Peony (Paeonia 'Zhu Sha Pan' CINNABAR RED)

Overview

Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ CINNABAR RED, a superb variety of Peony, offers gardeners a splash of deep color in the late spring garden. This herbaceous perennial typically reaches 2 to 2.5 feet high and wide, featuring attractive, divided green foliage that remains appealing through the growing season. Its most striking feature is the mid-season bloom of anemone-type flowers characterized by showy purplish-red petals, commonly known as CINNABAR RED.

Cultivating this Peony is rewarding, as the species is celebrated for its longevity and relative lack of fuss once established. It thrives in a wide range of conditions across USDA Zones 5 through 8, tolerating both full sun and light afternoon shade. Gardeners appreciate the Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ CINNABAR RED for its reliable structure and vibrant blooms, which make excellent cut flowers.

This variety brings classic romance to the perennial border. Though the individual blooms last only about a week to ten days, strategic planning with other cultivars can prolong the magnificent peony show for nearly six weeks across spring and early summer. Enjoying the low maintenance and deer resistance of this Paeonia makes it a staple choice for lasting garden impact.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Paeoniaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 2-2.5 ft
  • Spread: 2-2.5 ft
• Bloom Time: May
• Bloom Description: Red
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

The best time to establish your Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ CINNABAR RED is when it is dormant, typically in the fall. Select a location that receives full sun to partial shade, ensuring the soil is rich, fertile, and possesses excellent drainage, as wet feet are detrimental to peonies. Incorporate compost generously before planting to improve soil structure and nutrient content.

Water this Peony consistently to maintain medium soil moisture, especially during establishment and dry summer spells. These plants are considered low maintenance; fertilization is rarely required if the soil amendments were adequate initially. A crucial care step involves staking or providing support for the large blooms, as the heavy flowers of CINNABAR RED often arch toward the ground, especially after rain.

Once the blooming period concludes in May, promptly remove the spent flowers to tidy the appearance. After the first hard frost signals the end of the season, cut the entire foliage mass down to the ground and remove the debris from the garden area. This practice helps prevent overwintering diseases. These beautiful peonies are extremely long-lived and should not be disturbed or divided unless absolutely necessary, often remaining undisturbed for decades.

Landscape Uses

Peonies are renowned standards in the perennial border, serving beautifully as specimen plantings where their showy spring display can take center stage. They also group effectively, creating drifts of cinnabar red color. The foliage of Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ CINNABAR RED remains attractive deep into the growing season, offering texture and structure.

Consider planting this Peony alongside plants that emerge later, like hydrangeas or ornamental grasses, ensuring the mid-summer garden retains interest after the peony fades. They function excellently as accents or as low, informal herbaceous hedges flanking sidewalks, driveways, or against fences where their height (2-2.5 ft) provides a good mid-ground layer. The classic beauty of the Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ CINNABAR RED elevates any formal or cottage garden design.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy
• Fragrant
• Good Cut

Noteworthy Characteristics

Paeonia is a genus rich in history, encompassing about 30 species of herbaceous perennials and subshrubs. Locally known as CINNABAR RED, Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ is an herbaceous, shrubby perennial reaching 24-30” tall, producing anemone-type flowers in mid-spring. Each 4” x 3” bloom displays showy, fragrant, purplish-red petals, contrasted by deep green, dived foliage.

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Deer

Potential Problems

Peonies are generally resilient, enjoying a pest-free existence, but growers should watch for fungal issues like Botrytis blight and Phytopthora blight, particularly in humid conditions or poor air circulation. Ants commonly visit the developing buds; these are harmless spectators and should not be removed.

If your established Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ CINNABAR RED fails to bud or flower, check planting depth first—Peonies must be planted shallowly or they will sulk. Ensure the location receives enough light, as too much shade suppresses blooms. Mature plants sometimes need staking, as the large, heavy flower heads of CINNABAR RED can easily be weighted down by rain, potentially lodging them on the ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Peony suitable for?

This herbaceous perennial Peony, Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ CINNABAR RED, is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8.

How large does Peony grow?

This variety typically achieves a mature height between 2 and 2.5 feet, with an equal spread of 2 to 2.5 feet.

When does Peony bloom?

Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ CINNABAR RED blooms reliably in May, producing distinctive cinnabar red flowers.

What sun exposure does Peony need?

This Peony thrives best when positioned in full sun to part shade conditions for optimal flowering.

Conclusion

The Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ CINNABAR RED offers exceptional mid-season color and fragrance, establishing itself as an indispensable, low-maintenance perennial. Its showy, cinnabar red blooms and long lifespan make this Peony a cherished garden heirloom. Before planting, confirm your soil drains well and your location provides the necessary sun exposure for a successful, decades-long performance.

Companion Planting

When planning the border around your Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ CINNABAR RED, focus on plants that thrive in similar conditions (rich soil, medium water) but offer contrasting bloom times. Consider late-season bloomers like tall garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) or coneflowers (Echinacea species) to step in after the spectacular peony display concludes in May. Hostas with variegated or blue foliage provide excellent texture beneath and around the plant, complementing the deep green leaves of the Peony throughout the summer.

Design Ideas

The robust, shrubby nature of the Paeonia ‘Zhu Sha Pan’ CINNABAR RED lends itself well to cottage garden designs where traditional, long-lived perennials are valued. Plant drifts of three or five for maximum visual impact in the mid-border. Due to the bloom’s tendency to arch, placing them near structural elements like low stone walls or wrought iron supports gives them an elegant backdrop and subtle structural assistance. If cutting flowers, group similar colors nearby for easy harvesting.