Paeonia 'Alertie'

Paeonia 'Alertie' is a peony with a wonderfully graceful sense of transformation, beginning the season with sturdy, greenish buds before opening into soft pink, fully double, cup-shaped flowers. As the blooms mature, their colour slowly softens to white-pink or creamy white, while a slightly deeper pink centre remains like a blush held in reserve. This gentle shift gives Paeonia 'Alertie' a fresh, romantic presence in the early summer border. There is nothing loud about Paeonia 'Alertie', yet its generous form and subtle colouring make it quietly compelling, the sort of peony that rewards a closer look.

Plant Paeonia 'Alertie' in fertile, well-drained soil, in sun or light shade, and allow it time to settle into a handsome clump. Its creamy, blush-toned flowers are easy to place among soft blue geraniums, white foxgloves, apricot roses and silvery foliage, where they create a border scheme with a gentle, painterly mood. The full blooms are also beautiful for cutting, bringing a relaxed, softly gathered look to vases and arrangements indoors. Refined, generous and prettily understated, Paeonia lactiflora 'Alertie' is a lovely choice for gardeners who prefer their romance with a little restraint.