Reward

Saunders was very impressed with this plant, writing about it over a several year period: “June 1, 1934 Grand black single.  Extremely promising. Not like Challenger.  1938 The most beautiful dark red single there is. 1940 Very glossy, not very shapely.”

It was very impressive in 2021, a year when many peonies performed more poorly than in 2020.

Cultivar: Reward
Year Registered: 1941
Seedling No: 10979. Page 17 of Saunders’ Notebook I
Parentage: 6: lactiflora 2274 X officinalis Decora 6540
Flower: Color: dark maroon- an unusual color
Form: single, petals crinkled and fringed, somewhat irregular
Blooms: Week 4
Carpals: 5, pale green, slightly woolly
Stigmas: maroon (self)
Disc: bright pink, conspicuous
Stamens: filaments short, red at base, shading to yellow
Plant: Habit: upright
Foliage color: slightly darker green
Foliage form: narrow, crinkled leaves
Height: 25″, reported; 28″ in 2021
Recommendation: Recommended
Availability: Few specialty nurseries