Peony Registry

Seedling No. NB16. Parentage: ‘Sedona’ x “Loyola” (Loyola is an unregistered Bernard Chow hybrid). Advanced generation lutea hybrid. First bloomed 2009, first propagated 2012. Rose-pink SEMI-DOUBLE to DOUBLE flowers, size 7 inches (18 cm), 2-3 blooms per stem. Petals have a cream base, overlaid with rose-pink, the flowers fading lighter at outer edges. Maroon flares extend 20% of the petals’ length, but are usually obscured in the depths of the flower which is made up of 25-35 petals. Adding to the volume of the flower, the petals are highly ruffled and crinkled, and crepe-like along the outer edges. On average 3-4 carpels, green, sparsely hairy, having pink stigmas of normal anatomy. Pollen-bearing stamens with filaments maroon throughout. Sheath is maroon, and complete. Fertile both ways. Sidebuds open after primary buds, extending bloom season. Flowers are held facing outward. Leaves are deep green with petioles light red on upper surfaces. Plants mature to a large mound shape with foliage to the ground. Grows to 4 feet (122 cm) in Wisconsin where it produces large numbers of ground shoots and is one of the more vigorous growing lutea hybrids. Easily propagated through grafting. Holds well through the growing season and thus a good candidate for the planted landscape. Lyra is Latin for lyre and is the name of a small constellation often represented on star maps as a vulture or an eagle carrying a lyre. Also known as “Falling Vulture” or “Falling Eagle.” The flowers are seen to “fall” and display outward around the plant, hence the name chosen to reference a falling eagle.