Paeonia a few flambyount flowers!

Paeonia lactiflora and hybrids
Paeoniaceae

Peonies are elegant perennials, with flowers available in a wide range of types and colours, from a basic single bloom, to fully double varieties with over 100 petals per flower.                                   
There are up to 45 herbaceous and shrubby species, mainly native to Europe and Asia, although two unique species only grow in northwestern America.

Most herbaceous cultivars grow best in full sun, with well-drained soil, although some prefer a degree of shade and requirements of the species may vary..

Paeonia lactiflora "Bowl of Beauty"

Paeonia "Coral Charm"

Paeonia "Clare de Lune"

Bowl of Beauty is one of the anemone centred types with larger outer ring of petals and the wonderful centre. This form is highly scented.

Paeonia lactiflora "Dinner Plate"

Paeonia lactiflora "Doreen"

Paeonia lactiflora "Elsa Sass"

If you want something with a slightly different colour than Coral Charm will do it. These are large blooms and it is advisable to stake them.










Of the single hybrids Clare de Lune has to be one of the best. It starts off with creamy/yellow buds opening to cream/white with a large yellow centre. This is always a show stopper.







If my food always looked as yummy as this Dinner Plate I don't think there would be any complaints. A good slightly later flowering form.








This is quite a tall single flowered form which is free flowering. It is definitely bright and flamboyant.











There are a few varieties like Elsa Sass which have splodges of contrasting colour on the petals. they look a little bit like raspberry split ice cream?








Mother's choice is a very highly scented variety and makes a good present for Mother's day.

Paeonia lactiflora "Mother's Choice"

 Paeonia lactiflora "Duchesse de Nemours"

Some expensive beauties.....

Paeonia Itoh Hybrids

These are a cross between the tree paeony and herbaceous paeony.
The plants carry the most exquisite large blooms on a much more compact shrub. The new growth will start either from ground level each spring or from low down on the old wood. So pruning occurs in the spring to the buds visible.

Paeonia Lemon Dream"

Paeonia "Shining Light"

Paeonia "Cora Louise"

Paeonia "Hillary"

Paeonia "Bartzella'

Paeonia "Copper Kettle"

Paeonia "Scarlet Heaven"

The RHS did an excellent article on these amazing Paeonia crosses explaining the breeding and when the first varieties were produced, I will not plagiarize it but ask you to search it out on their website.
Why are they so expensive you may ask. It is all to do with the time and effort that goes into both the breeding and subsequent growing of the plants.
Although once planted in the garden they are quite an easy plant to grow and look after, it is the nurturing of them in their first years that takes time. Most plants will be in their fifth year of growth by the time they get to being saleable.

This group of Paeonia are certainly worth every penny.


hardys-plants.co.uk

A little shade is good

VERONICA gentianoides
Plantaginaceae

Veronica gentianoides Dark Form

Veronica gentianoides "Tissington White"

Veronica gentianoides x intermedia

These very floriferous spring flowers have basal leaf clumps that are semi- evergreen. They are naturally from edge of woodland species liking soils with a high humus content and semi shade. Split clumps regularly to avoid the centre of the plant dying out.
This dark blue form has much narrower  very dark green leaves in comparison to any of the other varieties.


 The variety "Tissington White" was launched and named by Hardy's in 1991. This form has large mid green leaves and the individual florets are nearly twice the size of any other variety. It is very pale blue with dark blue anthers and blue veining to the petals. It originated in Derbyshire.






This form is one of the few that can be seed raised however there can be quite a bit of difference in the seedlings. Once you have a good form I advise vegetative propagation to keep the true clone. This is often misnamed as "Tissington White" but its flowers are smaller and bluer. It also is the last of the varieties to flower being 2 weeks later than most.



You may not notice it, but there is a perfume from these plants if only slight but enough for the early pollinators to notice. The dark form is the strongest and this is also the earliest to bloom.
Good ground cover plants in part shade.

hardys-plants.co.uk