First Arrival Itoh Peony is a fast-growing herbaceous perennial with sturdy stems that forms a dense mound of deeply divided rich green leaves. Heavy blooms of large, fragrant semi-double flowers that open lavender-pink with darker centers and lighten with age bloom in late spring. Prefers afternoon shade in southern areas and well-drained soils. Type: Perennial Height: 2’ - 3’ Spread: 3’ - 4’ Spacing: 3.5’ USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 - 9 Culture: Full Sun, Part Sun Bloom Color: Pink Season of Interest: Spring MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Medium Maintenance. Water regularly- whenever top 3” of soil is dry. Botyrtis blight and Phytopthora blight are sometimes problems. Flowers may need staking or stems may droop. Scale, Mealybugs, mites and beetles are occasional problems. Powdery mildew is common in fall but harmless. If the plant doesn’t flower it is likely planted too shallow/deep or in too much shade. LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Areas, and Containers. COMPANION PLANTS: Bellflower, Coneflower, Hydrangea IMAGES: Paradise Chronicle, Peony Itoh - Hybride "First Arrrival" (lavender rosa) plant, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) Paradise Chronicle, Peony Itoh - Hybride "First Arrrival" flower, CC BY-SA 4.0, (3) F. D. Richards from Clinton, MI, Paeonia 'First Arrival' 5 2021 Itoh- (51204608592), CC BY-SA 2.0, (4) F. D. Richards from Clinton, MI, Paeonia 'First Arrival' 5 2021 Itoh- (51206389325), CC BY-SA 2.0, (5) Nadiatalent, Paeonia 'First Arrival' 2, CC BY-SA 4.0, (6) Nadiatalent, Paeonia 'First Arrival' 1, CC BY-SA 4.0 *As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.
