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Herbaceous Hybrids
Herbaceous Hybrids Peonies
Peonies Of Many New Colors
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.
The perhaps foremost pioneer in the work was Dr. Saunders who started breeding peonies in the early 1900’s. To this group of peonies Don Hollingsworth has added many named varieties over time. This group has become quite large, the number now within the hundreds of named cultivars. Particularly for peony hybridizers it is interesting that this group can be subdivided into the early season Herbaceous Hybrids and the midseason Herbaceous Hybrids. The bloom time is genetically programed, and specific crosses may be used to affect timing of new varieties.
To access the assortment of Herbaceous Hybrids follow the link or click on the image on your right. Availability may be limited, so order early in the season.
Early Herbaceous Peonies
Many of the cultivars we list of early season Herbaceous Hybrids feature pastel flower colors, a legacy of the Mloko species (Paeonia mlokosewitchi). These often have a colorful flare at each petal base and highlights of red, red-purple or pink at the center, especially appealing in floral design. The flowers are little affected by rainfall, while affording a lasting accent in the cool temperatures of early spring. Vigor and excellent performance are characteristic. Bush size ranges from short to tall, sometimes spreading, sometimes very erect, often with large leaflets which hold up well throughout the growing season, the legacy of big-leaf peony ancestry (Paeonia macrophylla). Others have notably slender leaflets, almost always from Fernleaf Peonies (Paeonia tenuifolia) ancestry, the fern leaf peony. All the items below can be considered good landscapers within the noted cautions.
Midseason Herbaceous Hybrids
Most of the cultivars in the midseason group result from crossing forms of Paeonia officinalis, Paeonia peregrina (lobata), or sometimes those species’ close kin, with the later flowering, more commonly grown peonies of the Lactiflora Group. The hybrid progeny flowers are especially colorful, either rich, brilliant reds, sometimes intensely pigmented, often ranging to near scarlet or soft pinks, peachy or orangey toned, some characterized as coral or salmon, which do not fade purplish, their colors remaining attractive to the end. In this group there is a fair selection of good bomb doubles, semi-doubles and a few full doubles. Mid-season herbaceous plants are generally very suitable for landscaping. The bush habit of most is well constituted for flowering in the viewed landscape without mechanical support. However, under water-stress climate conditions some in this group will die off in mid-summer. Under high temperature and drought, some plants shut down, a survival adaptation from their natural species ancestors, such plants sometimes said to be “summer dormant”. High shade, windscreen and judicious supplemental watering may delay the onset. Suitable placement of companion plants will help offset the associated loss of greenery.
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.
Some Colorful Program Highlights
