ardesia said: Wow, there are some pretty peonies here. I lived in the deep south since the early 80's where it was too hot for peonies and have just moved to the mountains in western NC. There are 5 peony plants at the house we bought and the first flower opened yesterday. I have no idea of any of the varieties, the buds seem different on each plant, it will be fun watching them. Anyone recognise this one?

• Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Pink Spritzer')
• Uploaded by ardesia

I think it looks a bit like Avalon -


or Circus Circus


or Pink Luau (this bloom is fading and losing its rose colour)


or Pink Spritzer - this looks a good match

Everyone's peonies look so beautiful, I can't possibly catch up and comment on everything but wow, just wow everyone.

I went to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and it was my first time seeing tree peonies besides my own one year old shoots. Wow! I was especially surprised at how beautiful and flouncy drooping petals looked in person - like feminine petticoats. I'm not sure I was always looking at the right tags but here's some pics I thought you might enjoy along with their possible names ...

Chiyo-zakura




Kamata-fuji


Sahohime




And I think this is Gosho-zakura now that I've looked online




even though I thought the tag was referring to this one.


I didn't catch the name of this one.


Seeing them has made me really want a tree peony with enormous blossoms with white on the edges and color on the inside - it was amazing!

First peonies of my season today! Think it's probably Early Scout, as it's a pass-along plant from Grandma Gusty. Picture taken in the morning, and they were fully open this afternoon.

Thanks for the pics from the Brooklyn B Garden. Years ago, I was able to visit there (though not in spring), and it was quite a treat. Majesty's Star catches my eye. Karen's Ofuji Nishiki is spectacular; glad I have it also, though a younger plant. Frank's Nosegay is a pastel delight with the finely cut foliage. Looks so healthy.

Sadly, after a promising start, the peony season has taken a turn for the worse, with temps up to twenty degrees above normal. One is fortunate to get a picture taken before the heat takes its toll.

Iphigenea has huge blooms, but does not hold up well in the heat. No peony, of course, should have to endure this weather.




High Noon was fortunate to be in shade much of the day. That north side of the house also has Shimane Otone Mai. I see that I need to clean the siding.




I was astonished to see Sulli's Leda when mine looked like this:


I am hoping that the herbaceous will receive better weather.
Chocolate Soldier


Alexander Woolcott did not last long in the heat, though in normal temps it has extended bloom.



Pink Hawaiian Coral


Coral Sunset also did not like the heat.


Hephestos held up well.


I had to catch Lovely Rose's blooms quickly one morning, though normally it holds well.


Prairie Moon has a new full-sun location. It missed some shade.


Cytherea has some shade. Its color demands attention.


A lot of the reds did not hold up well. Here are Burma Ruby (foreground) and Bright Knight.

Jasmin said: Beautiful peonies, Sully I like those dark blotches on Ice Age and Capt'n Kate. Interestingly, I wouldn't expect that Rockiis bloom at the same time as Vela, which is a Lutea hybrid. Right? Luteas usually bloom later. Interesting

Karen, your Manchurian Promise is majestic The colour is exquisite

Hey Jasmin, just a head's up that my post was not in fact Ice Age. I'm going through my lists and past orders trying to sort out which is which and I'll let you know what I can figure out. xo

Updated to add: I really do not know what it is, if it was mislabeled it's no longer sold by Solaris and I got it way back in 2020 Fall. If I mixed up tags, it could be something sold as Joseph Rock by Song Sparrow that same year. Until they all bloom in that garden area, I don't have any more ideas for now. It's very double so it's not a single Rock style.

Thanks for those photos Zellycat! The blooms are gorgeous.

So sorry you are having the heat Mantis. Your blooms are spectacular still. I am getting heat with rain and wind so not getting very many photos.

Sulli, sorry you got an mis ID peony. I had several in my final order from Song Sparrow so don't feel alone.

They are beautiful anyway.

just saw a few comments, my post that had the peachy herbaceous was Majesty's Star, I haven't gotten blooms on my Majestic Center yet but these names are killing me, they're all so similar

Zellycat, thank you for those wonderful photos of tree peonies blooming at the BBG! They are spectacular! Truly amazing!

Frank and Hawkeye-daddy, thank your for posting your Early Scout! It's a great red peony and also the earliest bloomer in my garden.

Ardesia, I agree with Val that your NOID peony looks a lot like Pink Spritzer.

mantisOH said:
Sadly, after a promising start, the peony season has taken a turn for the worse, with temps up to twenty degrees above normal. One is fortunate to get a picture taken before the heat takes its toll.

Iphigenea has huge blooms, but does not hold up well in the heat. No peony, of course, should have to endure this weather.




High Noon was fortunate to be in shade much of the day. That north side of the house also has Shimane Otone Mai. I see that I need to clean the siding.




I was astonished to see Sulli's Leda when mine looked like this:


I am hoping that the herbaceous will receive better weather.
Chocolate Soldier


Alexander Woolcott did not last long in the heat, though in normal temps it has extended bloom.



Pink Hawaiian Coral


Coral Sunset also did not like the heat.


Hephestos held up well.


I had to catch Lovely Rose's blooms quickly one morning, though normally it holds well.


Prairie Moon has a new full-sun location. It missed some shade.


Cytherea has some shade. Its color demands attention.


A lot of the reds did not hold up well. Here are Burma Ruby (foreground) and Bright Knight.

WOW, Mantis! Your peonies are amazing! Wish my Alexander Woolcott grows and blooms that well! Your bush is super gorgeous! And your Lovely Rose is the best that I have ever seen of this cultivar. Your Prairie Moon is really nice too! The color is so pretty befitting its name! Iphigenea and High Noon are just eye candy! Your pic makes me miss my High Noon which for some reason just died last year.

Sulli - the UK form of Rockii is a very full double so you may have that form

I grow Lydia Foote which is a hybrid of the UK Rockii and a white suffruticosa

Karen, where did you pick up your Joanna Gilbert? Lovely Rose blooms abundantly every year. A very reliable cultivar.

Thanks everyone, I do believe I have a Pink Spritzer. 4 more plants still to bloom.

Lydia Foote is gorgeous!

She was last year but I am now discovering many trees and peonies suffered more than I realized in one of our very-sub-zero nights a few weeks ago. Not just Lydia but half the blooms on most of my Magnolia stellatas, Tranquil Dove (again ) and bound to be more to come . On the plus side while most of my peonies are showing buds, if we get another heavy frost I still have the 'late arrivals' which are only about an inch or two up

Zellycat said:
Kamata-fuji


I didn't catch the name of this one.

Thank you for this spectacular post, Zellycat The peonies are fenomenal. I love them all, but Kamata-fuji stole my heart I have one NOID, I am hoping that it will turn to be Kamat-fuji. I also love white tree peonies with a red centre; they have so much of the wild Ostii I wish I can have one.

mantisOH said:
Iphigenea has huge blooms, but does not hold up well in the heat. No peony, of course, should have to endure this weather.




Hephestos held up well.

Mantis, your peonies look great despite of heat Ifigenia is spectacular, and Hephestos is phenomenal

I see that many of you are already going through late Lutea hybrids You are at least tree weeks ahead. Mine TPs are not showing the colour yet, but I am hoping that they will start opening in a week or so

mantisOH said: Karen, where did you pick up your Joanna Gilbert?

I bought my plant from Song Sparrow Nursery the last year before they closed. I don't know if other places are propagating it for sale. I hope they do because it's a very unique full flower. Cost me a bundle back then but I am very glad that I got it. It's worth every dollar.

Vals_Garden said: She was last year but I am now discovering many trees and peonies suffered more than I realized in one of our very-sub-zero nights a few weeks ago. Not just Lydia but half the blooms on most of my Magnolia stellatas, Tranquil Dove (again ) and bound to be more to come . On the plus side while most of my peonies are showing buds, if we get another heavy frost I still have the 'late arrivals' which are only about an inch or two up

Wow, you have a very challenging growing environment! We have it really easy here compared to other areas of the US as most peonies make it through the crucial late winter/early spring period without serious damage. Although I had partial damage on some of my tree peonies this spring, there were undamaged stems that were able to put out blooms.

Oh so sorry to hear that Val! I have two late blooming herbaceous peonies that haven't broken ground yet. My season will end the first week of June. I'm worried these two died!

Meiko - do you mean your bloom season ends start of June my peonies go to the end of June for bloom. I wouldn't worry about late peonies not showing up yet though.
I did discover today that t.p. Aquila and Mimas both lost most of their buds - but still some left