Peony Botanical Species

Catalogue 2008

Botanical species are the ancestors of today's peonies. They constitute the first parents of the large peony family, the mother's and father's of the 3 000 cultivars/hybrids known today.

RUSTICITY

Peony botanical species are jewels, unfortunately unknown from the average gardener. They survived centuries of humanity and still grow wild in their country of origin. Their resistance is proven even though some are threatened and need to be protected.

Growing peony botanical species is one of our specialty at Pivoines Capano. We have been evaluating their rusticity for many years and our observations in the field certified that every botanical species in our catalogue is winter hardy in zone 3.

Life is coming..

BLOOMING

All peony species have flowers of simple form with colors varying from pure white to yellow or pink to true red.

Only three species has the characteristic to produce more than one flower per stem: Paeonia lactiflora, veitchii and emodi. This characteristic is generally transmitted to their descendants. Take few minutes to observe if you can find this interesting element in the peonies of your garden. More flower per stem means also longer blooming period....

With the species, the blooming period is generally shorter than with hybrids. However, as they bloom earlier in the season than hybrids and lactifloras, we can use them to extend the blooming season.

Early spring peonies!

CLASSIFICATION

According to the scientific litterature, there is about thirty botanical species of peonies in the world. The classification of peony botanical species is the subject of numerous discussions and undergoes frequent changes.If you are interested in the classification of the botanical peonies, I recommend that you look at the following Website: www.paeon.de

Their are mainly classified by their foliage degree of cutting (according to Stern). It could be so finely divided that it looks as a fern as illustrated with tenuifolia Rubra plena. For this reason, Paeonia tenuifolia is commonly known as ¨the fernleaf peony¨. At the opposite, some peonies has foliage roughly divided, macrophylla type, like Nova illustrated below.

So many different foliagess...

SOURCES

Peony species grow generally in the wild. Each of them has its own origin but globally we can find them on almost all continents of the planet. Only two species are from North America: Paeonia brownii and Paeonia californica. They are more botanical garden subjects than plants for the general gardener.

All my peonies come from recognized sources collected either in nature (wild collected seeds) from the followings: Joseph Halda, Vladimis Pilous and Phedar Nursery or from certified nurseries like Heronswood nursery.

CATALOGUE 2008 / Printable PDF Version

(-24)...Peony subject to many discussions about its exact place in the genius paeonia. The foliage is more cut that those of the complex Mascula. For some, it would be rather a parent of P. mlokosewitschii. But except its unclear classification, this peony has reddish stems and red veined leaves. Blooms with magnificent simple flowers of a pink red. Dwarf plant reaching 60 cm. Early bloomer. Resist without any problem to our severe winter.

(-7)... The peony from our grandmotherâs gardens! It seems that it would be the oldest known peonies. Coming from the South of France, Hungary and Albania. Paeonia officinalis hold simple flat red flowers. Extremely robust plant whose stems can reach 60 cm. Easy of culture, very resistant and rustic. Rare in culture these days having been replaced by its numerous descendants. Plant in full sun in a well drained soil. Under the officinalis specie exists several very pretty subspecies like Paeonia officinalis anemoniflora illustrated below. An excellent plant for lazy gardeners! Only few seedlings for sale!

A variety of garden origin. Probably an hybrid, known since 1818, but still in culture. Herbaceous peony of 75 cm. Paeonia mollis has pink simple flowers. The cup shape flowers give the impression to be ¬seated over the foliage ¬. Hardy and very easy of culture in full sun and in well drained soil.

(-13) Beautiful peony of about 80 cm. Golden center with red or pink filaments surrounded by red simple petals. Robust and extremely hardy plant. Beautiful foliage. Mid-season bloomer. Paeonia peregrina (syn. lobata) has the capacity to propagate itself by the roots, feature generally transmits to its descendants. .

(-18)...The Tenuifolia group distinguishes itself by a very finely cut foliage and a smaller size. Parents of the miniâs hybrids. Really, they donât look like a real peony! Very different and original peonies! Paeonia tenuifolia, the species, possesses a so finely cut foliage that it presents the aspect of the cosmos flower foliage or house fern. A mature plant doesn't reach 60 cm. It carries simple vivid red flowers, in the shape of a cup. Extremely hardy, this species is very well adapted to cold weather! Among the first to bloom in the spring. the plant could enter in dormancy very early in season, as soon as July if the weather is hot and humid. Do not wonder therefore if you see foliage declining during the big heats of July. Very early bloomer, it is an ideal plant to strengthen the flowering season.

(-18) Coming from the Northwest of China. Paeonia veitchii is a robust plant forming a round bush of 50 cm. Foliage is more finely cut than P. emodi but less than P. tenuifolia and keeps its beauty until the first frost. The plant has small simple flowers of a pretty pink. The flowers are beared with a slightly tilted port. Carries several flowers on the same stem. Early bloomer, one of the first to bloom in the spring! It is an extremely hardy plant, easy culture in well drained soil and full sun or mid-shade.