Skip to content
All about gardening.

Remarkable Perennials With a Century-Long Life Span: The Expensive Blooms Offering Eternal Beauty

Explore comprehensively the concept of intersectional peonies, including their definition, planting methods, and care instructions.

,   and  Administrator
4 min read
Remarkable Perennials Offering a Century of Blooms: Pricy Peonies that Persist for a Century
Remarkable Perennials Offering a Century of Blooms: Pricy Peonies that Persist for a Century

Remarkable Perennials With a Century-Long Life Span: The Expensive Blooms Offering Eternal Beauty

Falling for Peonies: The Intriguing Allure of Intersectional Peonies

In the heart of a former lawyer turned nursery owner, a deep love for peonies blossomed. Alec White, the mastermind behind Primrose Hall Nursery, fondly recalls the moment he first laid eyes on these captivating flowers. "I was walking across the nursery, wondering what that bloom was," he says. "It stood head and shoulders above everything else, and I was instantly smitten."

Years down the line, his passion for these flowers has only grown stronger. With over 280 cultivars in production, his nursery holds the National Collection of Intersectional Peonies and boasts a coveted RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal.

Embracing the Magic of Intersectional Peonies

It all starts with the anticipation, Alec explains. "There's a real sense of occasion with a peony coming into flower. Those buds heralding something quite spectacular. In six weeks, they go from nothing to over three-foot-tall, and then those decadent, over-the-top flowers, so full of scent. They are sensational; they bombard your senses."

Intersectional peonies, or Itoh peonies, are a unique hybrid between herbaceous and tree peonies. Bred for their striking flowerheads and compact growth, these blooms lift the spirits and create a profound impact in any garden setting.

The Fascinating Blend of Two Worlds

Itoh peonies represent a blend of the best qualities from both parent types. Their stems, strong and upright, boast a tower-like structure that often eliminates the need for staking. At the same time, their foliage resembles that of tree peonies, with a finely cut texture that adds to their overall allure.

Compared to herbaceous and tree peonies, Itoh peonies are more expensive but for good reason. Their rarity, exquisite blooms, and the difficulty in breeding them reflect their price tag. However, with the right care, they can provide years of joy and admiration.

Sizing Up Intersectional Peonies

Typically, Itoh peonies grow between 60 to 90 centimeters (2-3 feet) tall. They show incredible tolerance to cold weather, making them tougher than tree peonies, while also being heat-tolerant. In addition, they display an incredible autumn foliage, transforming the garden landscape with rich hues of green, orange, and burgundy.

One unique aspect of Itoh peonies is their flower production. Mature plants can yield between 40 to 50 flowers and, surprisingly, the flowers last twice as long as ordinary peonies. Blooming for four to five weeks, they are additionally filled with small side buds and exude a wonderful fragrance.

17 Stunning Intersectional Peonies to Fall in Love With

  1. Paeonia 'Sonoma Sun': This beautiful intersectional peony features single yellow flowers with a red heart that fades to a clear, yellow center. Mid-season flowering. 85 cm.
  2. Paeonia 'Morning Lilac': An intersectional peony with semi-double, strong purple flowers that have darker edges. Offers good autumn foliage color. Mid-season. 75 cm.
  3. Paeonia 'Sonoma Welcome': Boasts single flowers that open apricot but then fade to yellow, adorned with light-red flares. Mid-season. 80 cm.
  4. Paeonia 'Sonoma Opal': Comes with single, bubblegum pink flowers that fade to the outer edges with a buttercup-yellow center. Mid-season. 75 cm.
  5. Paeonia 'Watermelon Wine': Offers deep, raspberry-pink flowers with a dark wine center and golden anther. Mid-season. 90 cm.
  6. Paeonia 'Sonoma Yedo': Features very double yellow flowers known for their extended blooming period. Early mid-season. 70 cm.
  7. Paeonia 'Sonoma Rosy Future': Single flower intersectional peony with dark-rose petals with flares of darker rose, featuring notched petals. Mid-season. 1 m.
  8. Paeonia 'Love Affair': A semi-double white flower with a good vigor and easy flowering. Early mid-season. 70 cm.
  9. Paeonia 'Queen of Hearts': A rare intersectional peony featuring semi-double, creamy flowers with a raspberry center and golden anthers. Mid-season. 75 cm.
  10. Paeonia 'Sonoma Velvet Ruby': Produces large, single, deep wine-red flowers with finely cut green foliage that turns red in autumn. Mid-season. 75 cm.
  11. Paeonia 'Singing in the Rain': An Intersectional peony with delicate, romantic, semi-double flowers in coral pink with pale lemon anthers. 75 cm.
  12. Paeonia 'Tolomeo No. 59': A loose, semi-double with dusky ruby-red flowers produced over a long period. Mid-season. 1 m.
  13. Paeonia 'Lollipop': Striking, with apricot, double flowers that have flecks of purple. The finely cut foliage turns a lovely red in autumn. Mid-season. 75 cm.
  14. Paeonia 'Sonoma Halo': A fully double, yellow-flowered intersectional peony with so many petals that the raspberry-red center is hidden. Mid-season. 75 cm.
  15. Paeonia 'Julia Rose': Deep-cerise flowers that fade to raspberry and eventually cream. This intersectional peony has finely cut foliage that turns red in spring and autumn. Mid-season. 75 cm.
  16. Paeonia 'Cora Louise': Large, scented pink flowers with a lavender edge and red, purple flares. Its finely cut foliage turns red in spring and autumn. Mid-season. 90 cm.
  17. Paeonia 'Old Rose Dandy': Has lovely open blooms that open rose with a brick-red center and then fade to yellow over time. It has a very good fragrance. 80 cm.

Note: Address: Primrose Hall, Nursery at Dingley Dell, Toddington Road, Westoning, Bedfordshire MK45 5AH. Tel: 01525 878924. Web: primrosehallpeonies.co.uk

Sources

[1] https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5359&context=worldpeonycongress2012

[2] https://friendsofchicago botanic garden.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Itohs.pdf

[3] https://learning2grow.com/perennials/peonies/

[4] https://www.hgpn.org/ethereal-garden-toothsome-peonies/

[5] https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/plants/1-Paeonia/Paeonias/

  1. Intersectional peonies, a delight in homes and gardens, can be found nestled in the vibrant landscape of Primrose Hall Nursery, a haven for these captivating flowers.
  2. The fashion-and-beauty world seems to have found inspiration in these blooms, with some even incorporating intersectional peonies into their lifestyle vision, creating an exquisite marriage between nature and design.
  3. Gardeners will find guidance and resources in home-and-garden magazines, which frequently feature articles on the cultivation and care of these unique peonies, helping expand the border of gardens everywhere.
  4. Alec White's dedication to the beautification of gardens through intersectional peonies continues to inspire others, igniting a newfound appreciation for these stunning blooms and their impact on both the gardening and general lifestyle communities.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest