When we talk about modern peonies, we do not do so to discredit the older varieties. Such favorites as Mons. Jules Elie, Festiva Maxima, Reine Hortense, and many others still have a place in most gardens.
Great Advancements With Peony
Since about 1900, Growers and specialists have made great advancements with the peony. The biggest steps have probably been made with the hybrids.
These are mostly the results of crosses between the albiflora or Chinese peonies and the Licinius or European peonies.
These hybrids are usually in shades of red and bright pink. A few of them are light pink or white.
Of course, crosses have been made in which other species have been introduced. Many of these are triple or quadruple crosses in which three or four species have been crossed and recrossed back onto the same species or onto another.
This work takes many years, as the first crosses often show little result. As in many other fields, a hybridizer has to be patient and have great hopes for the future.
Wild Species of Peonies
Some of the wild species of peonies tend to be cream or yellow, and hybridizers have made considerable effort to create a yellow, double herbaceous peony.
Some progress has been made, but most of the yellow varieties to date must be picked and taken indoors when they first open because they fade in the sunshine. In addition, most of these yellow hybrids are single.
In my experience, these modern, hybrid varieties are healthy and of as easy culture as most other peonies. Many of them propagate even faster.
I have not grown and do not expect to grow all of the varieties of peonies that are on the market. However, when I give a list of varieties, I cannot help but leave out some fine ones, not because they are inferior, but because I do not know them.
New and better varieties are always coming on the market, and no one person can keep up with them all.
Red Hybrid Peony
‘Red Charm’ is a giant dark red, fully double bomb type hybrid peony that has won as many prizes as possible for any one variety to win. It grows well for everyone.
‘Eldorado’ is a bright red, a double variety that has not yet been on the show table enough for fans to know its real worth.
‘Golden Glow’ is an enormous single orange-red of intense color. This variety does fade to some extent, but it is still tops.
‘Alexander Woollcott’ is a semi-double variety of much darker color than ‘Golden Glow.’
‘Carina’ is a very bright red that is a slow grower. However, it is well worth your effort if you can get it to maturity.
‘Cardinal’s Robe’ is just that color. It is not as large as some of the others in this class, but it makes a bright spot in the garden.
Double Variety Red Peony Hybrids
- `Diana Parks” is a fully double variety that is just about as bright as any peony that I know, either single or double.
- `Avelyn’
- ‘Rose Marie’
- ‘Jean Bockstoce’
- ‘Red Monarch’
- ‘Black Monarch’
- ‘Topeka’
- ‘Marta’
- ‘Dandy Dan’
- ‘Red Dandy,
- ‘Carol’
- ‘Chocolate Soldier’
- ‘Auten’s Red’
And several others are all excellent double red hybrids in various shades that are worth growing.
Pink Hybrids
Although we do not have as many pink hybrids as red, we have some good ones.
One that can be grown for its foliage and its different shades of very light red or dark pink, whichever you like to call it, is ‘Angelo Cobb Freeborn.’ This double is a beauty and also a good grower.
‘Roselette’ is a tall single clear pink that everyone likes. ‘Janice’ is a personal favorite. This variety is a good color, even if it does fade a little in the sun.
‘Sophie’ is on the edge between red and pink. I like to call it bright cherry pink. It is certainly a traffic stopper.
‘Queen of the Dawn’ is a large single pink that blooms early. It is especially valuable for that reason.
‘Victoria Lincoln’ is a clear pink that may change from single to double when fully established.
‘Dainty Lass’ is a nice Japanese type of pink.
Ludovico, “Nathalie’ and `Laura Magnuson’ are all excellent pink semi-double hybrids.
White Hybrid Peonies
There are very few white hybrid peonies.
- `Archangel’
- ‘Chalice’
- ‘Requiem’
- ‘White Innocence’
Yellow Hybrid Peonies
Yellow is a color very much sought after by peony growers. ‘Claire de Lune,’ Daystar’ and ‘Moonrise’ are all single and similar in appearance.
When well-grown, all of them are excellent. To my knowledge, we have just one yellow double peony. It is `Oriental Gold’ (sometimes (Yokihi’ or ‘Golden Dream’).
I am reasonably sure that it is a hybrid. I cannot prove this, but it grows like a hybrid. The flower is not large, but it is pretty and yellow. The plant is a beautiful shade of bright green, unlike any other variety I know.
I cannot do modern peonies justice without naming some Chinese varieties that grow well for everyone.
White Varieties
Good white varieties include:
- ‘Kelway’s Glorious’
- ‘Luxor’
- ‘Victory’
- ‘Mrs. Frank Beach’
- `Moonstone,
- ‘Florence Nicholls’
- `Nancy Nicholls’
- ‘Miss Dainty’
For Japanese peonies in this section try:
- `Bu-Te
- “Carrara
- “Plainsman’
- ‘Isani Gidur, or ‘Moon of Nippon’
- `Pico
- “Krink led White’
- ‘Le Jour’
Red Japanese Varieties
While there are not as many top-notch reds as pinks and whites there are a few that are always good. Try:
- `Kansas
- ‘ Lowell Thomas
- ‘ Philippe Rivoire
- ‘Ruth Elizabeth
- ‘Red Goddess’ or ‘Tempest.”Hari-ai-nin’
- `Sword Dance’
- ‘Charm’
For red singles try:
- `Arcturus’
- Imperial Red’
- `Man ‘O War’
- ‘President Lincoln’
Pink Singles
- `Mrs. F. B, Roosevelt
- ‘Doris Cooper
- `Nick Shaylor
- ‘Myrtle Gentry
- `Pink Wonder
- “Better Times’
Good Doubles:
- ‘Hargrove Hudson’
- ‘Louie Dawson Rea’
For pink Japanese peonies try:
- ‘Westerner
- `Nippon Gold
- ‘Ama-no-side’
- `Largo’
Poor Good Pink Singles
- ‘Seashell’
- ‘Dawn Pink’
- ‘Sparkling Star’
44659 by Myron Bigger