White Flower Farm
Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt'
Best fragrant perennial for gardeners seeking reliable, long-lasting floral displays.
Discover the enchanting Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt,' a beloved favorite since 1906. This Herbaceous Peony boasts spectacular, fully double blooms in rich rose-pink, fading to lighter edges and sometimes flecked with red-violet. Renowned for its unforgettable, sweet perfume, it's a strong grower and reliable bloomer, recognized with the RHS Award of Garden Merit. These long-lived perennials die back each winter, returning year after year to add structure and beauty to your garden beds and borders. They are also exceptional for cut flowers, shipping as large roots ready for fall planting.
$16.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
16
/ 3088
#16 in Plant & Flower Bulbs
Price vs Category Average
-32%
Below average
Common Name
Herbaceous Peony
/ Herbaceous Peony
Who it's for
- Floral designers needing durable, high-quality stems for arrangements
- Gardeners seeking dramatic, fragrant blooms for floral displays
- Busy homeowners wanting low-maintenance, long-lasting perennial beauty
Who should skip it
- Residents in humid climates prone to fungal plant diseases
- Gardeners wanting a hands-off plant that stands upright alone
- Impatient growers looking for immediate, full-scale garden impact
Performance breakdown
Bloom Aesthetics
Fully double rose-pink petals offer a classic, high-impact garden display.
Fragrance Intensity
A legendary, sweet perfume that defines the quintessential peony experience.
Reliability
An RHS award-winner that consistently delivers dependable, long-lived seasonal growth.
Cut Flower Utility
Sturdy stems and lush blooms make these perfect for indoor arrangements.
Maintenance Ease
Carefree perennials that thrive with minimal intervention once properly established.
Deer Resistance
Reliably deters local wildlife, protecting your garden investment from hungry visitors.
Key Specs
Common Name
Herbaceous Peony
Hardiness Zone
3-7S/8W
Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Blooms In
June
Mature Height
3 feet
Spacing
24-30 inches
Ships as
BAREROOT
Fragrance
Yes
Features
- Spectacular, fully double rose-pink blooms
- Rich and sweet unforgettable perfume
- Strong grower and reliable bloomer
- Award-winning RHS Garden Merit winner
- Blooms in late midseason
- Long-lived, carefree perennial
- Outstanding for bouquets
- Ships as large roots for fall planting
What customers say
Customers consistently celebrate the spectacular, classic beauty of the 'Sarah Bernhardt' Peony, highlighting the impressive size, vibrant ruffled pink color, and strong sweet fragrance of the blooms. Satisfaction centers on the high quality of the plant stock received, which reviewers note establishes well. The primary theme requiring attention is patience; while the plant is a reliable, long term investment, many buyers express initial frustration over the slow establishment period before abundant flowering occurs. This delay, typical for peonies, sometimes clashes with expectations set by the premium price. Ultimately, once established, this peony is viewed as a high quality, multi generational garden staple that delivers exceptional beauty.
Know before you buy
These peonies are shipped as bare roots specifically for fall planting. Planting in the fall allows the roots to establish themselves in the soil before the plant breaks dormancy in the spring.
Yes, this is a long-lived herbaceous perennial. The foliage will die back to the ground each winter, but the plant will reliably return and bloom again each spring.
No, 'Sarah Bernhardt' peonies are considered deer-resistant. They are generally ignored by deer and other common garden pests, making them a low-maintenance choice for your borders.
For the best results, plant them in a location that receives full sun to partial shade. While they can tolerate some shade, they require at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to produce their signature heavy, double blooms.
Absolutely. 'Sarah Bernhardt' is highly regarded as an exceptional cut flower with a strong, sweet fragrance. Their sturdy stems and full, rose-pink petals make them a classic choice for bouquets.
You should space these peonies 24 to 30 inches apart. This ensures adequate air circulation, which helps keep the foliage healthy and prevents issues like mildew.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
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$16