Peonies
May to June
Queens of May
In Daria’s Garden, starting in May, a sumptuous floral ballet begins: that of the peonies of Vullierens.
A hundred plants, representing 25 different varieties, offer a veritable spectacle.
Majestic, opulent, sometimes exuberant, sometimes delicate, peonies are the emblematic flowers of grand castle gardens.
Opulence and nobility
Associated with wealth and longevity, the peony has been a prized flower in historic and aristocratic gardens for centuries.
Among the treasures to admire:
- The “Coral Charm” peony, considered the best in its category with its bright coral-peach tones.
- The very expressive “Buckeye Belle,” with its deep, velvety red color.
- The surprising “Kansas,” a double red peony with a theatrical look.
- The delicate “Honey Gold,” full of contrast, with its immaculate white petals and bright yellow center.
- The classic “Edulis Superba,” a double rose with slightly silvery edges.
Added to this is an irresistible olfactory symphony, thanks to highly fragrant varieties such as “Duchesse de Nemours,” the romantic “Shirley Temple,” the elegant “Bowl of Beauty,” and the sublime white Japanese peony “Jan van Leeuwen,” which is fine and delicate.
What lies behind their opulence
Peonies fall into two main categories:
- Herbaceous peonies, which disappear in winter and reappear in spring.
- Tree peonies, which are more woody, with evergreen stems and often giant flowers.
There are also intersectional peonies, which are a cross between the two previous types, combining the robustness of shrubs with the generous flowering of herbaceous plants.
Undemanding but precious, peonies like deep, rich, well-drained soil. They require a little patience: it can sometimes take two or three years before they reveal their full floral potential. But once they are well established, they can live for decades.
At the Château de Vullierens
From mid-May to early June, Daria’s garden bursts into flame with the flamboyant colors of hundreds of peonies in bloom. It is a rare moment, eagerly awaited each year. The air is heavy with fragrance, the petals capture the light, and the flowerbeds seem to dance in the wind.
Stroll between the rows, watch the buds open, and let yourself be moved by this generous beauty.