Besides being a centenarian...

William H. Krekler (1900-2002) from Somerville, Ohio (population ~300, located about 50 miles north of Cincinnati). A peony hybridizer who registered more than 400 cultivars from his breeding program, most of which were released in the 1960s and 70s. In 1977, he sold his peony breeding farm to Charles Klehm and Son Nursery. Also, at that time, a number of seedlings were purchased by other breeders (resulting in many new cultivar).

Klehm continues to release cultivars based on seedings from Krekler.

This is one of Krekler's, Paeonia 'Abalone Pearl', 2017



also, I planted Paeonia 'Golly' last fall (one of the Klehm introductions)

and have Paeonia 'Viking Chief' on order for spring delivery

Abalone Pearl is such a gorgeous flower. I have several Krekler intros although I've never specifically looked for his. Is he a favorite hybridizer of yours, Frank?

@LizinElizabeth

Its winter, I cannot be out in the garden, so I try to learn something every day:)

which Krekler's do you have?

I have
Nice Gal added fall 2014, hasn't bloomed yet
Abalone Pearl added fall 2014

Bandit added fall 2016
Barrington Belle added fall 2013
Bev added fall 2016

Bride's Dream added fall 2013, replaced 2015
Buckeye Belle added fall 2013

Charles Burgess added fall 2016
Cincinnati added fall 2014-not from my garden, taken at 2016 APS Convention

Cora Stubbs added fall 2017
Crazy Myrtle added fall 2014
Cuckoo's Nest added fall 2014

Dayton added fall 2014

Don Richardson added fall 2014
First Out added fall 2014
Golly added fall 2014
Kevin added fall 2016 (new but impressive 1st year performance!)

Martha Reed added fall 2014-another 2016 APS Convention pic

Moonlit Snow added fall 2017
Raspberry Twist added fall 2014
The rest I have noted as Kreckler/Klehm intros:
Queen Bee added fall 2014, replaced fall 2016

Avalon added fall 2013
Cherry Charm added fall 2017
Pink Spinners added fall 2014

Pink Tinkerbelle added fall 2017
Puffed Cotton 2017 addition
Cactus Jack added spring 2015 (a favorite because of the pretty, pretty flowers but slow to increase here)

Eskimo Pie added fall 2016
Finest Hour added fall 2014
Theatrical added fall 2014

None of the Kreckler nor Kreckler/Klehm intros other than Abalone Pearl and Kevin have stood out as far as tremendous growth here or even as good first year bloomers. Really love Queen Bee; it's such a pretty flower. I don't think any of the ones noted above without a pic from my garden have bloomed for me yet. You can see I've have several of them for many years. Only the ones noted as replaced have died, I have first emerging and, sometimes, mature foliage pics of those but no blooms. I've purchased them from a variety of growers, the ones acquired before fall 2016 are in the front bed that wakes up first, might be cold damage causing the no bloom thing but it's not impacted all. All of the ones purchased after spring 2016 are in the latest waking beds. I got first year blooms from the replaced Queen Bee, Kevin and Bev so maybe location will make a positive difference. I don't have any Kreckler's coming fall 2018, yet.

Wow! I'm glad you listed all those peonies, Liz. I have more than I knew!!

This will be a fun thread to post to as the Peonies start blooming!

Your peonies have such gorgeous colors Liz! I hope you have good weather this year. I bet you will have many more beauties to share. I particularly love the pink color of your Dayton and Bev. Your Cactus Jack is so beautiful - it looks very much like Candy Stripe but probably have stronger stems and necks.

I only have a few Kreckler peonies: Abalone Pearl, Buckeye Belle, and Nellie Saylor.

Thanks LG and Karen! I hope we all have good weather starting really soon, these late freezes and snow storms are enough to drive a gardener insane! Enjoying these threads with hybridizers, will start a few more this weekend when I have more time to go through pics. Or if anyone else wants to start one I'd love to see everyone's Bigger's and Lins peonies as well!

I have Cora Stubbs, which blooms reliably and abundantly.


I think this is Karen Gray, but the tag got lost, so am not sure.


I think I eliminated Don Richardson. Named for a boy that worked at the Krekler farms. I think I thought it wilted too much in sun and I preferred other Japanese types.

I know I eliminated Tom Eckhardt. It was very vigorous, but the flower seemed rather blowsy and the bush habit more sprawling than I liked. Just so much space available.


Charles Burgess has very rounded petals. Blooms late midseason here.