The Shirley Temple Peony is one of hundreds of peonies named for famous people. Like all peonies, it is hardy. This one can withstand cold of -30 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit and will accept heat up to 86 degrees F. It even does well in weather hotter than that if there are not too many months of it. Regular watering during its first year helps the growth of a sturdy, supportive root system.

Most peonies have large blooms and the Shirley Temple peony is no exception, although it is not so big as to droop. It is a double white peony with some pink on the petals. It prefers full sun and grows quickly to as much as 2 feet tall, while the plant itself can grow up to 3 feet wide. Its height makes it an appropriate plant to put near a fence and behind shorter plants that will emerge from spring bulbs.

One of the nicest things about the Shirley Temple peony is its outstanding appearance in vases of cut flowers. Flowers do something to and for a home that nothing else in the world can do, and in their proper season, peonies add such elegance and beauty to a hallway, living room, bathroom or bedroom. Whether the vase is cut crystal or porcelain or some other material that speaks of love at home, the cut peony display will satisfy the family's often unvoiced need for beauty and draw admiring glances and comments from visitors.

Who Was the Shirley Temple Peony Named After?

Born in Santa Monica, California on April 23, 1928, Shirley Temple starred in more than forty motion pictures, and all before she was 12 years old. In fact, she made 20 of them before she was six years old. So many parents named their daughters after her! With her bright eyes and curly hair, she had an aura of magic and an astonishing talent that could only have come from Above. She was a sensation who lifted the spirits of people trapped in the Great Depression and a household name throughout the world. As Shirley Temple Black, she went on to become an accomplished diplomat in her adult years.