A century-and-a-half after its introduction, 'Duchesse de Nemours' remains an aristocrat in the field. Strong stems display her cupped, bouquet-ready, medium to large, fragrant, double white blossoms. A touch of yellow at the base of the dense, ruffled inner petals adds a luminous glow. 'Duchesse de Nemours' is a winner of an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Early.
 
Plants in the genus Paeonia generally like full sun and neutral to slightly sweet soil, and they shrug off cold. After bloom is complete, you are left with a handsome mound of glossy, deep green foliage that will happily anchor the next sequence of bloom in the neighborhood. Peonies make superior cut flowers, lasting more than a week if cut in full bud.
 
Southern gardeners should provide afternoon shade.