The species identity of the pollen parent “ozieri alba” is a little unclear. It was obtained from Vilmorin, and Saunders reported it as “likely in the corallina-broteri-cambessessi group, or maybe corsica“; it is now thought to be a form of P. corsica from Mt. Alba in the Ozieri region of Sardinia. Silvia Saunders had its chromosomes counted. There are 10, which would be expected from a cross of the diploid P. lactiflora and the diploid P. corsica but not if one parent had been one of the tetraploid species such as P. coriacea.
This is a very unique peony with an unusual flower form and excellent foliage. It’s been called the “hosta of the peony world” but no hosta sports such a beautiful flower. Since it was introduced as a strain, it is possible there is still some variation in the plants being offered today.
