Paeonia, unknown yellow hybrid tree peony
Paeonia, unknown yellow hybrid tree peony

Cricket Hill Garden

Paeonia, unknown yellow hybrid tree peony

$ 90

Notable characteristics: This plants came to us as 'High Best.' There is no cultivar registered under this name with the American Peony Society. We received the scion wood from hybridizer Franklin Chow, who in turn got his plant from Canadian tree peony collector Ken Clare in the early 2000s. Ken was an avid collector and imported many tree peonies from Europe and Japan in the 1990s and early 2000s. 

It was one of Mr. Chow's favorite lutea tree peonies and he used it as a parent for his spectacular introduction 'Dezhong.'

This plant looks like many of the Saunders' F1 lutea hybrids. It has bronzed foliage in early spring and the flower form is similar to 'Age of Gold' and 'Harvest.' However, we have compared the blossoms to that of both of these cultivars and they do not match. We have also shared plants and images with other peony experts but have yet to come to a definitive ID for this plant. Despite the lack of a proper name, this plant still makes a worthy garden specimen and has proven to be a good choice for those interested in woody peony breeding.

Cultivar group, hybridizer and year introduced: P. lutea hybrid, hybridizer unknown.

Growth habit and size at maturity (10 years old): To 3' tall and 3' wide (guess). 

Flower form and size: Semi-double to full double blossoms, 5-6". Flowers held above the foliage. 

Flower fragrance: Sweet, lemon scent. 

Bloom time: Late Mid-season hybrid tree peony, blooms in our USDA zone 6a garden in the last week of May and first week of June. 

Zone hardiness:USDA zones 5-9. 

Plant size: 1 year old grafted tree peonies have 1 woody stem, with offshoot buds, and a graft root. The plant may or may not have some of its own roots already developed. This one may bloom its first spring in the ground, or will wait until the second spring.

When we ship: FALL 2025  

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