Peonies are Carole's favourite perennials. Her collection is ever expanding and photos are missing for some. If you can't make it to the nursery, we hope you enjoy browsing through the list and available photos below.

March 21, 2003

Bloom Period Key :

E=early season,

E/M = early to mid season, (Paeonia tenuifolia (fern-leaf peony) and most suffriticosa tree peonies)

M= midseason, (Red Charm.)

L= late season, (Gay Paree)

VL= very late (Elsa Saas)

About Fragrance:

Classification of peony fragrance is hard to find in the literature. Usually books simply state whether a peony has a fragrance or not. Fragrances are many: bitter, sweet, medicinal, foul, etc. Fragrance is also very subjective and what may be pleasing to one is objectionable to another. Fragrances come in strong and weak concentrations too. No wonder there is little information on fragrances of each peony variety or other flowers for that matter.

As a general guide, Alan Rogers (Peonies. 1995. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon.) states that “… the full double Paeonia lactiflora cultivars, sometimes referred to as Chinese or French peonies may be counted on to possess in varying degrees a pleasing fragrance, stronger in pinks and whites.”

Fragrance of peonies is seldom appreciated in the garden because they are not strongly scented enough to be noticeable in such large masses of air . Flowers taken into the confines of a room in a bouquet may however lend a slight fragrance to the air but nowhere to the level of narcissus flowers. Carole couldn’t smell a peony fragrance no matter its strength – her sense of smell is almost totally lacking. I on the other hand have an acute sense of smell - I can smell heat! We both enjoy peonies simply for their form and colour variations. She doesn't know whether she is missing a unique fragrance and I am happy that I have lowly-scented indoor air at best during the six week peony bloom period.

Fern Leaf - single (Paeonia tenuifolia). E.

'Albert Crousse' - shell pink double ML

'Dr. Alexander Fleming' - a double pink lactiflora (7) - (no photo)

'America' - brilliant red single with prominent yellow stamenoides. E/M.

'Ama-No-Sode'- a Japanese pink lactiflora.

'Auguste Dessert' - pink semi-double lactiflora

'Better Times' - rose double lactiflora

'Bowl of Beauty' -a Japanese pink lactiflora

'Best Man' - red, double, lactiflora

'Coral 'n Gold' - pinkish single or semi-double hybrid

Dandy Dan - red, semi-double hybrid (no photo)

Dinner Plate -

'Do Tell' - pink, japanese lactiflora(no photo)

'Duchesse de Nemours' - Cup-shaped double white lactiflora. M.

'Elsa Saas'- a double white lactiflora. VL.

'Fairy's Petticoat' - pink, double, lactiflora

'Festiva Maxima' - white double with crimson flecks, fragrant. M.

'Gay Paree' - cerise-pink petals, cream-white centre Japanese. L.

'General MacMahon' - a double red lactiflora

'Gilbert Wild' - double rose lactiflora.

'Glory Halleluja' - double pinkish red, with silver tips, lactiflora L. Fragrant.

'Harriet Olney' - pink single lactiflora with yellow centre.

'Henry Bockstoce' - dark red double with rosebud shaped centre on strong stems, E

'Immaculee' - white double lactiflora. (no photo)

'Jean Cooperman' - pinkish red double.

'Kansas' - a double red lactiflora on strong stems. EM.

'Karen Gray' - red, japanese lactiflora (no photo)

'Kukeni Jishia' - pink, japanese lactiflora

'Leto' - white Japanese lactiflora with yellow tinged centre. EM.

'Milton Jack' - a double rose lactiflora. E.

'Mons. Jules Elie' - huge pink double E. Fragrant

'Mother's Choice' - Pure white double lactiflora. EM.

'Music Man' - red (richer than in photo) double lactiflora L.

'Nellie Shaylor" - red Japanese lactiflora

'Nymphe' - pink Japanese lactiflora with yellow heart. (no photo)

'Opal Hamilton' - pink Japanese lactiflora

'Pecher' - white double, spotted red. (no photo)

'Raspberry Sunday' - raspberry red, white & yellow double Fragrant.

'Red Charm' - red double, hybrid

'Sam Donaldson' - red, double lactiflora (no photo)

'Sarah Bernhardt' - apple blossom pink, silver tips & red flecks. ML

'Shirley Temple' - blush double lactiflora.

'Sword Dance' - red Japanese lactiflora with tuft of rose & gold. M.

'Top Brass'- double, cream with central pink, yellow & ivory. M. Fragrant (no photo)

'Unknow Soldier' - deep red double lactiflora. M. Fragrant

'White Sands' - a Japanese white lactiflora ) (no photo)

We also have a small supply of tree peonies.

PAEONIA - suffruiticosa 'High Noon' (no photo)

PAEONIA - suffruiticosa Kamata-Nishiki (no photo)

PAEONIA - suffruiticosa 'Kinshi' (no photo)

PAEONIA - suffruiticosa 'Shima-nishika - (no photo)