The Peony Society
Discover a world of amazing plants
that will grace any garden
ATHENA
This is a superb example
of a hybrid
herbaceous peony.
Hybridised by the
American, Professor
Arthur Saunders in 1949,
it has four species in its
ancestry: Lactiflora,
officinalis,macrophylla and
Mlokosewitchii. Its flowers
change colour markedly
as they age, giving a most
attractive appearance to
the plant. It is usually only
available from specialist
nurseries.
SONOMA
KALEIDOSCOPE
A splendid Intersectional
(or Itoh) Peony. It was
hybridised in 2002 by
Irene Tolomeo of Sonoma,
CA. This type of peony is
still quite rare in the UK,
being a hybrid between a
herbaceous peony
(usually a lactiflora type)
and a tree peony.
FIRELIGHT
Another herbaceous
hybrid bred by the
American Arthur
Saunders in 1950. It
shares the same
parentage as Athena
(above), but the flowers
look very different. On
first opening they are
solid pink, but soon
age,the outer colour of
the petal fading, leaving
the red flares showing
prominently. Currently
only available from
specialist nurseries.
OUKAN
A realtively new Woody
(tree) Peony, Oukan was
bred in Japan by an
unknown breeder but
was registered there by
an American. Its
parentage is ‘High Noon’
x Shinfuso. Since the
former is bright yellow
with red flares and the
latter palest pink, it is not
surprising that ths plant is
pale yellow, paler than
High Noon. However, the
flowers are larger, more
full and I think, more
beautiful. It is becoming
quite readily available
from specialist nurseries.
OBOVATA ssp.
WILMOTTII
This incredibly beautiful
plant is a species peony.
As such, grown from
seed, it can be quite
variable in appearance
and also demanding in its
cultivation requirements.
Some species will grow
almost anywhere, but
others require TLC. At
the very least this one
must have perfect
drainage. It is rarely
available and then only
from specialist growers.
