Paeonia 2011

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Two more images of an other plant of P. turcica in the Rock Garden at Kew and P. obovata in the Woodland Garden.

Matt

Dear Matt,
I have 2 plants with the name P. kesrouanensis. Herewith a new picture of the plant I posted last year. Sometimes I think this plant is a real P. mascula; otherwise the carpels are glabrous and that's typical kesrouanensis.
The second picture is probably true P. turcica; in my opinion it resembles the Kew plants you show us. Unfortunately the plant is not flowering this year, but I can say that the flowers are very dark red.
Hendrik

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Herewith a picture of today: the lovely Paeonia coriacea!

[Matt]

Dear Hendrik,

Thank you for your comments.
Now that I see a more "adult" picture of your P. kesrouanensis (the first plant) I am actually more convinced about its similarity to the plant at Kew. The Kew plant comes from the Antalya Province, which is apparently the north-western boundary for this species. I am not sure whether I will have time to go to Kew again this week to take more picture, but I can tell you that after about 5-7 days the colour of the petals fades quite a lot, getting exactly the same shades showed by the flowers of your plant. The leaves become almost blue/gray and the stems loose almost completely the reddish coloration. 

I also grow P. kesrouanensis, I have two plants, one from an English nursery and one from a Dutch nursery, both allegedly from wild seeds, although without a precise provenance... None has flowered yet, but both have leaves very similar to your first plant.
What description/provenance did you get when you acquired your two plants (or seeds)?

I am really surprised that your plants in Belgium are already so far! P. coriacea at Kew and at Highdown are just few centimeters above the ground! Is your peony bed in a very mild spot of your garden or do you shelter your plants with a cold frame?

I look forward to more images from your collection.

Matt

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Dear Hendrik,

Thank you for your comments.
Now that I see a more "adult" picture of your P. kesrouanensis (the first plant) I am actually more convinced about its similarity to the plant at Kew. The Kew plant comes from the Antalya Province, which is apparently the north-western boundary for this species. I am not sure whether I will have time to go to Kew again this week to take more picture, but I can tell you that after about 5-7 days the colour of the petals fades quite a lot, getting exactly the same shades showed by the flowers of your plant. The leaves become almost blue/gray and the stems loose almost completely the reddish coloration.  

I also grow P. kesrouanensis, I have two plants, one from an English nursery and one from a Dutch nursery, both allegedly from wild seeds, although without a precise provenance... None has flowered yet, but both have leaves very similar to your first plant.
What description/provenance did you get when you acquired your two plants (or seeds)?

I am really surprised that your plants in Belgium are already so far! P. coriacea at Kew and at Highdown are just few centimeters above the ground! Is your peony bed in a very mild spot of your garden or do you shelter your plants with a cold frame?

I look forward to more images from your collection.

Matt

Dear Matt and of course other peony lovers,
Yes, my garden is always very early, probably because he is protected by hedges all around.
I grow the peonies from South-Europe in raised beds and  protected with cold frames especially during summer; our summers here in Belgium are really to wet!
Today starts P. tomentosa flowering. I have received this plant in 2003, only a very small piece of a collection done in Azerbaijan; after 8 years of care and patience you can see now the result:
New name: Peaonia daurica ssp. tomentosa (leaves densely villose on the lower surface)
Hendrik

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Truly stunning plants and pictures Hendrik !!! 

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Truly stunning plants and pictures Hendrik !!! 

Hi Belgium friend, here are the pictures again.
Hendrik

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Today flowers a second plant: Paeonia mascula ssp. russoi; I received this plant under the invalid name Paeonia reversonii.
New name ( Hong De-Yuan) is now Paeonia corsica. By this species are the leaves again densely villose beneath.
Very beautiful form! Look to the purple stems....
Hendrik

[Hoy]

I grow some peonies but they are of course not so advanced here as yours.
While waiting for the earliest to flower I wonder if somebody can tell me the names of these from China?

   

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

I grow some peonies but they are of course not so advanced here as yours.
While waiting for the earliest to flower I wonder if somebody can tell me the names of these from China?

(Attachment Link)     (Attachment Link)

I think P. obovata; there are 2 subspp: ssp obovata (leaves mostly glabrous on lower surface) and ssp. wilmottiae (densely hispid on lower surface).
Hendrik

[Hoy]

Thanks Hendrik. Have to check when leaves unfurl!

[Matt]

Dear Hendrik,

Great gardener, great plants and great pictures.

Good photographs of plants from known wild parentage and with an exact provenance are better than a botany treaty.

Thank you very much for your post....I am still greedy for MORE!

Matt

[zephirine]

Paeonia emodi unfurling, in a firework way!

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Paeonia emodi unfurling, in a firework way!

Very nice!
Is really one of the best paeony!
Is it the wild plant or the hybrid 'Early windflower/Late wildflower.
The latest set never seeds and grwos very well; the wild species is not so vigorous and very susceptible to late frost...(here in Belgium).
Hendrik

[zephirine]

Thanks Hendrik! I assume it is the wild one, but cannot be sure...I got it from a german nursery, Hügin, in Freiburg-am-Breisgau. I will go there again by end April, and will ask Ewald about its origin.
A true silk beauty, anyway.
I planted it in half shade, as I read from various sources that it was its preferred location, and that it lasted longer there than in full sun. However, I've seen another similar plant, bought by a friend at the same time from the same nursery, but planted in full sun. Her plant is already much more developped, and has nore shoots. So I'm wondering if I was right...what would you recommend?

[galanthophile]

Some fantastic peonies on here and the season has hardly started. I can't wait to see these when they are in flower. I started off (like most people I suppose) with the hybrids but I find myself more and more attracted to the species. I find that is the case now with most of my plants. I have vetchii, a tiny plant of x handel-mazzettii. Does anyone have a picture of that flower? I also have a 17 year old plant of mlokosewitchii which has 9 buds this year.