P. kesrouanensis and P. cambessedesii have flowered already, but this (as yet) unnamed hybrid one is very early as well, flowering together with its maternal parent P. caucasica. Who the father might be is unknown. It did take some battering from the late snow, wind and frosts this year, but always looking good to my eyes.

I’m always surprised to see how peonies react to late frosts. Early this morning and a few hours later, from terribly looking to standing firmly upright again. P. cambessedesii and P. wittmanniana.

Warm days and cold nights tend to result in deeper red colouring leaves. If one is looking for pretty reddish young foliage, many intersectionals are a good choice with their maple-like foliage at that stage of growth. I don’t necessarily select for it in my seedlings, but it can be an added bonus for sure. Here some of the nicer ones amongst the…Read More

Some images of species peonies as they are growing now. Images 1-2: P. kesrouanensis. 3: P. cambessedesii. 4: P. morisii. 5: P. wittmanniana. 6: P. emodi. 7: P. mascula bodurii. 8: P. mascula hellenica. 9: P. mascula mascula (from Turkey).