Paeonia lactiflora 'what'????

[ideasguy]

I got this plant as a cutting. It took years to flower, and it turned out to be a beauty.
Ita a Paeonia lactiflora, but what variety?
I thought it might be  'Sarah Bernhardt', but the photos Ive seen of that variety doesnt have the inner white layer.
Having said that, next year, the flowers didnt exhibit that white layer. They were more full and plain pink, like Sarah?.

Any ideas folk?

[greenfinger]

in descriptions of Sarah Bernhardt one reads that the heart is deeper of colour than the rest of the flower. Are there petals in the middle of it with the stamens around them? In that case it could be P. 'Kelway's Fairy Queen' I think with humble reserve.

[ideasguy]

Thanks Harry
Not sure about the petals in the middle with stamens around... I'll see if I have any more pics and report back.
RE: Stamens... Page here for parts of a flower for anyone interested:
http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/ecotree/flowers/flowerparts1.htm

Ive done a search on Kelways Fairy Queen, but couldnt find a decent photo. Can you find any pics?

When you search with a cultivar name you usually find the very best sites on the net.
Thats what happened once again. I found this German site:
http://www.paeo.de/
Heres the page on that site for Kelways Fairy Queen
http://www.paeo.de/navigation/name_ko.html

Described as:
Semi-Double pink showing golden anthers

Now, unfortunately he's just given a side view, so impossible to make a comparison. No mention of the whitish petals.

However, scroll up that page and look at Kelways Daystar.
Described as:
Broad deep rose pink outer petals. The central crown is formed by white petals shaded rose pink towards the centre. Scented and vigorous. Mid to late flowering

I should have said previously, it DOES have a delicate fragrance. All in all, pretty close!

For our Book reading friends:
http://www.deutsches-fachbuch.de/reinschauen/49/3800166399.htm

Looks like Paeonia are very popular in Germany!

 

[greenfinger]

Son, I've just asked the nearest nurse to recall me my name and she confirms it definitely is André.
That german website is an interesting one.
I happened to borrow in the library yesterday a book about peonies: the translation of "The gardener's guide to growing Peonies." Devon, David and Charles Publishers, Devon, 1997.

Thanks Harry
Ive done a search on Kelways Fairy Queen, but couldnt find a decent photo. Can you find any pics?

http://www.paeo.de/

Described as:
Semi-Double pink showing golden anthers

Now, unfortunately he's just given a side view, so impossible to make a comparison. No mention of the whitish petals.

However, scroll up that page and look at Kelways Daystar.
Described as:
Broad deep rose pink outer petals. The central crown is formed by white petals shaded rose pink towards the centre. Scented and vigorous. Mid to late flowering

I should have said previously, it DOES have a delicate fragrance. All in all, pretty close!

Looks like Paeonia are very popular in Germany!

 

[ideasguy]

And, one of many greenfingers, learned fellow in chief of the fellowship... did that book have anything like my beautiful specimen?

(P.S. Stop annoying that poor nurse!)

Wiz

[Kew]

I'd certainly trust the nurse before the doctor...but, have you wise people had a look at 'Shirley Temple'?

[ideasguy]

Shirley Temple?

Google images brought me here:
http://www.talmanlehtopuutarha.fi/perenna.htm
The image looked good (pink), but I cant find a link to the image on the page it took me to!
Ive tagged it to have a look at the site later! (gotta stick to the job in hand!!)

Its WHITE here:
http://www.pendernursery.com/Catalog/Detail/paeoniashirleytemple.html

and here:
http://www.paionia.com/peonies/shop/info/shirleytemple.htm

Pinkish here:
http://www.plantago.nl/plantindex/index.htm?./p/Paeonia/Paeonia_15.htm=3

Pink fading to white here (getting closer)
http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/browseproducts/Peony-Shirley-Temple.HTML
 
Some sites say it pink (like mine) fading to white.
Any photos Ken?
Can you find any images on the net?

[Kew]

Quote: Some sites say it pink (like mine) fading to white.
Any photos Ken?
Can you find any images on the net? :unquote.

Now it was the 'fading to white' which got my attention, but far be it for me to argue with the pro advice, but 'inner petals turning white' could also mean 'fading to white' as per discription.
Not looked on the net for examples yet...will give it a try.