Herbaceous Peonies
Professor Saunders began his peony breeding around 1905 with P. lactiflora, the common garden peony originating in China, and registered a few new lactiflora cultivars. About a decade later he started crossing both named cultivars and his numbered seedlings with other species found throughout Europe and Asia. He also made crosses between the various non-lactiflora species. Both groups are known as herbaceous hybrids and came in many new patterns and colors. Finally, he made crosses between his hybrid peonies, both by selfing to produce F2’s and outcrossing to produce cultivars with as many as four species in their parentage. From his approximately 12,000 herbaceous seedlings, he named and registered 187. His daughter Silvia Saunders reported about 120 being grown widely in 1960. Since his death in 1953, others have named another dozen and a few more still exist today under seedling number.
The first group of peonies are those I currently grow in my own garden. The second grouping is of peonies known to be growing in other private or public gardens or nurseries. Finally I added a list of those for which I haven’t found evidence of their current existence – The Likely Lost.
Most photos were taken during May 2020, a great project during social isolation! If you have a “missing” photo or plant to share, please let me know. I will be sure to credit you for any photos you supply. I also welcome any additions/corrections to the information about each peony. Here’s hoping we uncover some “lost” peonies!
Click on the photos to view the descriptions and additional photos!
In My Garden…
In My Garden…Peony Mixups… a Cautionary Tale

Received as Astarte. Likely Janice or Queen Rose

Received as Good Cheer. Is Patriot

Received as Good Will. Is Hope

Received as Nathalie. Likely Janice or Queen Rose

Received as Rose Diamond. Is Pageant
Known to be in Other Gardens…
Alert
Anthem
Astarte
Birthday

Carolina

Daystar
Emmy Swan
Erebus
Gillian
Grace Loomis
Gwenda
Madrigal
Mermaid
Nathalie
Papilio
Red Lacquer
Rose Diamond
Rose Tulip
Rosy Cheeks
Saunders 4992
Diantha
Likely Lost…
The following peonies have not shown up in the online plant databases of public gardens I’ve searched, in nursery catalogues, or in the lists of my peony growing acquaintances. Some were listed by A.P. Saunders as discarded and others failed to show up in the notes taken by Silvia Saunders during the 1960’s. Of course, they may still exist, perhaps unidentified, in private gardens. Please contact me if you have one of these!
Alida, Alison, Amity, Angelica, Anniversary, Ariel, Belinda, Bright Diadem, Buccaneer, Burgundy, Candlelight, Caress, Carolina, Celia, Centaur, Chalice Pink (likely Pink Chalice in my garden), Challenger, Charity, Circlet, Clarion, Corinth, Delphi, Eastern Morn, Eclipse (breeders want this one), Elysium, Emblem, Evensong, Faith, Famie, Fidelity, Fireflame, Fortune, Francis Red, Grace MacLean, Green Ivory, Harbinger, Honored Guest, Jacqueminot, Jeannette, John C. Wister, Joy, Ladybird, Louise, Mariner, Marta, May Morning, Mercy, Morning Star, Northern Lights, Olivia Saunders, Pinkie, Red Cockade, Rosalba, Rose Royal, Roselette’s Child F2, Rosy Wreath, Silver Swan, Sunglint, Tantrums, Valor, Verity, Vindicator.