Sophie
This peony was presumably named for the wife of Saunders’ son Blake. The flowers are held on very long stems which seem unable to support the blooms, so the plant tends to sprawl when in bloom. A photo you’ll never see in a catalogue! Give it support.
| Cultivar: | Sophie |
| Year: | 1940 |
| Seedling No: | 10108. Pages 22 & 39 of Saunders’ Notebook I |
| Parentage: | 7: lactiflora ‘Kelway’s Glorious’ X “lobata of Perry” |
| Flower: | Color: | deep cherry pink |
| Form: | semi-double, 3-4 rows of petals, small flowers | |
| Blooms: | Week 5 | |
| Carpels: | light greenish yellow | |
| Stigmas: | very pale pink | |
| Disc: | white (Silvia Saunders’ notes) | |
| Stamens: | light yellow filaments | |
| Plant: | Habit: | spreading |
| Foliage color: | medium green | |
| Foliage form: | very narrow leaves, not lobed | |
| Height: | 25″ (reported); 38″ in 2021 | |
| Recommendation: | Collectors’ plant |
| Availability: | Rare, mine was a gift from a friend |
