Peony 'Red Sarah Bernhardt'

Red Sarah Bernhardt is a trade-named herbaceous peony with fragrant, fully double flowers in dark pinkish-purple shades touched with red. Its clump-forming growth and late-spring to early-summer bloom make it suitable for a flower border or cutting garden. ## Flowers and habit The Royal Horticultural Society describes blooms 15–20 cm across on deep-green divided foliage, with mature plants reaching roughly 0.5–1 m in height and spread. It notes the name as a trade name and recommends a sheltered position; the flowers may need support. [RHS plant profile](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/196172/paeonia-lactiflora-red-sarah-bernhardt/details) ## Garden setting Grow in full sun or partial shade in clay, loam, or sandy soil that remains moist but drains well. Peonies generally flower best in a bright site; Illinois Extension advises planting roots no deeper than two inches and avoiding excess fertilizer. [Illinois Extension peony guide](https://extension.illinois.edu/flowers/peony/) ## Maintenance Provide support before the heavy double flowers open. Remove faded blooms if desired, then cut back the herbaceous stems after the foliage dies in autumn. Water during dry periods while the plant establishes and keep the soil evenly moist without leaving it waterlogged.