Thanks Karen. I think single or semi-doubles Itohs (like Morning Lilac, Going Bananas, etc ) are not far behind Red Charm. Our cool weather was over around 10 days ago and we hit a heat weave...Hopefully it will be cooler next week.
I pulled out some pics of Red Charm from my camera and color was true enough - from Parkland ( divided into 2 plants ) with a lot of buds originally, but some I disbudded and the rest did not develop. Only 1 flower, but I totally love it - it lasts, great color and it did not flop under rain.
Yankee Doodle Dandy opened today, but only 1 bud so far. Most of my second year Itohs do not perform - none to max 2 flowers. Bartzella, though, in it's 3rd year , is going to put up a show with 20.
Yes, and the wonder from my another friend - I think it is Buckeye Belle, but not 100% sure.
Here is the first of my two tree peonies to bloom. I believe this is Shimadaijin, however, the tag has been lost and I don't trust my memory. I hope the peony experts on here can either confirm that or give my some direction as to its identity. The photos are not as dark as the real colour, but it is a difficult colour to photograph (for me at least!). The last photo was taken last year of a misshaped bloom, but the colour seems better. Another thing to note about this peony is that is seems quite cold hardy and comes through the winter better than my other tree peony. I provide no protection to it, other than natural snow cover. My other tree peony is Yaezakura and I do have to provide winter protection and it still has not branched out as well as the purple one. Thank you in advance for any help!
bud
two buds, top bud closer in colour to actual bloom
Alex, what is your friend's secret for growing peonies? THat is one spectacular and floriferous Buckeye Belle! I have never seen one so full of blooms and each bloom is as nice as the next.
Valerie, your tree peony is lovely! It does look like Shima Dajin but I am not sure as I personally don't grow it. I grow YaeZakura. Yaezakura petals are very delicate and easily bruised by rain as evident by this year's blooms on mine. If there is rain in the forecast, it would be helpful to shelter the tree from the rain to prolong the blooms of this tree peony. I am planning to get a few umbrellas for this purpose next year. It is such a shame to see damage on the flowers when you wait so long to see them.
Karen, she probably does nothing - when she bought a house it was already there. I can only guess that previous owners improved soil a lot and gave peony some space, because other peonies are far behind this beauty.
Valerie, I am not really knowledgeable with varieties - there are so many!
Actually thinking about this huge clump - I noticed once that people are planting 2-3 clumps of the same variety some distance away and getting really HUGE one as a result.
I saw it in full bloom last year at Hidden Springs farm in Minnesota. It jumped to my number one herbaceous want (honestly, this doesn't happen to me too often) . Luckily for me, he had one left potted, so I bought it. It is a very special plant. Wasn't sure if it would bloom for me this year. But like any peony longing to get out of a potted situation, it moved strides over the summer and into now.
Thanks Alex.
Mattdiclemente did not joke saying " It is the sort of peony you see alongside long-tailed song birds on old chinese wall paper" and I find it pleasantly fragrant - not outstandingly though. The flower is not big, but I guess that's what you should expect from 1st year plant. Just hoping that it will recover next year and will certainly divide it asap hopefully in 2017 fall. There is "substance" in the petals.
I have some peonies blooming! Fav so far this year is Plena Alba. Erma impressed me quite a bit last year, not so much this. Most don't seem to be as open as they should be but we've had quite a lot of rain. Some hail as well but not as bad as some years. These are the blooms so far:
Plena Alba
Paula Fay
Astarte from GW, not sure if this is the correct name
Lemon Chiffon
Salmon Dream
Jean Cowley
Brightness
Commando
Coral Scout
Erma
Lovely photos ! So glad to see some of yours, Liz. I hoped all that hail missed you!
I am well into daylily season, so I am loving seeing these peony blooms.
LG - My garden grows with love and a lot of hard work.
