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].
Horticultural & Botanical History
Don describes the flowers of P. albiflora var. fragrans as being double, rose-coloured, although the figure in the Botanical Register shows flowers almost deep crimson in colour: ‘Of the double varieties of Paeonia albiflora, this was the first introduced into this country; it has been cultivated [at Kew] from 1805, but did not become general in the London nurseries for some years afterwards, and is still the least common of all.’ [BR f.485/1820].
‘The flowers of the Paeonia albiflora are fragrant, especially in the evening; the roots are said to be eaten in soups in Siberia. Several varieties of this species are cultivated in the gardens, differing from one another in the size of the flowers and number, form, and colour of the petals; some being flesh-coloured, some pure white, some jagged at the margin, and some quite entire’ [BM t.1756/1815]. Paeonia edulis is figured at BM t.1768/1815 and Paeonia albiflora rosea at BM t.2888/1829.
History at Camden Park
Listed in all published catalogues [B.390/1843].
Notes
Published Jan 29, 2010 - 01:17 PM | Last updated Jan 29, 2010 - 01:23 PM
Paeonia lactiflora Pall. var. fragrans | BM t.2888/1829 as Paeonia albiflora rosea | BHL
| Family | Paeoniaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | North and east Asia |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | |
| Name in the Camden Park Record |
Paeonia fragrans |
| Confidence level | high |