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| Cultivar Trials |
Currently, we are growing 110 species and cultivars of peonies at the GBG. They include species, intersectional (ITOH) hybrids and herbaceous (Lactiflora) peonies suitable for gardens, landscapes and cut flowers. Tree peonies are not hardy in Fairbanks. Scroll through the list below to see our current evaluations and recommendations for each cultivar. All photos are from the GBG. Flowering dates are summarized in the phenology section. We thank Planteck Biotechnologies and Oregon Perennials for donating plants for our trials. We are working on data entry here, so be patient!
*Starred cultivars are not in the GBG trials, but are grown somewhere in the state. Comments by growers are included in brackets with APGA source. |
| Cultivar |
Bloom |
Year planted, (source), classfication, color and notes |
| P. anomala |
|
1990, (heirloom from Fairbanks garden), single; Blooms very early. Excellent hardy garden flower for early to mid June bloom season. One of the first garden flowers to bloom in Fairbanks. Outstanding foliage display all summer and ornamental seed pods in autumn. |
| Adolphe Rousseau |
|
2005, (Wild) {APGA- some losses experienced in Fairbanks, good performer in other areas} |
| Alba Plena* |
|
white, {APGA- unappealing bloom, very short stems, not good cut flower} |
| Ann Cousins |
 |
2002, (Wild), double white; poor growth, possible herbicide (glyphosate) damage when sprayed very early before buds were visible |
| Avalanche |
|
2011, (Klehm's), double white, {APGA- strong performer} |
| Baroness Schroeder* |
|
(APGA-disappointing} |
| Bartzella |
 |
2009, (Planteck), semi-double, intersectional yellow |
| Best Man |
 |
2006, (Klehm's), deep double red, poor groath |
| Better Times |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), double; dead |
| Bowl of Beauty |
|
2001, 2009 (Wild), pink Japanese; dead |
| Bowl of Cream |
|
2001, 2009, (Klehm's), double {APGA-best priced white, susceptible to botrytis} |
| Brand's Magnificent |
|
2009, (Wild) |
| Bridal Icing |
 |
2006, (Klehm's), bomb, white guard petals and cream bomb petals; gummy flower buds, has side buds {APGA-great cut flower performer} |
| Bride's Dream* |
|
double, white with some pink in cool weather,{APGA- a favorite at the APGA conference} |
| Buckeye Belle* |
|
red, double {APGA- hige blooms, took many years to produce flowers} |
| Carol |
|
2009, (Wild), double |
| Charlie's White |
|
2006, (Caprice), semi double white bomb {APGA- blooms abundantly soon after planting} |
| Cheddar Gold |
 |
2006, (Klehm's), white guard petals, gold center, semi double |
| Claudia |
|
2011, (OR Perennials), |
| Cora Louise |
|
2008, (Planteck), single to semi-double, intersectional |
| Coral Charm |
 |
2006, (Klehm's), coral peach semi-double {APGA-excellent, very large blossoms & strong stems, do not disbud] |
| Coral Supreme |
 |
2006, (Klehm's), salmon coral semi-double |
| Corinne Wersen |
|
2011, (OR Perennials), |
| Couronne d' Or |
 |
2005, (Wild), white, red flecks double: has side buds, crooked stems |
| David Harum |
|
2001, 2009, (WIld), deep rose bomb |
| Doris Cooper |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), white double |
| Double Red |
|
2011, (Klehm's), double |
| Double White |
|
2011, (Klehm's), double |
| Dr. Alexander Fleming |
 |
2001, 2009, (NW Bulb), pink double {APGA- scented, stores well} |
| Duchess de Nemours |
 |
2001, 2009, (NW Bulb), white, blush pink double, not the clear white as advertised in the 'lower 48' in Fairbanks; some years flowers are more pink than blush. Excellent cut flower but opens fast. Need to harvest more than twice a day to catch every one. Stems shorter than most. {APGA-dependable, hold up well, fragrant, prolific bloomer, shorter stems than some other cultivars} |
| Duchess de Orleans |
|
2001. 2009, (Wild), pink double |
| Early Scout |
 |
|
| Edulis Superba |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), rose bomb double {APGA-favorite peony of willow gardener, Les Brake, good, young performer, fragrant, easily damaged by late spring frost} |
| Elsa Sass* |
|
(APGA- strong shorter stems, open bud style harvest peony. August, September, 2011 was super rainy . Buds held water and rot at the stem, need rain protection, never saw true bloom. Disappointing. A difficult cultivar. Pick softer than others. Opening problem, marks when squeezed} |
| Eskimo Pie |
 |
2009, (Klehm'), double white with pink "stripes" on outer guard petals. Stems are too short for best cut flowers |
| Fairbanks |
 |
2001, (Wild), white guard, yellow centers, single. Has side buds. Huge blooms. Excellent garden flower. Tall stems. Not for commercial cutting |
| Felix Crouse |
|
2001, 2009, (NW Bulb), rose double {APGA-many blossoms even when young, needs support, very popular with brides, ships well and holds well, very long stems. Showed bruising from wind in 2011, Good, reliable producer for several years} |
| Felix Supreme |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), deep rose bomb (APGA-needs support, good producer} |
| Fernleaf Peony |
 |
Paeonia tenuifolia, 2000, (Klehm's), red; very early bloom time in June; not a cut flower. Finely dissected foliage with small deep red buds. Excellent hardy garden flower |
| Festiva Maxima |
|
2001, 2009, 2011, (Wild), white, red flecks, double {APGA-old time reliable, Good performer, good production and does well in our soils, winters over well, strong stems-Fbks. Wish I had a field of Festiva! Incredible blooms, cream-ivory when young, then goes white. They seem to ship just fine. } |
| Festiva Powder Puff |
|
2011, (Klehm's), double {APGA-large flat shaped white blooms with yellow stamens, great performer} |
| Florence Bond |
|
2009, (Wild), white double; dead |
| Fragrant Pink Improved |
 |
2009, (Klehm's), pink double, has side buds |
| Francis Ortega |
|
2005, (Wild), burgundy double, small flowers |
| G.F. Hemerick |
 |
2006, (Wild), medium pink Japanese, cream bomb petals |
| Gardenia* |
|
white, double {APGA- very large blooms, significant losses from winter injury in Fairbanks} |
| Gay Paree |
|
2001, 2009, 2012, (OR Perennials), rose Japanese |
| George W. Payton |
|
2005, (Wild), pale pink double, has side buds |
| Glory Halleluja |
 |
2006, (Klehm's), blend of red, cherry red and pink double (APGA- performs well, not the most prolific producer but gorgeous} |
| Going Bananas |
 |
2009, (Planteck), yellow single, intersectional |
| Grover Clevaland* |
|
{APGA- newly planted, growing well} |
| Heidi |
|
2012, (OR Perrenials) |
| Helen Hayes |
|
2012, (Klehm's) |
| Henry Bockstoce |
|
2012, (OR Perennials), double { APGA-needs support, delicate petals are easily damaged by weather, insects, disease, and fungi. Can lose up to 50% of blossoms. Do not disbud. Huge red blooms} |
| Hermoine |
 |
2006, (Adelman), pastel pimk double; crooked stems, disbud |
| Irwin Altman |
 |
2006, (Caprice), rose double; has side buds |
| Jaycee |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), rose double; dead |
| Joker |
|
2012, (OR Perennials), double |
| Julia Rose |
 |
2009, (Planteck), deep pink single to semi-double, intersectional |
| Kansas |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild) deep rose double; died out at GBG site {works well at other Fairbanks sites, nice color} |
| Karl Rosenfield |
|
2001, 2009, (WIld), red double; died out at GBG (APGA-lots of blooms, flower quality not the best} |
| Katheryn Fonteyn |
|
2002, (Wild), pale pink double; stubby flowers |
| La Lorraine |
 |
2006, (Klehm's) creamy white tinted with pink, double; has side buds {APGA-growing well, needs deadheading} |
| Lady Alexandra Duff |
 |
2006, (Wild), semi-double pink |
| Lady Kate |
 |
2001, (Wild), pink double |
| Largo |
 |
2001, (Adelman), dark rose guard, yellow centers, single Japanese; has side buds |
| Leslie Peck |
|
2012, (OR Perennials), Japanese |
| Lilian Wild |
 |
2005, (Wild), white double |
| Lottie Dawson Rea |
 |
2003, (Wild), pale pink double |
| Louis van Houtte |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), rose double; dead |
| Lowell Thomas |
|
2012, (OR Perennials), semi-double to double |
| Magical Mystery Tour |
|
2009, (Planteck), Intersectional |
| Marie Lemoine* |
|
(APGA- voted first place in peony competition APGA 2011} |
| Marietta Sisson |
 |
2006, (Klehm's), medium pink double, 12: crooked stems, has side buds |
| Mary Brand |
 |
2005, (Wild), red double, has side buds, gummy buds |
| Mary Jo Legare |
|
2012, (OR Perennials), bomb |
| Mighty Mo |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), deep rose double |
| Minuet |
|
2005, (Wild), pale pink double |
| Miss America* |
|
single, white, closter of yellow stamens (APGA- very large blooms, amazing, vigorous, long flowering} |
| Madame de Verneville |
 |
2001, 2009, (Adelman), white, red flecks, double |
| Madame Emile Debantent |
 |
2007, (Caprice), pink double, has side buds |
| Monsieur Jules Elie |
|
2009, (Wild), rose bomb (APGA-large blossoms, long stems, needs wind protection. Huge blossoms with long stems that people ask for, but keeping them upright and straight is a challenge} |
| Mons. Martin Cahazac |
 |
2006, (Wild), red double, has side buds |
| Moon of Nippon |
 |
2007, (Caprice), white, Japanese |
| Mother's Choice* |
|
(APGA- supposed to be white double but is a gorgeous antique soft pink} |
| Mrs. FDR |
|
2009, (Adelman), pale pink double; dead |
| Nick Shaylor |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), double pale pink; many crooked stems, has side buds |
| Nippon Beauty |
 |
2005, (Adelman), burgundy, Japanese |
| Nora Volz* |
|
white, double (APGA-supposed to be white, but like so many whites in the rainy summer of 2011, were fringed with light pink, bud tops were crinkled on the one year plants} |
| Orlando Roberts |
 |
2006, (Klehm's), black-red semi double |
| Paul M. Wild |
 |
2005, (Wild), cherry red double |
| Paula Fay |
 |
2006, (WIld), dark rose pink semi-double (APGA-many gorgeous fluorescent pink blossoms with short stems first year. It doesn’t ship well. Lovely and packed with buds, but I still think there is a market for that big satin pink flower} |
| Pink Hawaiian Coral |
 |
2006, (Adelman), coral with yellow stamens, semi-double |
| Pink Parfait |
|
2009, (Adelman), pink double; dead |
| President Roosevelt |
|
2002, (WIld), medium red, double. 3-yr plants in Homer are medium red that get burgundy/purple stained petals as they age. They aren't heavy yielders but are reliable and have a nice bud. |
| President Taft |
|
2012, (Klehm's), double pink (APGA- young, strong perfomer} |
| Princess Bride |
|
2009, (Wild), pimk bomb |
| Princess Juliana |
 |
2009, (Peony Nursery Panevezys, Lithuania), pink double |
| Raspberry Sundae |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), bomb died out at GBG {APGA-huge, mostly pink, dbl blossoms on mature plants were very large and beautiful. They respond well to bone meal} |
| Red Charm |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), deep red, bomb. Short stems, gorgeous bloom color; great garden plant and cut flower even with short stems {APGA-very large blossoms, tall strong stems need support, expensive roots. Do not disbud. Good, reliable performer. One of the “favorites” at August, 2011 APGA Conference}. |
| Ruth Cobbs |
 |
2005, (Wild), medium pink double; has side buds |
| Sadie Fisher's Peony |
|
2010, (Heirloom from Illinois garden),white double |
| Sarah Bernhardt |
 |
2001, 2009, (Wild), pink double. Very productive, large blooms, vigorous plants, one of the top recommended pinks for cut flower production {APGA-old time favorite, dependable, some losses when snow cover is not sufficient, stores well, good season extender, very susceptible to fungal attack on Kenai P.} |
| Serebrenyi Velvet |
 |
2009, (Wild), medium pink double |
| Shawnee Chief |
|
2009, (Wild), deep rose double; died out at GBG. {APGA-grew well, late} |
| Shirley Temple |
 |
2005, (WIld), white double, small blooms, many misshapen stems and gummy buds, cannot recommend as cut flower {APGA-slow starters taking several years before they produced, but are not strong producers-Fbks. Disappointing. Does not grow well} |
| Singing in the Rain |
 |
2009, (Planteck), Intersectional |
| Sitka |
|
200, (Wild), single white |
| Smith Family Yellow |
|
2009, (Planteck), yellow single Intersectional |
| Solange |
 |
2005, (WIld), white double; disbud, susceptable to Botrytis, gummy buds |
| Sorbet |
|
2002 pink died out at GBG (layer cake blossoms, intriguing, attention-getting blooms, prolific, stems need support} |
| Therese |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), pale pink double |
| Victorian Blush |
 |
2009, 2011, (Klehm's), white blushed with pink, short |
| Victorie a la Marne* |
|
{APGA-marginal performer, few buds even after 3 years in Fbks} |
| Vivid Rose |
 |
2001, 2009, (Klehm's), rose double |
| Westerner |
|
2001, 2009, (Wild), pink Japanese; dead |
| White Sands |
 |
2007, (Adelman), white Japanese |
| Yankee Doodle Dandy |
 |
2009, (Planteck), pink intersectional |
Sources: OR Perennials = Oregon Perennials, Woodburn, OR; Adelman= Adelman Peony Gardens, Salem, OR; Wild= Gilbert Wild & Sons, Sarcoxie, MO (no longer ships to AK); Klehm= Klehm's Song Sparrow Nursery, Avalon, WI; Planteck, l’Assomption, Quebec, Canada; Caprice = Caprice Farm Nursery, Sherwood, Oregon; NW Bulb = Northwest Bulb & Perennials, Estacada, OR, |
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