Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
The Shirley Temple Peony puts on a show each May when the massive double white flowers start to bloom. This plant is a heavy bloomer, and the shrub will be loaded with flowers, starting in its second growing season. This cultivar is a herbaceous perennial that is cold-hardy, allowing this plant to thrive in USDA growing zones 3 through 8. The dark, glossy foliage of the Paeonia lactiflora adds lush greenery to a landscape after the beautiful blooms die back.
This beauty makes a wonderful addition to beds, borders, or mass plantings. Feature this Peony in a highly visible area to view and admire the double flowers. The fragrant blooms also make lovely cut flowers with a long vase-life. Pollinators like butterflies will pay the Peony shrub a visit, but deer or rabbits do not favor the plant. The Shirley Temple Peony has a bushy, mounded growth habit.
Shirley Temple Peony Care
Plant this Peony in rich, neutral soil that is moist but well-draining. This plant prefers full sun, although afternoon shade is ideal in areas with scorching summers. Water this plant weekly or when the top few inches of soil dry out. Apply a balanced fertilizer in the spring to support abundant blooms.
Remove spent flowers to keep the plant looking neat. The large flowers may cause the stems to bend, so stake the plant to keep the blooms up off the ground. This variety is herbaceous, which means all growth will die back in the fall. Dead growth should be removed in the fall to prevent pests.
Shirley Temple Peony Spacing
This Peony is an upright plant that will reach 30 to 36 inches tall and spread 30 to 36 inches wide. Peonies do best when air can flow between the plants, so space plants as close as 3 feet.
Shirley Temple Peony Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 3 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 3 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3 Feet
- Growth Rate
- Slow
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- Blush pink to white
- Bloom Time
- Late Spring to Early Summer
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Deep Green
- Foliage Type
- , Herbaceous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Shirley Temple Peony
- Botanical Name
- PAEONIA LACTIFLORA 'SHIRLEY TEMPLE'
- Plant Type
- Perennial
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
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Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!