Laura Magnuson

Saunders described this peony as being “very grand at Boston” in 1940 and I think it is very grand indeed in my garden.  I gave it a location on a bit of a slope because the vendor said it needed good drainage and might be difficult to grow. My plant has performed spectacularly, and I look forward to its bloom each spring.

But I want to know how Laura Magnuson got such a grand peony named after her!

Cultivar: Laura Magnuson
Year: 1941
Seedling No: 10092. Page 38 of Saunders’ Notebook I
Parentage: 7: lactiflora ‘Kelway’s Glorious’ X “lobata of Perry”
Flower: Color: bright rose pink, slightly darker pink streaks
Form: semi-double, four rows of petals, slightly fringed
Blooms: Week 4
Carpels: 4, green, woolly
Stigmas: light pink
Disc: white, obscure
Stamens: filaments pale yellow
Plant: Habit: upright rounded bush
Foliage color: medium-dark green
Foliage form: narrow pointed leaves, not lobed
Height: 36″ in 2021
Recommendation: Highly recommended
Availability: Few specialty nurseries