Peony Registry

Selected from tens of thousands of seedlings raised from P. rockii (as pod parent) and P. suffruticosa in Mr. Chen’s breeding work in the early 1990’s. Precise parentage not recorded. First bloomed 1995 and propagated beginning in 2005. The Chinese flower form classification is “golden circle” in which the guard petals are separated from the center petals by a band of transformed stamens, some being less transformed and bearing pollen. In American Peony Society exhibitions it would be shown as DOUBLE. Guard and center petals are white, separated by a frilly band of light purple staminodes. Dark maroon flares extend about 30% of petal length. Carpels 5 in number, cream colored with normal stigmas and capable of seed production. Partial sheath encloses carpels, white. One flower per stem, 16-18 cm. in size (6¼-7 inches). Vigorous upright growth, height at maturity 150-180 cm (5-6 feet). It has a low tendency to sucker, thus reducing the need for pruning and shaping. Name is suggested by the color and frilliness of the band of light purple staminodes.