Species peonies seem like “poor relatives” against the background of popular and sought-after herbaceous and tree varieties and hybrids. Wild, hardy, unpretentious and much more modest in flowering, they are often perceived as plants only for a natural style and landscape compositions. But species peonies have prepared many pleasant surprises. These are some of the easiest to grow beautifully flowering plants, with the help of which you can introduce special accents and textures into the garden. And some of the most spectacular long-lasting crops. In this article, we will consider 9 of the most beautiful types of peonies, which will become the pearl of any garden in a natural style.
Peculiarities of species peonies
The category of wild species includes all peonies that have not undergone long-term selection and do not have a complex origin. At the same time, species plants may be more modest in flowering, but they are more resilient. All species peonies without exception differ from herbaceous and tree peonies in a number of parameters that are easily recognized both externally and by use in garden design.
Wild or species peonies:
- can boast of earlier flowering periods;
- compared to their competitors, they are more compact in size;
- They are decorated mainly with simple or semi-double flowers.
- are equally decorative and useful, and sometimes even medicinal plants;
- are the most ancient representatives of the genus Peony introduced into culture;
- are distinguished by lush, cushion-shaped, finely dissected foliage;
- fits perfectly into natural plantings;
- very aromatic;
- bear fruit in an original way;
- abundantly flowering, producing dozens and even hundreds of flowers;
- grow almost on their own, without requiring complex care.
Species peonies include all original forms, the characteristics of which have not changed for thousands of years. The “progenitors” of garden favorites include dozens of species, but today less than ten basic varieties of peonies are grown as valuable ornamental plants.
1. Peony officinalis
Peony officinalis (Paeonia officinalis) is one of the oldest medicinal and ornamental species introduced into culture, the “ancestor” of all large-flowered double herbaceous peonies. Narrow leaf lobes that create dense low cushions and dazzling, silky flowers with a very lush center of golden stamens do not seem boring at all due to the lack of doubleness.
This peony has a number of decorative forms that are much more popular than the base plant:
- ‘Rosea plena’ with pink flowers,
- “Alba Plena” – with snow-white,
- “Ruba plena” with cherry,
- white form of ‘Alba mutabilis’.
2. Peony tenuifolia
Peony tenuifolia, also known to us as Crow (Paeonia tenuifolia), this species was also included in the previously considered separately peony intermediate (Paeonia hybrida) is a steppe European species of peonies, striking in their endurance. It creates cushion-shaped, dense and translucent at the same time lacy bushes from graceful dissected foliage with almost thread-like lobes.
The rich medium green color only emphasizes the beauty of the green lace. This peony is limited to 50 cm in height. Small, but very beautiful, up to 8 cm in diameter, raspberry flowers bloom at the tops of the shoots. In addition to the basic variety, a double form is also popular.
3. Foreign peony
Peony foreign (Paeonia peregrina) – the best of the forest peony species. Leathery, finely dissected, emerald-bright, glowing thanks to a light silvery coating leaves create elegant dense cushions up to half a meter high. Against their background, large, bright pink flowers, up to 10 cm in diameter, seem dazzling, although their full beauty is sometimes difficult to appreciate due to the drooping shape.
4. Peony evading
Peony evading, known to us under the name Maryin root (Paeonia anomala) – a forest type of peony, captivating with the beauty of both spring and autumn foliage, changing color to shades of red with the arrival of the first cold weather. The bushes are strong and powerful, spreading, bouquet-like, up to 120 cm high. The rhizome is very powerful, as are the shoots.
The leaves are typical, with lanceolate lobes and a dark, rich shade of color. Up to three dozen flowers with a diameter of at least 10 cm bloom on one plant, and the shades of scarlet seem dazzling against the satin texture of the petals. There are only up to 5 petals in one flower, but they look very beautiful.
5. Crimean peony
Crimean peony (Paeonia daurica) is a charming plant with modestly drooping flowers and bright greenery, creating low but very dense bushes. Within the species, two decorative forms with yellow flowers are still distinguished. These were previously known as Mlokosevich’s peony (Paeonia daurica subsp. mlokosewitschii) and Wittmann’s peony (Paeonia wittmanniana, subsp. Macrophylla).
Yellow-flowered peonies that inspired several generations of scientists to search for yellow shades in herbaceous peonies. Compact bushes, densely located twice-trifoliate leaves with an unusual shade of green, height almost up to 1 m and large, up to 10 cm, with a pale yellow-oily tone or a brighter lemon color of flowers.
6. Paeonia lactiflora
Peony milky-flowered (Paeonia lactiflora, also known as Chinese peony) is a large-flowered species peony, stable, beautiful, bright. The bare strong shoots and large, complex leaves of the plant are well known to all fans of herbaceous peonies. The height of the plants varies depending on the growing conditions from half a meter to a meter.
On strong shoots, these peonies open three flowers up to 20 cm in diameter. The flowers consist of only 6-8 petals, emphasizing the beauty of the golden stamens. Delicate fawn milky or pale pearl-pink shades of color have become the hallmark of all light-colored peonies. The flowering period of milky-flowered peonies covers the end of May-June. Decorative forms and several varieties differ in color tone.
7. Mountain peony
Mountain peony (Paeonia oreogeton) – a forest species about 75 cm high with long-petiolate, graceful, lanceolate-oval leaves with beautiful pubescence on the underside. Pale yellowish-cream silk flowers bloom at the end of May and seem like an amazing work of a craftswoman because of their mother-of-pearl sheen.
8. Peony obovate
Peony obovate (Paeonia obovata) — this species included the previously separately considered legendary Japanese peony (Paeonia japonica) is a forest peony from 60 to 90 cm high with very strong shoots and single flowers. Typical twice-triple leaves surprise with their oval shape of lobes. In May, the plant produces one small, candy-pink flower on each shoot.
This is a peony that loves to settle near rivers with beautiful, broadly oval leaf lobes with a fairly bright color. Very beautiful, not fully opening white or soft pink flowers reach 10 cm in diameter. The plant manages to reveal all its picturesqueness when blooming in late spring.
9. Male peony
Male peony (Paeonia mascula, synonym – peony kavakh (Paeonia kavachensis) is a beautiful plant with lanceolate leaf lobes and bright, rich pink petals of delicate and large flowers up to 14 cm in diameter with ovoid, few petals. Stems are strong, up to 90 cm in height, light and bare. Twice-ternate, with pointed lobes, with a dark color on the upper side and a yellowish tint on the lower side, the leaves are no less beautiful than the May bloom.
Dear readers! Species peonies are most often considered landscape style plants, appropriate only where the natural beauty of wild nature is imitated. But their neat bushes are not just appropriate, but are able to bring new elegant accents to the design of both regular gardens and modern projects. Try planting them in your garden and you will certainly not be disappointed.
