Paeonia 'Bric-a -Brac'

Arising in midseason, these magnificent blooms sport mildly fragrant petals of ivory-cream, generously streaked and striped with pale green and boasting red stigmas and styles. Each petal is irregularly fringed, too, so that no two are alike.

Bric a Brac reaches 2 feet high and up to 3 feet wide, with a well-branched habit and all the vigor you would expect of a Krekler and Klehm cultivar. It does best in a bit of afternoon shade, especially in warm climates, and is exceptionally cold-hardy, thriving in the severe winters of zone 2.

If you are new to the joy of Peonies, let me warn you that their merits are virtually endless! First,they are easy to grow and carefree once established. One of the longest-lived perennials, a single plant bloom last for generations.

Second, their phenol content makes them unappetizing to pests, including insects, rabbits,and even deer.

Third, they truly offer three seasons of color. The new spring foliage is reddish; the bright blooms span late spring and early summer; and the fall foliage is tinged with bronze or purple tones.

Fourth, they are equally suited for the landscape or the vase.

Fifth, the blooms are out-of-this-world lovely in color, fragrance, and form. As showy as roses, they are the unsung heroes of the flowering garden. Zones 2-8.