The World of the Peony (XI)

Crosses between herbaceous and tree peonies - the latest branches of peony cultivation

Toichi Itoh, a Japanese, succeeded after years of effort in crossing herbaceous peonies with tree peonies. His seedlings started flowering only after he had died. These crosses, called Itoh-hybrids or Intersectionals, are a combination of the qualities and beauties of the herbaceous and tree peonies. In the flower the qualities of tree peonies are dominant, whereas the herbaceous peony dominates in growth and foliage. Most of them behave like herbaceous peonies, i.e. they die back in winter and sprout again in spring. Fully grown plants form spherical shapes with a beautifully harmonic distribution of the flowers.

The most successful breeders are two Americans: Roger Anderson is known for his yellow, white and pink varieties, and Don Hollingsworth for his excellent yellow 'Garden Treasure'.

 

Paeonia 'Julia Rose' (Itoh-Hybride) shows the typical hybit of an adult Itoh hybrid. The flowers are well placed on the spherical plant. The flowers open step by step so the blooming season of the Itoh hybrid is usually longer than the blooming season of the other peonies. Foto: W. Good in the nursery of Roger Anderson

Flower of Paeonia 'Cora Louise' (Itoh hybrid) Foto: Roger Anderson

Paeonia 'Bartzella' (Itoh-Hybride) is today the most wanted and most expensifve peony. The gorgeous bloom are very fragrant and open step by step. Foto: W. Good in the nursery of Roger Anderson

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