Popping over to this forum for some suggestions (with pics if possible) of single peonies with strong stems. I have this one, which is a NOID and which I've divided and placed in several spots, and would like to add some others. Doubles just don't work for me as we get too much rain and they end up with their faces buried in the mud. I prefer bold colors rather than pastels. Thanks in advance.

Singles do fare better in the rain and/or windy sites.
I have Nymph which is a soft pink, and a white single which I can not recall the name. Primevere?
Most of mine are doubles which do get a beating from weather events.

How about the fern leaf Early Scout? Very nice single:)

Paeonia lactiflora x tenuifolia 'Early Scout'(Peony (1-SL-R))

How about Blaze? I think this is it, right color anyway! Sorry, didn't name this pic. The 2nd is Circus Circus, didn't know if you were interested in the cactus flower types. It's pretty and distinctive but the flowers are smaller, probably around 3-4 inches across. There are several of this type available now, pretty much any color you want. Another that caught my eye last fall is Machinac Grand--supposed to be a really dramatic, large blooming red. Some of the single whites would look very pretty with your NOID. Crinkled Lines, Krinkled White or Louise Marx (last pic) all stand up nice here and have lots of blooms.

I think all of the corals are pretty and they have good stems but I think they're more semi-double. They stand up pretty well in my garden, though. All of the Itohs are advertised as good stems.

I didn't even know there was a cactus type - will have to keep an eye out for those, looks like they would hold up well to rain and an interesting shape. Great ideas, all, thanks.

Old House Gardens in Ann Arbor, Michigan contacted me last Summer about one of my photos of ‘Early Scout’ they had seen on the web. They requested to come out and take some pictures of ‘Early Scout’ because they were going to offer it this year and needed a photo. I am only 30 minutes from Ann arbor.

Well, they did come out and I just checked today and I see that they have posted a photo of my ‘Early Scout”.

http://www.oldhousegardens.com...

Bonehead, I don't think they're classified as cactus flowered, their description varies from Japanese to single to semi-double. Take a look at this one, Pink Tutti Frutti from Fina: http://www.songsparrow.com/cat... Tutti Frutti' I've been waiting for that one to be offered in the US for a couple of years, too cheap to get it from Canada. It looks like a parrot tulip flower to me, kinda like Bric a Brac.

Frank, BEAUTIFUL picture of Early Scout! I ordered that one last year, think from either Fina or Song Sparrow. Your flower looks better than any I saw on the big grower's sites! Old House Gardens made a good choice with that one. Let us know if they take pics of any of your other flowers!
I'm going to be in Michigan in early June, staying in Oxford. One of the things I'm planning to do while we're there is visit University of Michigan's Historic Peony Garden http://mbgna.umich.edu/peony/ Have you been there, Frank? Think I might have to make a trip to Old Garden, too....

Liz, yes I have been to the UofM Peony garden. It’s a great collection. I think that they have an annual sale as well.

Also, consider MSU Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton, MI. Great dwarf and rare conifer collection and a Hosta Collection. It’s probably a 40-45 minute drive from A2.

I have never been to Old House Gardens. If you go, please fill me in…

Here’s a photo of Hidden Lake

I will, Frank. And Hidden Lake looks beautiful, I'll try to make time to visit. Thanks for the tip!

I have 2 that hold hold up well. Barringtone Belle and Sante Fe.


With the Irises

Hey, Frank, congratulations!!! Quite a compliment to you.

Do you want pictures of strictly singles? or would you be interested in some Japanese/Anemone forms? or Semi-doubles? Tree Peonies? Itoh Hybrids? A lot of the peony sites are using the term "landscape worthy" which basically means they will stand up to rain and don't need to be staked.


Here are a few singles

Silver Shell



Hot Chocolate



Firelight

like all of those

Somewhat singles...

This is Topeka Garnet


Largo


The Mackinac Grand


All stand well without staking.

One of my all time favorites is 'Illini Warrior’

It’s a huge specimen at 40 inches or so. To me, it’s size adds to the beauty of this great peony! It’s early too!



Oh yes, I did attend the Univ. of Illinois in Champaign, Urbana. So, Whats not to like about this peony???

Beautiful, Frank.

Great photos, Frank!

Shows it as an early bloomer, so I might be able to try it here.

, is this a single or a double? In any case it holds up fairly well.

Evan, I'd call that a single. :)

This might help you with form identification. http://www.peonies.org/flower_...