Peonies are Carole's favourite perennials. Her collection is ever expanding and photos are missing for some. We hope you enjoy browsing through the list and available photos below.

Bloom Period Key :

E=early season,

E/M = early to mid season, (Paeonia tenuifolia (fern-leaf peony) and most suffriticosa tree peonies)

M= midseason, (Red Charm.)

L= late season, (Gay Paree)

VL= very late (Elsa Saas)

About Fragrance:

Classification of peony fragrance is hard to find in the literature. Usually books simply state whether a peony has a fragrance or not. Fragrances are many: bitter, sweet, medicinal, foul, etc. Fragrance is also very subjective and what may be pleasing to one is objectionable to another. Fragrances come in strong and weak concentrations too. No wonder there is little information on fragrances of each peony variety or other flowers for that matter.

As a general guide, Alan Rogers (Peonies. 1995. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon.) states that "the full double Paeonia lactiflora cultivars, sometimes referred to as Chinese or French peonies, may be counted on to possess in varying degrees a pleasing fragrance, stronger in pinks and whites."

Fragrance of peonies is seldom appreciated in the garden because they are not strongly scented enough to be noticeable in such large masses of air. Flowers taken into the confines of a room in a bouquet may however lend a slight fragrance to the air but nowhere to the level of narcissus flowers. Carole couldn’t smell a peony fragrance no matter its strength – her sense of smell is almost totally lacking. I, on the other hand, have an acute sense of smell - I can smell heat! We both enjoy peonies simply for their form and colour variations.

'Albert Crousse' - light shell pink, very full double. Light fragrance. M/L

'America' - long blooming, brilliant red single with prominent yellow stamenoides. E/M.

'Ama-No-Sode' - large cup-shaped, gold-centered, pink Japanese lactiflora. M

'Angel Cheeks' - soft pink, large bloomed, with double guard petals. Fragrant. M.

'Auguste Dessert' - brilliant rose-pink, with silvered edge, semi-double lactiflora. Abundant blooms per plant. E/M.

'Better Times' - rose double lactiflora M/L

'Bowl of Beauty' - a pink Japanese lactiflora: outer petals fushia rose, pale yellow centre. E/M.

'Bess Bockstoce' - light rose-pink double. Mild fragrance. E.

'Best Man' - deep red, double, lactiflora. Very sturdy stemmed. L

'Buckeye Belle' - Wine red semi-double, dark red fall foliage. E

'Cherry Royale' - Vibrant coral-pink double hybrid. M. Slight fragrance.

'Claire de Lune' -

'Coral Fay' - Bright shocking pink flowers, foliage finely cut, hybrid. Very Early. (no photo)

'Coral 'n Gold' - coral, cup-shaped, single hybrid. E.

Dandy Dan - very dark red double hybrid. E.

Dinner Plate - huge, shell-pink, double hybrid. Slight fragrance. M/L.

'Do Tell' - delicate pink, with deep wine-red and gold centre, japanese lactiflora. E/M.

'Duchesse de Nemours' - Cup-shaped double white lactiflora. M.

'Eliza Lundy' - double deep red bomb, plant compact, mild fragrance. E/M.

'Elsa Saas'- a pure white camellia double lactiflora. L.

'Fairy's Petticoat' - pastel cream and pink, ruffled double, lactiflora. Fragrant. E.

'Fancy Nancy' - cerise pink petals, lacy pink centre tufts, anenome flowered. M.

'Festiva Maxima' - white double with crimson flecks, fragrant. E/M.

'Festiva Supreme' - beautiful white fluffy white, central petals red-tipped. Fragrant. E/M.

'Firebird' - brick red, ruffle-edged double, hybrid. E. (no photo)

'Flame' -

'Gay Paree' - showy 2-toned cerise-pink petals, cream-rose centre Japanese. Smaller but many blooms per plant. M.

'General MacMahon' - a double carmine-red lactiflora. E

'Gilbert Wild' - huge 2-toned double, rose-pink, lactiflora. Fragrant. M.

'Glory Halleluja' - rich pink-red, with silver tips, double lactiflora. Fragrant. L.

'Harriet Olney' - deep rose single lactiflora with yellow centre. E/M.

'Henry Bockstoce' - dark red double, with rosebud shaped centre, on strong stems, E/M

'Immaculee' - white double lactiflora. M. (no photo)

'Jean Cooperman' - crimson red, double. Fragrant. E/M.

'Kansas' - a water mellon red double lactiflora on strong stems. E/M.

'Karen Gray' - red, japanese lactiflora (no photo). M.

'Karl Rosenfeld' - red, japanese lactiflora. Fragrant. M. (no photo)

'Krinkled White' - single white lactiflora. L.

'Kukenu-Jishia' - huge delicate pink, with rose on outer petals, japanese lactiflora. M/L.

'Legion of Honour' -

'Leto' - pure glistening white, with yellow tinged centre, Japanese lactiflora. Exquisite flower form. E/M.

'Milton Jack' - a deep rose double lactiflora. Many blooms. E.

'Mons. Jules Elie' - huge silvery pink double bombs. Fragrant. Great for cut flowers. E.

'Mother's Choice' - large, pure white double lactiflora. Classic shape. E/M.

'Music Man' - red (richer than in photo) double lactiflora. Surdy upright habit. M/L.

'Nellie Shaylor' - deep wine-red, with cream centre, Japanese lactiflora. Flowers exhibit lovely contrast of colours. Surdy stems. L.

'Nymphe' - pink Japanese lactiflora with yellow heart. M.(no photo).

'Opal Hamilton' - pink Japanese lactiflora. M.

'Pecher' - white double, spotted red. E. (no photo).

'Raspberry Sunday' - large blush to cream centre with raspberry pink splashed through the petals. Fragrant. M.

'Red Charm' - rich red double bomb, hybrid. E/M.

'Sam Donaldson' - deep garnet-red (very dark), double lactiflora. L. (no photo)

'Sarah Bernhardt' - apple blossom pink, silver tips & red flecks. Very fragrant. M/L.

'Sea Shell' [APS Gold Winner (1990)] - large, soft, satiny-pink single. Long-blooming and very sturdy stems. Fragrant. L.

'Shirley Temple' - blush double lactiflora. E/M.

'Sorbet'

'Sword Dance' - bright magenta-red Japanese lactiflora with tuft of rose & gold. M. Very showy!

'Top Brass'- double, cream with central pink, yellow & ivory. Fragrant. M.

'Unknow Soldier' - deep red double lactiflora. Fragrant. M.

'White Sands' - a Japanese white lactiflora - has yellow centre. Many blooms per plant. Fragrant. M.

Fern Leaf - single (Paeonia tenuifolia). E.

Fern Leaf - double (Paeonia tenuifolia plena). E.

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