Paeonies

I grow a number of species paeonies and I think the highlight in the garden is P. tenuifolia, probably the most requested species on the nursery. Did anyone grow plants from Jim and Jenny Archibald? Jim had a fantastic collection planted out in one of his polytunnels, including the extraordinary and rare P. parnassica with purple flowers like no other. I didn't buy seed but it was a lost opportunity. Another grower I know with a passion for these plants is Robert Pardo in France, where there is a big interest, and probably good climate, for growing tree paeonies - but he also grows many species and gave me P. mairei, which I hadn't come across before (as well as a very generous gift of P rockii). Gardeners are great people!!

I only have P. tenuifolia 'Plena' (though I'd prefer to have the single form, actually) - unfortunately, its flowers have been somewhat spoiled by rain this year:

The first flower on P. veitchii has opened - interesting that the flowers are nodding, unlike on my other peonies:

Here is the mislabelled P. japonica... the leaves seemed to be "off" and I assume the pink flowers (vs. white) further confirm that it is not P. japonica.  Can anyone suggest an ID for it?
 

Unfortunately, my double form of P. tenuifolia is incapable of producing viable seed, so I can't send you any even of that, Trond.

I did dig up some seedlings today of P. officinalis 'Anemoniflora' to pot up to give away - I thought they looked sort of interesting:

Ah ha, I thought there was something interesting about the shiny black seed still being attached!  Thank you for the explanation, Rick!

Paeonia caucasica:

Peter, we have grown P. cambessedesii in zone 3/4, in a sand bed, for a few years. Before that we got one through one winter in ordinary well-drained garden soil and then lost it.
Sharon, near Thunder Bay Ontario Canada

I always enjoy seeing the different appearances of emerging peonies ...
Paeonia intermedia:

Paeonia mlokosewitschii:

Looking like muppets, Paeonia tenuifolia 'Flore Pleno':

Hoy wrote:

...........................I believe it is P. veitchii.

I notice no one has given an alternative suggestion Trond.

Lets try to to open discussion. Here is what I bought some years ago with the label "Paeonia anomala???" Since it got to flowering size I have posted pictures of it annually on the SRGC Forum with comments made that it is P. veitchii and sometimes P. anomola ssp veitchii. Looks a lot like like yours!

I'm surprised, given the climatic differences, that your peonies seem to be blooming at the same time as mine, Claire and Trond!  

Here are a few from my garden.
Paeonia officinalis is really nice this year:
   

Paeonia intermedia (or so it seems, from a determination over at the SRGC forum):
   

What I have as P. veitchii seems to match yours, Trond and David:
 

P. 'Peter Barr', starting to bloom:
 

And, by the way, Claire, it was such pleasure to see your garden while at the WWS - it was just spectacular!  (And I was also deeply impressed by your perfect recall of every plant's name and history.  Though my memory was never so good as that, I hope to regain what little I had someday!)  Thank you for showing your garden, and it's great to see you here!

Unknown Paeonia... it came as a seedling in the roots of a daylily I ordered long ago.  (I like it a lot more than the daylily!)

P. tenuifolia 'Flore Pleno' again... this weekend has been quite nice and sunny, but it's been so gloomy lately that the flowers seem to have balled somewhat.  Still an eye-catcher though - passersby often ask about this plant.

P. mlokosewitchii:
 

Hoy wrote:

David, this is what I think is a P anomala. (From seed 2009) The buds and flowers are more upright than veitchii.

Mine is very much nodding like your veitchii Trond. The leaves on mine are quite divided too, again like your veitchii. Picture below. I think I'm convinced enough now to amend my label.

Hoy wrote:

Claire, a very impressive "Molly-the Witch"!
P delavayi is very variable. Here are other forms from seed:

Here's my grown from seed Paeonia delavayi. The seed came labelled as P. delavayi forma lutea but I think it has some angustiloba blood in it.

You could well be right Maggi. As I said the seed was labelled Paeonia delavayi forma lutea and at the time I posted the pic I wasn't aware that P delavyi was a red shade, hence my assumption that there might be angustiloba blood in mine. Still, it's a pretty thing and now it's released into the garden I look forward to more flowers next year. I also have P. delavayi forma angustiloba from seed which I hope will also flower next year.

I've just had a look at The Plant List Trond and synonyms of Paeonia delavayi are shown for the following, as well as some others:-
P. d. var angustiloba
P. d. forma lutea
P. d. var. lulea

By the way P. veitchii is now shown as synonomous with P. anomola ssp. veitchii.

A lotta lumping going on out there ;D

You have some nice colours there. Mine is flowering for the first time so it will be interesting to see if it changes much next year.

Seeds forming on P. veitchii:

P. caucasica... or so the label said, anyway; it seems an unusual colour if so?