Paeonia suffruticosa Andr. var. rosea

Horticultural & Botanical History

Probably synonymous with Paeonia moutan rosea semiplena: ‘The first plant of this variety is said to have been introduced by the late Right Hon. Charles Greville about the year 1794, and it blossomed subsequently in his garden at Paddington.  The flowers are semi-double, cupped, not opening very widely; if fully open, they would have an expansion of from six to eight inches; the petals are large, of a fine deep pink, very slightly darker at their base, but not strikingly so, as in the other varieties.’  [Clericus in FC p.45.1842]. 

‘In Messrs. Sabine and Anderson’s valuable Monograph of the Genus Paeonia, in the Transactions of the Linnaean Society, this plant is related to have been introduced from China, by Mr. Greville, in 1794.  We first obtained ours from Mr. Hibbert.  It partakes in an eminent degree of the magnificence appertaining to the whole of this important genus: the flowers are fragrant, and seem to be more or less double in proportion to the vigour of the plant: they are produced in May and June.  We find this rather more tender than the other kinds.  [LBC no.1035/1825].

History at Camden Park

Desideratum to Loddiges’ Nursery, 6th January 1845 [MP A2933-2, p.28] and to James Backhouse, 1st February 1849 [MP A2933-1, p.183].  Macarthur records receiving four ‘Moutans, said to be various’, among a number of plants received from Captain Simpson in late 1849 or early 1850, apparently on the same ship as those accompanying Captain P. P. King.  The source is unclear.  [ML A1980-3].  This plant may be amongst these.

Notes