Classic peonies like ‘Shirley Temple’ are a real garden treasure, providing a grand display of flamboyant, large ruffled flowers during early summer. This variety has big, crisp white blooms, which show off an intriguing pink tinge when you take a closer look. Thriving in sun or partial shade, it’s also incredibly useful for giving a dull planting area an indulgent, luscious look. A timeless cottage-garden favourite, it’s most at home in a border full of flowering perennials or a dappled woodland planting scheme. What’s more, it’s a superb cut flower too! Bare roots should be planted at the earliest opportunity following delivery. Grow peonies in a sunny or semi shaded position on fertile, moist, well drained soil. Peony plants prefer a heavy soil that is rich in organic matter. Improve the soil prior to planting by adding plenty of well rotted manure or garden compost prior to planting. Plant herbaceous peonies so that the top of the crown is just 5cm (2&