I'll be extending a bed this year and plan to add several bearded irises, some roses, and a few peonies. This is where I'll want some nice dark colored ones, and I'm open to some doubles, anemone form, single, and semi double (I prefer varieties with strong stems that don't flop because I'm dreadfully lazy when it comes to providing support). Yellow or cream stamens or petaloids would be fine.

What are your favorites that fit that description?

Buckeye Belle is very nice dark semi-double Japanese form and has very sturdy stems. It does not have any scent though. Phillip Revoir has an awesome color but the stems maybe weak.

Ah yes- Buckeye Belle, a classic I should grow as a budding peony enthusiast! I often see it listed as a good landscaper.

Neal, Maestro maybe another nice dark red peony. I don't have this peony so I can't tell you how strong the stems are.

I'll check that one out Karen, thanks!

Have any of you grown Mons. Martin Cahuzac (1899)? Old House Gardens sells it, and says it was long known as the darkest peony.

'Maestro' is an excellent choice. Saw it for the first time in Klehm's Peony Fields at an APS Show. It was actually raining at the time and this fully double peony was standing up tall. The color stood out as did the form. It made my top 5 'must haves' and I bought it that same fall. It does great here! Very consistent form and color too. Lovely!

I have Mons Martin Cahuzac but it hasn't bloomed yet. It was sent as a bonus plant fall 2014, think from A&D. I'll pay attention to it if it blooms this spring.

Do you have 'Highlight '? It is a nice dark red that opens well and doesn't flop. I've had it since the 90's so I don't take a lot of pictures of mine and don't have one on my iPhone to post here. I love it.

I don't have Highlight, but will look it up- thank you!

No data base pic of Highlight, but here's a nice one of Maestro. I love it!

Here's the one I mentioned above that Old House Gardens offers:

Looks promising...

How about Topeka Garnet Neal? It is a nice dark red single.

LG, PLEASE put a pic of Highlight into the database this spring! I LOVE seeing the mature ones--lots of beautiful blooms on a large shrub! Bet it's gorgeous with the dark red blooms against the green foliage....

As with many of the dark red/burgundy cultivars, the photo of 'Maestro' does not at all do it justice.

Neal, also consider 'Hot Chocolate'. It is also a beautiful dark red color, and it has not needed staking here. This pic is in full sun. The blooms are darker than this.




http://www.songsparrow.com/cat...

Well Liz,
I dug up my 'Highlight ' in Fall 2014 and split it into 5 plants. So I cannot show a pic of a mature clump. I am in the process of doing that with all my older clumps of peonies.

Guess we'll have to wait another year or two for the huge, mature clump but pictures of the blooms would be wonderful, LG! Did you plant the divisions near each other or spread them out among other flowers? I've accidentally created a huge clump of a single variety before, a coral with adventitious roots, ended up with 3 large shrubs butted up to each other, it's very pretty. Mixed in with other flowers is prettier for longer, though!
I think most herbaceous and Itoh peonies benefit from being split. After several years they just don't increase as much, do they?

Topeka Garnet would be great- thanks Lily!

Annette, Hot Chocolate is one I've had in mind (and forgot to mention)- great minds think alike!

Topeka Garnet

What about Illini Belle and Illini Warrior ? Looks like right color and strong stems mentioned. Do not grow myself though.

'Old Faithful' is wonderful, although it is closer to true red than a burgundy red.