The Daphnis Hybrids

Table of the Daphnis-hybrids 

Name	Color	Shape	Reg.
F1 hybrids
'Aphrodite'	creamy to white	semidouble	1965
'Artemis'	pure yellow, big flowers	single	1965
'Avra'	creamy to white, small flowers	semidouble	1966
'Demetra'	golden yellow, red-eged petals	double	1965
'D. H. Lawrence'	pink with purple veins, dark purple center	semidouble	1965
'Gauguin'	deep red, yellow-flamed petals	single	1965
'Kronos'	very dark red with a slight overcast of blue	double	1966
'Marie Laurencin'	pink to purple, outsides of the petals silvery	semidouble	1966
'Persephone'	delicate pale yellow, rounded petals	semidouble	1966
'Persepolis'	clear bright red	single	1970
'Redon'	mauve/pink, large flowers	semidouble	1965
'Tessera'	peach/orange	semidouble	1960
'Themis'	peach/pink	semidouble	1966
'Tria'	clear yellow, three buds per stem	single	1965
F2 hybrids
'Calypso'	creamy yellow, pink edged and veined petals	single	1995
'Daedalus'	deep burgundy red	single to semidouble	1995
'Dionysos'	bright red with strong yellow veins and flames	single	1995
'Sappho' (F3)	light purple to red	single	1995
BC1 backcrosses
'Aurora'	pale yellow, red flares	semidouble	1965
'Helios'	warm, soft yellow	semidouble	1966
'Hephestos'	wonderful, strong dark red	double	1975
'Phaedra'	red with blue tinge, dark blotches	semidouble	1966
'Terpsichore'	coral/pink, red and orange veined	single	1970
'Urania'	golden yellow, small red flares	single	1995
'Zephyrus'	mother-of-pearl pink, with maroon basal flares	semidouble/double	1970
BC2 backcrosses
'Antigone'	pure golden yellow	single	1995
'Clytie'	white with red flares	single	1995
'Prometheus'	strong bright red, large flowers	semidouble	1980
'Rhea'	bright pink	semidouble	1995
BC3 backcrosses
'Ariadne'	peach with red-fringed petals	semidouble	1980
'Iphigenia'	deep velvet red, dark flares	semidouble	1976
'Leda'	mauve/pink, strong veined, dark center	single	1980
'Nike'	yellow/coral/peach, with red flares	semidouble	1987
'Oread'	light pink with a dark center	semidouble	1996
'Thalia'	dark pink, blue overcast	single to semidouble	1995
'Zeus'	mauve/pink, strong veins, dark center like 'Leda'	semidouble to double	1980
'Medea' (BC4)	strong red to maroon, dark center	single	1980
Accidental seedlings
'Arethusa' (BC2)	light pink, with maroon flares	single	1977
'Argonaut' (BC2)	light pink, red-edged petals, dark flares	semidouble	1996
'Boreas' (F2)	dark burgundy red	double	1977
'Hestia' (BC2)	very rich, bright red	double	1977
'Icarus' (F2)	pure red	single	1977
'Isadora' (BC2)	yellow, red overcast, dark flares	single	1995
'Maia' (BC2)	light red, dark flares	semidouble	1975
'Maria Teressa' (BC2)	dark pink	double	1996
'Pluto' (F2)	glowing dark red	double	1987

Do Moutan genes make for more beautiful flowers?

In 1984 Nassos Daphnis tried to increase the genetic Moutan share, which was 75 % to 85 %, by crossing Moutan with plants that already had a genetic share of Moutan of 75 %. As the respective parents were genetically already closely related, it was possible to cross in both directions. It was true that he got 93 seeds from 228 crosses, but these produced plants that practically look like pure Moutan. It seems that the Lutea genes are overpowered by the Moutan genes in such a crossing.

As a next step he has, in 1996, pollinated Lutea hybrids containing 87.5 % Moutan genes with pollen of a pure Moutan, hoping to achieve better results with this reversed crossing. Whether this is successful we will know in about 10 years time.

Breeding outlook

Several young breeders use Nassos Dapnis' hybrids for their breeding tasks. Zlatana J. Draskovich from Gary, Indiana, succeeded in crossing 'Zephyrus' with 'Leda', 'Leda' with 'Shima Daijin' (Japanese Moutan), and 'Hephestos' with 'Shima Daijin'. The respective plants were registered under the name 'Dr. Gary E. Jones', 'Indiana Jones' (a sport of the former), 'Marilyn Jones' and 'Betty Jandura'.

The genetic potential of cultivars from the Moutan, Paeonia lutea, Paeonia delavayi and Paeonia potaninii forms carries unimagined possibilities for breeders. Nassos Daphnis' greatest wish is for young breeders to carry on his work.

A strange idea?

To conclude I should like to raise a question which might seem strange to many readers. It is well-known, and proved by experiments, that there may be quite intense relationships between plants and people, and even something like a communication. Is it possible then that between the breeder and the plants he produces by crossing there may be such a relationship too? I.e. is there a possible (spiritual) influence on the genetic process in the fertilizing operations? I should like to leave this speculative question open. One might believe so, if one considers the crossing results of Nassos Daphnis, who from only about 500 seedlings achieved so many excellent varieties, true masterworks.

A wonderful peony collection with near all American Lutea hybrids

In Pavilion near Rochester (New York) the former Gratwick Nursery is still in existence. Here all the creations (tree peonies) of Professor Saunders, Bill Gratwick and Nassos Daphnis are united, as a sort of national collection. Peony lovers obtain free access by appointment. Address and phone number:

Beauty of nature and human creativity In March 1996, when it was extremely cold, I had the chance to visit Nassos Daphnis in his studio in New York. Together with Don Hollingsworth, who came from Missouri to New York, I spent some wonderful hours with a peony breeder and painter. In the world of peonies, we find some plants which can be called living cultural monuments, for example the Chinese 'Yao Huang', a cultivar from the period of the Sung dynasty, the Japanese 'Shintenchi', the European 'Souvenir du Prof. Maxime Cornu' or the American 'Coronal'. I am sure that Nassos Daphnis created some living cultural monuments, for example 'Hephestos' or 'Zephyrus', which will live in our gardens for centuries just as 'Yao Huang' has flowered in Chinese gardens for about 900 years. These living cultural monuments are precious symbols of the creativity of the human spirit.