Clever combos
Peonies can be stunning by themselves, but they work equally well with other plants.
Perfect backdrop Euphorbia ‘Purpureum’: the feathery foliage creates a haze of purple-green that provides the ideal backdrop to exuberant peony flowers.
Dramatic contrast Iris ‘Caesar’s Brother’: this adds height to the domed shapes and curves of peonies, and has slender, grasslike foliage and delicate flowers. Ground cover Lady’s mantle: this teams scallop-edged leaves with zingy, acidyellow, star-like flowers. It’s a good choice for edging a border and creating an understorey of planting for peonies.