Introduced by a French breeder in 1857, this free-flowering peony is one of the oldest in cultivation. Its huge, pale rose-pink blooms have fluffy petals with crimson-flecked centres and silver, notched tips. These sensational flowers, which are renowned for their beauty and not their fragrance, have a long vase life. Tall, sturdy-stemmed Reine Hortense has ornamental foliage from spring to fall. Paeonia lactiflora