Any Peony experts out there?

Last post 16-06-2012 11:20 PM by Anonymous. 5 replies.

• 15/06/2012 01:15 PM

  miranda Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 4,072

  Reply | Contact I'm trying to identify a Peony in a client's garden and am struggling. I'd really appreciate it someone could help me name this plant, please.  It is in full flower now - 15th June. The plant has been in place for 30 years or more, so it isn't a new variety. It grows in a clump, stands about 1m tall and the foliage is mid-green with small tinges of reddish-brown on the stems and leaf edges. As the flowers open, the centres rise to form a dome. The scent is sweet, but hard to describe, and is reminiscent of lemons, roses and Philadelphus blossom. The closest I've come is P. 'Noemi Demay' or P. 'Sorbet' but it would be good to be sure.  Thanks!   http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5322/7189294767_5a90959635.jpg   http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7099/7374528698_2f7412616b.jpg     http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5197/7374528190_38613bcf6c.jpg

• 15/06/2012 01:43 PM

  In reply to

  Silver surfer Location: South Wales. U.K. Joined on: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 1,396

  Reply | Contact Paeonia Noemi Demay is certainly old enough...  dates from 1867! Also very fragrant. Height correct as well. Paeonia lactiflora Sorbet seems to be more yellow than your pic shows. Slight fragrance. Height fine. Sorry Miranda that I cannot add anything more helpful! http://www.kelways.co.uk/products/peonies/herbaceous_peonies/noemi_demay/456/ . http://www.hiddenspringsflowerfarm.com/peony-noemie-demay.html . http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1536&bih=776&tbm=isch&tbnid=I_KAjHkU0DoLUM:&imgrefurl=http://beautifulgardens.shootgardening.co.uk/sitePlant.php%3Fplantid%3D6439%26name%3Dpaeonia-lactiflora-sorbet&docid=GS23ohFb9hRIwM&imgurl=http://beautifulgardens.shootgardening.co.uk/uploaded/images/plants/plant_6439/plant_paeonia_lactiflora___sorbet___1_43.jpg&w=180&h=180&ei=IS_bT821FMyP8gOd0NG8Cw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=177&vpy=171&dur=2781&hovh=144&hovw=144&tx=128&ty=80&sig=105050878957448920657&page=1&tbnh=130&tbnw=131&start=0&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:72

• 15/06/2012 02:14 PM

  In reply to

  miranda Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 4,072

  Reply | Contact Thank you for the reply, Silver surfer! Seems we've been looking at the same sites. I've gone through just about all the pages on those first two links. I'm now thinking it's more likely to be  P. 'Noemi Demay' than P. 'Sorbet' as Sorbet's middle tier doesn't look right compared to the plant I've been looking at. Sorbet is also relatively new. Noemi Demay's fragrance is quite something and I haven't come across anything quite like it before.  Not a positive ID yet, but getting closer!

• 15/06/2012 05:01 PM	In reply to
  @courtyardgarden Location: London Joined on: 20 Sep 2011 Posts: 37	Reply | Contact I don't know what it is but I quite want one!! @courtyardgarden http://www.thecourtyardgardener.com

• 15/06/2012 05:52 PM	In reply to
  miranda Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 4,072	Reply | Contact I want one too :) Another name has been suggested, by the plant's owner: 'Philomele'. Looking at pictures, some of them look like it and some don't, but plants are like that.

• 16/06/2012 11:20 PM	In reply to
  Location: Joined on: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 2,376	Reply | Contact Miranda. I have never had much success with this genus.  However I do know that, 'Paeonia officinalis 'Rosa-plena' was quite popular 30-40yrs ago.  Sorry thats the best I can do.  Mike.