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Paeonia lactiflora 'Sword Dance'
Sword Dance Peony
Garden hybrid; species native to central and eastern Asia
Overview
'Sword Dance' is a Japanese-form cultivar of Paeonia lactiflora forming a clump 32-36 inches (81-91 cm) tall and 30-36 inches (76-91 cm) wide. Compound foliage emerges mid- to deep green with reddish leaf stalks; leaflets reach 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) long. Flowers measure 5-6 inches (13-15 cm) across in Japanese form: a single ring of crimson-red ray petals surrounds a dense cushion of narrow yellow petaloids that are edged red at the base and tipped cream at the apex. Petal count averages 8-10 ray petals plus 60-100 petaloids. Bloom occurs mid- to late-season, late May through mid-June in zones 5-7. Flowers carry no detectable fragrance. Stems reach 30-34 inches (76-86 cm) and are stiff enough to remain upright in dry weather without staking; heavy rain may bow stems. Foliage remains deep green through summer and turns red-bronze after first frost before dying to ground level. Plants live 50+ years in suitable sites and resent root disturbance once established. Bred by Edward Auten Jr. and registered in 1933.
Native Range
The species P. lactiflora is native to central and eastern Asia from eastern Siberia south to northern China and Korea, occurring on grassy slopes and forest margins at 1,300-7,500 feet (400-2,300 m). 'Sword Dance' is a garden cultivar bred in the United States with no wild populations.Suggested Uses
Used in mixed perennial borders at 30-36 inch (76-91 cm) spacing and as a cut flower with 5-7 day vase life when stems are cut at the cracked-bud stage. Planted in zones 4-7 in regions with at least 600 chilling hours below 40°F (4°C); blooms poorly in zones 8-9 due to insufficient winter chill. Roots resent disturbance; transplanted plants typically take 2-3 years to resume flowering.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2'8" - 3'
Width/Spread2'6" - 3'
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
Late May through mid-June in USDA zones 4-7, with bloom shifting earlier to mid-May in zone 8 and later to late June in zone 3. Individual flowers last 5-7 days; total bloom duration per plant is 8-12 days. The Japanese form, with fewer petals than double cultivars, withstands light rain reliably. Heat above 80°F (27°C) shortens individual flower life to 4-5 days.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Crimson-red ray petals with yellow petaloids edged red and tipped creamFoliage Description
Mid to deep green with reddish leaf stalksGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Weekly watering during the first growing season is needed in the absence of rain; established plants tolerate 2-3 weeks without rain in summer. A 1 inch (2.5 cm) layer of compost in early spring supplies nutrients, with mulch kept off the crown to reduce rot risk. Botrytis blight develops on stems and buds in cool wet springs, appearing as gray-brown rot at bud bases. Foliage yellows and may collapse by late summer when daytime temperatures exceed 90°F (32°C). Plants do not require division for flowering and may bloom for 50 years from a single planting; division for propagation is performed in early fall with eyes replanted 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) below soil surface.Pruning
Cut stems to ground level in late fall after foliage browns, or in early spring before new growth emerges. Spent flower stems may be removed during bloom to prevent seed formation, which has minimal effect on plant vigor since most cultivars set little viable seed. Japanese-form cultivars set viable seed more readily than fully double cultivars; volunteer seedlings may appear within 12 inches (30 cm) of mature plants if seedheads are not removed.Pruning Schedule
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fallearly spring