Hesperus

This is another peony with uniquely colored flowers which should be more widely grown. Nate Bremer, Solaris Farms, Wisconsin, reports it has better than average winter stem hardiness. The petal color is very similar to that of ‘Renown’ but the stigmas of ‘Renown’ are cream.  I have seen the two confused in a public garden.

Flowers can have petals in the middle of the carpels -an interesting but perhaps not always an attractive feature! Silvia Saunders called this a very finished flower.