Peony Hybridizers: Gamoletti Roberto

Roberto Gamoletti

Country:

North Italy

Short biography:

I am 71 years old.

More information:

People can find images of my plants on Instagram. My account is the_world_of_peonies_
https://www.instagram.com/the_world_of_peonies_/

Peony hybridizers series

How did you first get involved in peony hybridizing?

I have been a member of the American Peony Society since 2000 and I begun to contact other peony hybridizers in USA. The Paeonia Newletter was a source of informations and contact with other peony growers. I have been in close contact with Irene Tolomeo and Bill Seidl among others.

What was your starting material for your hybridizing?

I obtained my first peony plants from Hollingsworth and then Bill Seidl shared with me some of his early unregistered hybrids. In recent years I got in touch with european hybridizers including Harald Fawkner, Hans Maschke, Koen Hurtekant, Stephan Tetzlaff and Ruud Warmerdam. They shared with me some of their special plants. I have been propagating and registering Irene Tolomeo peonies that have been rescued with the help of her daughter.

What are your goals in hybridizing peonies?

I am hybridizing herbaceous, lutea and intersectional hybrids. My goals are double flowers with pastel colors and petals with good substance. Sturdy stems are appreciated and fragrance and foliage are considered a bonus.

Do you mostly depend on open pollination or do you mostly make controlled crosses? 

How large is your hybridizing program?

I make about 100 crosses each year and about 300 seeds are planted.

Do you have any plants in the market?

A few registered plants have been propagated and distributed by Giovanni Buffa who is the owner of Vivaio Buffa, Italy. I have shared a few plants with friends and enthusiasts.
https://www.vivaiobuffa.com/
https://www.instagram.com/vivaiobuffa/

Can you describe a few of your plants that you consider the best or most beautiful and which are available now?

White Surprise (Gamoletti, 2023)

White surprise is an herbaceous hybrid of outstanding vigor and a fast increaser. It shows double white flowers with a flush of light pink at the base of petals that adds depht to the blossoms. Flowers are well displayed over the foliage and held on strong stems.

Cherry Welcome (Gamoletti, 2019)

My first registered plant was called Cherry Welcome and it is an intersectional hybrid. It is a vigorous plant with semidouble purplish-red flowers with typical itoh group healthy and pointed foliage.It was the first itoh seedling that I obtained and I was immediately impressed by its doubleness and color.

Lemon Surprise (Gamoletti, 2019)

Lemon Surprise is my favourite lutea hybrid. The plant is compact and holds very large flowers of a pale yellow washed peach-pink color. The petals are strong ruffled with dark purple flares at the base. The shape of buds is particularly charming as they are pointed and resemble a rosebud.

Within your current seedlings, what are the most promising ones?

Several seedling are showing promising features and particularly those from Dawn Glow x Sunny Boy because their flower shape is characteristic and fully double.

Are you in contact or working together with other peony hybridizers? 

I am in contact with both american and european hybridizers. Of course I would like to share results with other peony enthusiasts. Exchange of plants and pollen with other hybridizers is always welcomed.

Name a few peony varieties from other hybridizers which you especially like?

I like Pastelegance for its color and shape.

I like several hybrids made by Harald Fawkner: if they only had more sturdy stems they could be perfect.

One of my favorite herbaceous hybrids from the past is Old Faithful. I have been using it extensively in past years for breeding.

Final question. Any remarks or suggestions you may have…

The Peony Society website is very interesting for me, rich in specific articles. It is updated frequently and the hybridizing section is full of information. It is the true european peony society website and has replaced Burkhardt’s website that unfortunately has not been updated anymore. You should try to increase the participation of european peony hybridizers and promote the exchange of knowledge (which nowadays is restricted to social media).

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