Paeonia 'Pillow Talk'

Paeonia 'Pillow Talk' is a much-admired herbaceous peony with the softest possible approach to grandeur. Forming a clump of around 90cm high, it produces very large, fully double flowers in satin pastel pink, opening with a fresh, delicate blush before gradually becoming creamy cameo-pink and, at last, almost white. This dreamy colour shift gives Paeonia 'Pillow Talk' a cloud-like quality, helped along by blooms so full they appear almost woolly in their final stage. Awarded the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1994, Paeonia 'Pillow Talk' has earned its reputation for exceptional flower quality and vigour.

Give Paeonia 'Pillow Talk' fertile, well-drained soil and a position in sun or light shade, where its sumptuous flowers can expand without feeling crowded. Its pale pink and creamy tones are wonderfully easy to combine with blue nepeta, white foxgloves, silver foliage and soft apricot roses, creating a border with a gentle, luxurious rhythm. The huge double blooms are also superb for cutting, bringing a plush, romantic softness to arrangements indoors. Long-lived, generous and frankly rather pampered-looking, Paeonia 'Pillow Talk' is a peony for gardeners who enjoy elegance with a deeply comfortable side.