Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: Gail on April 17, 2022, 06:44:01 PM

Title: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gail on April 17, 2022, 06:44:01 PM
The peony season has started here in Norfolk;
[attachimg=1]
Paeonia clusii, in a pot till I decide best place for it...

[attachimg=2]
Paeonia obovata alba which stubbornly produces just one stem a year.

[attachimg=3]
and Paeonia decomposita - grown from AGS seed sown in 2017, which is quite fast to first flowering for me. It has a lovely scent.

I'm off to Greece on Wednesday - the third attempt at a Greentours trip to see peonies in the Greek Rhodope, so keeping everything crossed that a. I get there  and b. they are in flower!
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Maggi Young on April 17, 2022, 09:02:42 PM
Bon voyage, Gail!!
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Peppa on April 18, 2022, 07:56:15 AM
The peony season has started here in Norfolk;
(Attachment Link)
Paeonia clusii, in a pot till I decide best place for it...

(Attachment Link)
Paeonia obovata alba which stubbornly produces just one stem a year.

(Attachment Link)
and Paeonia decomposita - grown from AGS seed sown in 2017, which is quite fast to first flowering for me. It has a lovely scent.

I'm off to Greece on Wednesday - the third attempt at a Greentours trip to see peonies in the Greek Rhodope, so keeping everything crossed that a. I get there  and b. they are in flower!

Very pretty! I really like the white flowers against the dark leaves. Are these dark leaves (Paeonia clusii) typical for the species or is this a particularly nice clone?
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on April 18, 2022, 08:52:03 AM
I'm off to Greece on Wednesday - the third attempt at a Greentours trip to see peonies in the Greek Rhodope, so keeping everything crossed that a. I get there  and b. they are in flower!

Have a nice trip, and I hope you see a lot of peonies and take pictures. :)
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gail on April 18, 2022, 09:21:45 AM
Are these dark leaves (Paeonia clusii) typical for the species or is this a particularly nice clone?
I think fairly typical, they do lighten as they mature and become a more silvery grey.

Thanks for the good wishes - I'll definitely take pictures, even if it is only of leaves...
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Peppa on April 19, 2022, 06:35:27 AM
I think fairly typical, they do lighten as they mature and become a more silvery grey.

Thanks for the good wishes - I'll definitely take pictures, even if it is only of leaves...

If the dark leaves are fairly common, I would love to find seeds and try them myself in the future.

Have a safe and great trip! Looking forward to seeing your photos!
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Lyndon Whyatt on April 21, 2022, 04:02:52 PM
Wow both are lovely! No peonies open yet for me in Potter Heigham yet. Here’s to things to come!
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: ruweiss on April 23, 2022, 08:44:33 PM
The first Peonies start flowering - the bumblebees enjoy the good
offer of pollen.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gail on April 29, 2022, 01:14:13 PM
Well, I did get to Greece - third time lucky, and we did find peonies but sadly due to the late spring, did not see any flowers. Last Friday was the Greek Orthodox Good Friday and we at least had a lovely time up in the mountain admiring the healthy peony plants while listening to the Easter service being broadcast from the village and there was a profusion of Anemone pavonina to enjoy.
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These are meant to be Paeonia saurei and anyone with time to spare in the next week are strongly advised to go and visit! They should be spectacular in flower. (P. saurei apparently differs from P. peregrina in having leaflets that are entire, rarely lobed and sparsely hispidulous beneath, and in having red stigmas.)

Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gail on April 29, 2022, 01:17:55 PM
The second peony population we found were also still in bud. Growing with a galanthus, that had probably flowered in February as the leaves were starting to die back.

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Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gabriela on April 29, 2022, 05:22:17 PM
The first Peonies start flowering - the bumblebees enjoy the good
offer of pollen.

Very nice Rudi!
Interesting, in our climate P. mascula is also the first to emerge and then to flower. Some years, too early given the dangers of late frosts until late May. And it grows with an incredible speed in early spring, only matched by P. japonica.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gabriela on April 29, 2022, 05:23:05 PM
The second peony population we found were also still in bud. Growing with a galanthus, that had probably flowered in February as the leaves were starting to die back.

Always nice to see peonies in the wild habitat, thanks for sharing Gail.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on April 30, 2022, 10:01:06 AM
Gail, thank you for pictures of wild habitats of peonies  :). It looks stony ground and it is no wonder P.peregrina type peonies don't like to grow in my flat more wet clay soil.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: FrazerHenderson on May 01, 2022, 04:30:18 PM
Just to advise that the May issue of Gardens Illustrated has an eight page spread showcasing the hybrid peonies at Binny Plants, UK. with helpful advice provided by nursery owner Billy Carruthers.

His illustrated peony catalogue can be found at https://www.binnyplants.com/catalogue (https://www.binnyplants.com/catalogue). The plants are a fine sight at the nursery when the collection is in full bloom.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Claire Cockcroft on May 03, 2022, 06:11:46 PM
Paeonia mascula, P. daurica subsp. mlokosewitschii, and a double P. suffruticosa (all from seed)

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Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: DaveM on May 03, 2022, 06:24:41 PM
That is a truely magnificent Paeonia mascula, Claire!!!

Still waiting for my 'Molly the Witch' to open its buds.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on May 05, 2022, 10:27:06 AM
That is a truely magnificent Paeonia mascula, Claire!!!

I agree, really a wonderful plant!
Here peonies are now coming up.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Guff on May 16, 2022, 03:41:43 PM
Tree Peony

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Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Guff on May 16, 2022, 03:43:59 PM
Tree Peony

[attachimg=1]

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[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Stefan B. on May 16, 2022, 05:52:07 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/DazCAVd.jpg)
Paeonia tenuifolia

(https://i.imgur.com/814RPE6.jpg)
Paeonia ostii

(https://i.imgur.com/AIVgCay.jpg)
Paeonia officinalis 'Mollis'
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Guff on May 18, 2022, 06:13:19 PM
Tree Peony

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

Red opened
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Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gail on May 18, 2022, 06:24:35 PM
Beautiful flowers. My screen is showing that first peony in your latest post Guff as a vibrant true purple - is that how it looks in life?
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Stefan B. on May 18, 2022, 06:27:52 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/xqev5xmm.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ao1aqUsm.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lY3hR7Tm.jpg)
Paeonia suffruticosa 'Hephestos'

(https://i.imgur.com/AS2XAjA.jpg)
Peony 'Shima Nishiki'

(https://i.imgur.com/PIvnHVF.jpg)
Paeonia suffruticosa 'Naniwa Nishiki'
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Guff on May 21, 2022, 03:22:24 PM
Gail, yes the purple looks just like the picture when it first opens then it turns a darker shade.

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Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gail on May 21, 2022, 03:59:14 PM
Gail, yes the purple looks just like the picture when it first opens then it turns a darker shade.

Very lovely! I'm envious of the Paeonia suffruticosa 'Hephestos' Stefan posted too. I ordered one but it turned out to be a creamy coloured cultivar which was not what I wanted...
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gabriela on May 21, 2022, 09:14:12 PM
Paeonia suffruticosa 'Hephestos' it's charming.

Some species peonies had a short flowering here due to unusual warm weather, now the P. officinalis and P. tenuifolia are in flower.
P. japonica
[attachimg=1]

P. mascula
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One form of P. officinalis
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Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Stefan B. on May 22, 2022, 06:55:44 PM
I have wanted to have it for many years. It has been blooming in my garden for three years now.
(https://i.imgur.com/1EUqejm.jpg)
Paeonia suffruticosa 'Hephestos'

(https://i.imgur.com/g4Ip9ng.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/2hpEiH9.jpg)
Paeonia potanii orange typ

(https://i.imgur.com/91CH4Zt.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/CeoSr42.jpg)
Paeonia 'Pink Hawaiian Coral'
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Maggi Young on May 22, 2022, 07:06:09 PM
Found these pix posted elsewhere by a forumist ....

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
 Not sure what they are- he "suggested" paying for  his coffee - but I don't know!!


Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Stefan B. on May 22, 2022, 07:38:30 PM
Wonderful 5 euro coin from Greece. I will buy more than one coffee with her :)
https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/451360/#b
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gabriela on June 04, 2022, 10:34:29 PM
Yes, very nice coin. I would keep it as a token, instead of buying coffee :)

Paeonia peregrina from seeds with the first flower, so it deserves a mention and I have the image at the right size.
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Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gail on June 05, 2022, 06:03:58 PM
Paeonia peregrina from seeds with the first flower, so it deserves a mention and I have the image at the right size.
Definitely deserves mentioning Gabriela, such a lovely plant and really popular with the honey bees here. Mine has just finished flowering.
[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gabriela on June 07, 2022, 09:21:54 PM
Definitely deserves mentioning Gabriela, such a lovely plant and really popular with the honey bees here. Mine has just finished flowering.

Thank you Gail. Such pristine red color, it is wonderful. The second one just flowered as well.
I was eagerly awaiting this spring for the first blooms, all other species peonies that I have finished a while ago, so it nice to have peregrina now.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Guff on July 20, 2022, 03:55:15 AM
Any USA forum members have yellow single or double Tree Peony seeds(10 seeds each form) come September? Looking for Upright flowers. I have both of the yellows doubles that have hanging flowers upside down.

Would also like rockii, any colors(10 seeds)

Trade, buy or for postage. Thanks.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on November 03, 2022, 09:37:55 AM
Summer went by fast and I haven't posted any pictures of my peonies, so here are some pictures from early June.
I sent seeds of some peonies to the exchange so here are first pictures of those peonies.
Paeonia japonica is one of the first to flower, nice white peony for semi-shade.
Peonia arietina ex Turkey grows in full sun. It is not a tall peony and quite similar to P.officinalis types.
Paeonia x chamaeleon is a natural hybrid of P.caucasica and P.mlokosewitschii, or this is what is said. I have grown these from seeds as P x chamaeleon, and some had pinkish shades and one is pure white. Seeds I sent to the exchange were from this pure white plant (no pinkish grew close).
Paeonia veitchii is one of my favourites. These plants were grown from Pilous wild collected seeds from Dege, Sechuan, China, and I labeled the seeds I sent as P.veitchii "Dege".
They open pink but fade to almost white during flowering. Small compact plants.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on November 03, 2022, 09:49:17 AM
Some other pictures of my peonies from last summer.
Paeonia anomala is a reliable and big plant.
Paeonia daurica ssp mlokosewitchii
The third picture is of a plant I have grown from Pilous seeds as Paeonia mascula ssp bodurii, Canakkale, W.Turkey.
I read that these should be big plants with big flowers but mine are quite small plants with small flowers. Their leaves look unlike any other of my peonies.
Unfortunately I didn't get any seeds from it.
Fourth peony is a very impressive big plant with big flowers in early season. I have grown it from open pollinated P.macrophylla seeds and it is obviously a hybrid. It has now flowered three times, and never sets seeds, so it is a sterile plant.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on November 03, 2022, 09:55:01 AM
Paeonia veitchii is one of my favourites and I have several of them in different beds. It is a small healthy and well flowering plant with never any trouble.
Some are more pink than others, some start to flower pink but fade later to white and some are white. Some have more side buds than others, and there are differences in flower shape.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on November 03, 2022, 10:05:18 AM
I bought my first P.obovata ssp willmottiae 15 years ago from Germany, and it flowered well, but didn't produce seeds, until one year I had P.anomala flowering close by at the same time (or actually the flowering time overlapped some, as P.anomala started to flower earlier). That year I got seeds from which I have grown these plants which I think are hybrids of P.obovata ssp willmottiae and P.anomala. They are big plants with very big flowers starting pink but flowers fade during flowering to very pale pink. The stamens are dark like in the mother plant. They seem sterile. First year when they flowered the seed pods were all empty. Last year I got 3 seeds but none have germinated yet. This year I got one good looking seed. Maybe if any of these germinate the second generation would be more fertile.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on November 03, 2022, 10:13:16 AM
Later years I got some more seeds from mother P.obovata ssp willmottiae, but about five years ago it died after a very wet winter.
I have a seedling which looks like it (in the first picture) though I can't be sure if it is also a hybrid or not, because it's sister seedlings look like hybrids with something. They are not similar with hybrids with P.anomala. The plant if the second picture flowered last summer for the first time, also very nice, and a hybrid.
Some years ago I got seeds from true P.obovata ssp willmottiae from a forumist, and they flowered for the first time 2021, but sadly they all died last winter. Interesting that none of my hybrids growing in the same bed/area died. Fortunately those true plants were very fertile and I got seeds from them (and they germinated well last spring) and so I will have them growing on now.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on November 03, 2022, 10:15:56 AM
I forgot one more picture. P.obovata ssp willmottiae x P.anomala hybrids have very nice autumn colour in their leaves, no other of my peonies is so pretty in autumn. Picture is from late September.
You can see all the empty seedpods, no seeds.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: ashley on November 03, 2022, 02:20:50 PM
Lovely plants and photos Leena. 
Thank you for showing them, especially at this dark time of year 8)
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Maggi Young on November 03, 2022, 02:26:13 PM
I echo what Ashley has written, Leena. Also I am envious of your beautiful well flowered paeonies in your garden!
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gail on November 03, 2022, 07:41:15 PM
Fabulous Leena, your garden is a real treasure house of peonies.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on November 04, 2022, 09:22:54 AM
Thank you all. :) :)
I got interested in peonies about 15 years ago, and now most of my flowering peonies are grown from seeds. It seems suddenly I have so many peonies now. :)
I have bought some lactiflora cultivars, but actually prefer my own seed grown hybrids (quadruple hybrids, I was lucky I was given seeds ten years ago), and of course these early flowering species and hybrids.
I have lost many peonies over the years, and given away some I don't like so much like weak stemmed double lactifloras, and found out that some peonies don't like my soil.
P.officinalis types are difficult in my clay soil, and all but one P.peregrina I have grown have succumbed to rot. P.tenuifolia is another one which doesn't like my soil. It is not the climate, but more winter wetness is clay soil which they don't like and maybe my acid soil, too.
Still, there are many peonies which thrive in the same conditions, and I have learned to grow more them and given up on the ones which don't do so well.  Why try to grow something that is not suitable to your conditions when there are so many which are. Also I'm happy that most of the early peonies grow well also on semishade, as sunny beds are limited in my garden.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gabriela on November 05, 2022, 02:39:17 AM
They are all so beautiful Leena, and very happy looking :-) You can tell they like your garden.
You are right, best to grow the plants that adapt and do well in your particular conditions. There are so many species to choose from.

P. veitchii also does well here, I don't have a white form and now I think I need one :)

The hybrid with pink, large flowers is a fantastic specimen!
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on November 05, 2022, 12:35:51 PM
Thank you Gabriela.
I have some extra white veitchii seeds in moist vermiculite.. ;)
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Gabriela on November 06, 2022, 12:20:03 AM

Thank you Gabriela.
I have some extra white veitchii seeds in moist vermiculite.. ;)

 So very tempting Leena  :)
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: koen on November 06, 2022, 10:16:05 AM
You have many fine looking species plants, congratulations. I especially like these hybrids, they are very pretty looking plants! Both the parents are poor growers here, so I'm quite jealous of your large plants ;-) I do hope you'll get second generation plants from this with increased fertility.

I bought my first P.obovata ssp willmottiae 15 years ago from Germany, and it flowered well, but didn't produce seeds, until one year I had P.anomala flowering close by at the same time (or actually the flowering time overlapped some, as P.anomala started to flower earlier). That year I got seeds from which I have grown these plants which I think are hybrids of P.obovata ssp willmottiae and P.anomala. They are big plants with very big flowers starting pink but flowers fade during flowering to very pale pink. The stamens are dark like in the mother plant. They seem sterile. First year when they flowered the seed pods were all empty. Last year I got 3 seeds but none have germinated yet. This year I got one good looking seed. Maybe if any of these germinate the second generation would be more fertile.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Herman Mylemans on November 06, 2022, 11:39:28 AM
Leena, you have a great collection of Paeonia! They grow very well in your garden. Thanks for showing.
Title: Re: Paeonia 2022
Post by: Leena on November 06, 2022, 04:38:47 PM
Thanks Herman.  :) I only show the best ones.  :)
Last winter was bad, I lost several peonies, too, but it is good that I have found the ones which like it here.

You have many fine looking species plants, congratulations. I especially like these hybrids, they are very pretty looking plants! Both the parents are poor growers here, so I'm quite jealous of your large plants ;-) I do hope you'll get second generation plants from this with increased fertility.

Thank you.  :) Second generation could be more fertile. I hope the two seeds from last year germinate next spring. I usually germinate peonies first in ziplog bags and then after they have made the root, I pot them up and put in cold and after that they grow the first leaf. When these two seeds didn't grow root last winter inside (and were still hard and looking good - sometimes not good seeds just rot), I put them outside where they get natural fluctuations of temperatures.  I will see next spring if anything happens. :)

It is interesting to hear that those peonies don't do well over there, but maybe at least P.anomala needs cooler summers than you have.
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