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Cultivar Groups
The Cultivar Groups
The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) and their registrar for the genus Paeonia (Peony), the American Peony Society recognizes six (6) cultivar groups. Each group represents peonies that are of related ancestry and have common traits. These groups are as follows:
ISHS Cultivar Groups
| Group | Name |
|---|---|
| Group I | Lactiflora |
| Group II | Herbaceous Hybrids |
| Group III | Itoh Hybrids |
| Group IV | Suffruticosa |
| Group V | Lutea Hybrids |
| Group VI | Species Selections |
Hollingsworth Peonies currently offers varieties of 4 cultivar groups. In our descriptions we have abbreviated the term “cultivar group” to “group”. While we have a sizable selection of woody peonies, we are currently not offering peonies of the Suffruticose and the Lutea Hybrid group.
For more information please click the hyperlink (underlined and highlighted in red color) or
simply click the image of the variety you are interested in.
GROUP I
Lactiflora
Lactiflora peonies are popular and the most commonly grown peonies in North America. Ancestors of the currently large collection of cultivated sorts were first imported to Europe from China about 200 years ago. By then their history could be measured in centuries. These cultivars offer flowering from midseason to very late, on the height scale described elsewhere in this catalog.
GROUP II
Herbaceous Hybrids
Peonies of this group are herbaceous. That is, they have stems that die to the ground at the end of the growing season. The plant remains dormant underground through the winter months. The stems grow back from below ground buds each spring. The word “hybrid” denotes those sorts having two or more botanical species in their ancestry. Unlike the Lactiflora Group peonies that have been in cultivation in China for centuries, the Herbaceous Hybrid peonies are a more recent invention.
GROUP III
Itoh Hybrids
Itoh hybrid peonies are an intersectional cross of woody stemmed peonies (“tree peonies”) and herbaceous peonies. Itoh hybrids retain traits of both of their parents but can be cultivated much the same as herbaceous peonies. They are traditionally grouped together with the tree peonies and listed in this catalog with tree peonies. They come in vibrant, unique colors and some of the best yellow varieties are still found with the Itoh hybrids.
GROUP VI
Species Selections
Here you will find the Fern leaf peonies that are itemized in the main catalog under their botanical name Paeonia tenuifolia. Fernleaf peonies and other species peonies are all indexed under their botanical classification Paeonia (genus name) followed by the specific epithet that refers to the species within that genus. Therefore, you will find them in close proximity listed under the letter P. In addition to the species peonies you will find a number of hybrids that are closely related to the original species parents.