful, semi-double, scented, soft peach-pink flowers, with the faintest hint of lavender edging. Each centre comprises a small cluster of stamens, while red flares taint the base of the petals. Blooms turns paler with age. Highly sought after, it is an unusual and very collectable Intersectional or Itoh Peony, flowering for much longer than many other types of peony. The finely cut divided green leaves provides excellent interest, colour and shape from spring to late autumn; they turn reddish as the autumn weather cools.

 

There is a sturdy framework of branches that do not require staking. Any fertile, free-draining soil in full sun or part shade will do and, for best results, plant in a fairly sheltered position. It is beautiful in a large pot but, like all of the Itoh Peonies, it also makes a stunning garden plant.