Herbaceous Plants
A division of the Camden Park catalogues that is poorly defined. Annuals and perennial herbs were included here. This is retained but Annuals are also separately identified.
Oenothera tetraptera Cav.
Frost tender perennial with branching stems and lance-shaped, somewhat pinnatifid leaves, to 9cm, and white flowers, ageing to red, in summer and autumn. To 30cm. [RHSD, Hortus].
Paeonia fimbriata Hort.Angl. ex Sabine
Probably the same plant as ‘Paeonia paradoxa fimbriata’ of the catalogues. See Paeonia officinalis L. ssp. villosa (Huth.) Cullen & Heyw. for details.
Paeonia lactiflora Pall. var. fragrans
Fully-hardy herbaceous perennial with erect stems and dark green leaves and, in summer, usually solitary, double, cup- or bowl-shaped, fragrant, rose-coloured flowers. To 70cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Paeonia lactiflora Pall. var. humei
See Paeonia lactiflora Pall. var. fragrans. ‘This group [Paeonia albiflora] is distinct in habit and colour, ranging from two to three feet in height, more erect and stately in growth, darker green in foliage, and terminating in blossoms varying from clear white to roseate purple and rich crimson. The varieties are well adapted for the summer decoration of select flower-gardens, and for the middle foreground of arboretums and shrubberies.’ It describes Paeonia albiflora Humei as ‘generally from two to three feet in height, occasionally larger, rough-surfaced leaves and scentless, rose-coloured flowers, from six to nine inches in diameter.’ [Gard. Chron. 1854]. There is also a paler-flowered variety called P. Humei alba, with blush-coloured flowers. [Gard. Chron. 1856].
Paeonia lactiflora Pall. var. rubescens
See Paeonia lactiflora Pall. var. fragrans for a description of the species. Paeonia albiflora rubescens is described as a form with pink flowers in Paxton’s Dictionary, although it may be synonymous with P. albiflora var. rubra, with ‘very double, dark purple flowers. This is the variety most common in gardens.’ [Clericus in FC p.47/1842].
Paeonia lactiflora Pall. var. whitleyii
Similar to Paeonia lactiflora Pall. var. fragrans, which see. Whitleyii has large, cup-shaped, single or double ivory-white flowers with yellow stamens. [RHSE, Hortus]. Don describes the flowers as being pale blush in colour, the outside petals being reddish, the inside ones a pale straw-colour, the whole becoming nearly white before they drop off, emitting a scent somewhat like that of elder flowers.
Paeonia major [Macarthur]
An unidentified plant, I have found no species, hybrid or cultivar listed under this name. Probably a form of one of the commoner species already described.
Paeonia officinalis L.
Fully-hardy herbaceous perennial with erect stems, deeply cut leaves and single, cup-shaped, shiny, deep red or rose-pink flowers in summer. To 70cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Paeonia officinalis L. subsp. humilis (Retz.) Cullen & Heyw.
Fully-hardy herbaceous perennial with hairy stems and leaf stalks and single, cup- or bowl-shaped purple-red flowers in spring or summer. To 80cm. [RHSE, Hortus, Don].
Paeonia officinalis L. subsp. villosa (Huth.) Cullen & Heyw.
See Paeonia officinalis L. for a description of the species. Villosa is more pubescent than the type.
Paeonia officinalis L. var. albicans
See Paeonia officinalis L. for description of the species. Paeonia officinalis albicans is listed as a white-flowered form by Johnson’s Dictionary.
Paeonia officinalis L. var. elegans
For a description of the species see Paeonia officinalis L.. The variety elegans has yellowish white flowers. [Gard. Chron. 1856].
Paeonia officinalis L. var. L. var. Sabini
See Paeonia officinalis L. for a description of the species. Sabini has single, very dark purple flowers. [PD].
Paeonia officinalis L. var. simplicifolia
See Paeonia officinalis L. for a description of the species. Paeonia paradoxa var. simplicifolia is described in Paxton’s Magazine of Botany as ‘a flower of eight petals, of little interest.’ [MB p.138/1836].
Paeonia peregrina Mill.
A fully-hardy herbaceous perennial with erect stems, deeply cut leaves and single, bowl-shaped, glistening, deep red flowers in spring and summer. To 60cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
