Wandering (peregrinating ?) peonies

James Waddick jwaddick@kc.rr.com
Wed, 14 May 2008 10:13:47 PDT
Dear Jane and all,
	The ability of some peonies to develop new plants from 
adventitious roots was a secret long protected by some growers. 
'Coral Charm' and most of the other corals have this ability to some 
degree.
	I think  this trait comes from P. peregrina a bright red 
species from Italy east to the Balkans and Turkey. This species is 
one of the easiest and best of the wild peonies for home gardens. 
Also easy from seed.  The flowers in a range of clear bright 
red/scarlet never open fully, but form a brilliant bowl or cup. I 
think the species name suggests the 'wandering 'quality of its roots 
and the ability to pop up here and there.
	The bright pink variety 'Ludovica' is another notorious 
adventitious peregrina kin.

	P. mascula  and P. tenuifolia also have this ability and 
perhaps others. Certain woody peonies also produce active stolons to 
form  bushy multi stemmed ground covers. I have a plant of P. mascula 
that covers almost a yard across from adventitious or stoloniferous 
new growths.

	The adventitious nature of some herbaceous peonies like 
'Coral Charm' is a boon for propagators, but some gardeners hate it 
when a plant is dug out and returns the next year from scraps left 
behind.

	Wish I had a source for clusii too.

		Best		Jim W.


-- 
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph.    816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
	Summer 100F +


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