Garden Candy? Hot Tamale? Itoh Peony Shrub

Garden Candy® Hot Tamale™ Itoh Peony Shrub

This magnificent shrub brings eye-catching magenta-rose flowers to any sunny garden setting. The Garden Candy® Hot Tamale™ is prized for its compact size, exceptional hardiness, and ability to thrive with minimal maintenance once established. When you buy Garden Candy® Hot Tamale™ Itoh Peony online from Florida Plant Nursery, you're investing in a plant that will reward you with gorgeous early summer blooms for decades to come.

Landscaping Uses

Plant this shrub in full sun locations where it can serve as a striking focal point in borders, foundation plantings, or mixed garden beds. Its three-foot mature size makes it ideal for smaller yards, cottage gardens, and space-conscious landscapes. The early summer flowering period provides color when many other plants have finished blooming, making it a valuable addition to succession planting schemes.

Specifications

Height: 3 feet
Width: 3 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun: Full sun
Water: Average; drought tolerant when established
Soil: Well-draining, average garden soil
USDA Zones: 3-8a

Why Homeowners Love It

• Produces stunning raspberry-toned flowers that attract pollinators and admiration
• Requires minimal upkeep and performs well without constant attention
• Resists common fungal diseases and deer browsing
• Thrives across a wide range of climates from cold northern regions to warmer southern gardens

Planting & Care

Plant within four weeks of arrival in a permanent sunny location with good drainage, avoiding wet or boggy areas where roots may rot. Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and backfill with native soil mixed with compost, keeping the plant level with surrounding grade. Water regularly during establishment, then reduce frequency as the plant matures and develops drought resilience. In late fall after foliage dies back, cut stems to four inches above ground level. Apply root-boosting fertilizers at planting and use bulb fertilizers after flowering in subsequent years, avoiding high-nitrogen products that favor leaves over flowers.