Vesuvian

‘Vesuvian’ has the most double flowers among the Saunders woody peonies but they tend to be buried in the foliage.  The flower color, a dark red but not tending “black”, is pleasing to me.

Cultivar: Vesuvian
Year: 1948
Seedling No: 16509
Group: Black Pirate
Flower: Color: dark maroon
Form: full double
Blooms: Week 4
Carpels: 5, yellow green
Stigmas: bright pink
Sheath: dark
Stamens: filaments dark red, stamens sparse
Plant: Habit: rounded bush
Foliage color: medium green, petioles tinged red
Foliage form: slightly more narrow
Height: 46″ on 8 year plant
Recommendation: Recommended
Availability: Several nurseries specializing in woody peonies