Hybrid Peonies

Hybrid Peonies. . , This collection contains cultivars from some of the most important peony breeders., In the late 18th century, cultivars of the herbaceous peony Paeonia lactiflora were introduced to Europe from China, where they had been developed for centuries as one of the most important ornamental flowers. Ornamental herbaceous peonies came to the United States with early settlers, and by the early 20th century peonies had become enormously popular garden plants and cut flowers. Most of the disease-resistant perennials grown in gardens today are the result of work by generations of devoted hybridizers. These long-lived plants are easy to grow and can survive for generations, plants that are more than 100 years old can be found in cultivation today., Lemoine Nursery (1849-1965) , The Lemoines, an influential French family of plantsmen, are recognized for their innovative work with lilacs and peonies. In 1906 Pierre Louis Victor Lemoine (1832-1911) introduced the most commercially successful herbaceous peony in history, 'Sarah Bernhardt', which can be found growing here., Dr. Arthur Saunders (1869-1953) , Dr. Arthur Saunders became one of the most important American peony hybridizers. He was known for his methodical work and meticulous record keeping. A member of the Garden's Board of Managers from 1939 to 1946, he introduced more than 150 cultivars to the trade, with the goal of extending bloom time., Samuel Wissing (1899-1970) , Samuel Wissing's 30 years of experimentation with peonies in Lombard, Illinois, yielded the first coral-flowering peony. That cultivar, 'Coral Charm', can be found growing here. It was followed by 'Coral Supreme' and 'Coral Sunset'., Roy Klehm (b. 1942) , Roy Klehm comes from a family of distinguished American peony breeders. He has introduced dozens of cultivars in a variety of colors and forms. His father, Carl Klehm, introduced the Estate series, the first peonies to receive U.S. patents, and his grandfather, Charles Klehm was one of the founders of the American Peony Society.