Hot Chocolate peony
Paeonia lactiflora 'Hot Chocolate'
APS Registry
USDA zones3 to 8
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterNeeds moderate soil
Size3 feet tall
- Bloom color
- Dark red, brown shading
- Soil types
- Loam
Garden uses
Notes
'Hot Chocolate' peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Hot Chocolate') is a perennial for borders, cut flowers, and perennial beds. It is hardy to USDA zone 3, or down to -40°F (-40°C). This plant likes full or part sun, average moisture, and loamy soil. The deep red flowers shade to cocoa brown and open early in the season. Each stem carries 4 to 5 buds and stands tall without drooping. Henry E. Sass bred it, and El Dorado Gardens introduced it in 1971.
Pairs well with Black Hero tulip, Sedge, and Pearly everlasting.