2022 Planting Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'

From my order of 2022 Spring Hill Nursery Sells 2 New Intersectionals - Peony 'Belle Toulousaine' & Peony 'Symphone Pourpre', one of the peonies arrived a couple of weeks ago, Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'. The other one did not come, as I got an out of stock notice for it, which was a bit disappointing, but I am grateful that one of them arrived at least (and from the photos, it looks like it might be the prettier one!)


Box from Spring Hill Nursery
with Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'

Bagged Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'
The plant was nicely boxed with breathing holes to prevent it from overheating. Inside the box, the plant was bagged, which surprised me, as the intersectional peonies that I've ordered from Spring Hill Nursery have usually been potted in previous years, 2019 Spring Hill Nursery Peony Order Arrives and 2020 Intersectional Peony 'Duchesse de Lorraine' Arrives from Spring Hill Nursery. However upon opening the bag, I could tell that this plant had recently been potted.


Unbagged Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'

Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine' Roots and Stems
The roots were still in the shape of the pot it had been in. It looked as if this plant had been growing in a pot for quite some time, and it was removed from its pot and sealed in this bag just before shipping. I guess it saves them money on pots. Perhaps they will reuse them, which is fine with me, as I will just recycle the pot anyway. As long as the plant grows just as well, I suppose it doesn't matter. The bag also had some information about the peony printed on it:

BELLE TOULOUSAINE ITOH PEONY PP26908
Paeonia itoh 'rtpiv789-06

Light: Full sun to partial shade      Height: 36-40"
Depth: Crown 1-2" below soil line      Spacing: 4'

Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine' Bag Info

Planting Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'
After I got it unbagged, I planted it right away. I dug a nice hole, added some organic flower fertilizer to the hole, and mixed it in. After I got the peony into the hole, I added part of the dirt around it. Then I added water to the planting hole. Adding water to the bottom of the hole will help the plant and roots retain some moisture deeper into the ground, which will help your new plant get a good start! Always remember to put water into the hole before you put all of the soil back!

Planting Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'

Planting Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'
Add Water to the Planting Hole
After the roots and surrounding dirt were thouroughly soaked, I added more dirt to the hole, then I added more water. Making sure to give your plant a good drink when it is first introduced to its new home is essential. As you can see on the first watering, the roots were still exposed, and on the second watering only the foliage was exposed. Then when I added the final layer of dirt, all of the peony was covered except the tip of one of the tiny foliage shoots (the other shoot was just barely under the dirt).


Planting Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'
Add More Dirt to the Planting Hole

Planting Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'
Add Even More Water to the Planting Hole

Planting Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'
Add Even More Dirt to the Planting Hole
Now that my Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine' is fully planted, I can't wait to see how it grows (and blooms)!! It might still be a couple of years before I get a bloom on this one. It definitely won't bloom this year, and the plant may still be too small next year as well. The peony needs to reach a critical mass size to bloom. This can really depend on the peony variety (and it's growing conditions of course), but I'm sure it will be worth the wait! Come on, grow, grow! :-)


Planting Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine'

2022 First Bloom on Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah'!!

I was excited to see what the first would look like on Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah'. This first bloom on the plant actually opened about 2 weeks ago (on 4/14). I think it bloomed a bit ahead of normal, most likely to having been grown in a green house or perhaps a warmer climate, (but my guess is a greenhouse). It was an overcast day when I took this photo, so it's not quite as sunny and bright as most of my usual photos, but the flower does look quite nice.


Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah'
First Bloom to Open 4/14
I can't say that the color is anything special, as it does seem to be in the same pink to yellow color family as the majority of other intersectional peonies. However it's most unique feature seems to be the picotee edging, which is quite unique! The blooms keep their picotee edge as the flower changes color as well (as it ages). I must say I don't have another peony quite like it. It does kind of remind me of Intersectional Peony 'Berry Garcia', (which I like a LOT), with a lot more petals and deeper colors.


Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah'
First Bloom to Open 4/15
The flowers do seem to be quite full of petals, a nice full semi-double form to me. The petals open with a combination of pink cream, and seem to change to a pale pink edge changing over to light yellow. The picotee edge is not harsh and seems to fade into the other color, with an almost ombre like effect. I do like it, and am very glad I purchased it when I saw it, 2022 Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah' at Local Nursery!


Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah' Sign

2022 Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah' at Local Nursery!

I couldn't really believe it, at first. An Intersectional Peony I've never seen before, for sale at my local nursery!?! I was actually interested in it, but then I saw the price tag $99, and it scared me off. There was also only 1 of this variety, and it looked at little smaller than the other intersectional peonies they were selling. I also didn't see a bloom bud on it. I believe I kept myself at a distance since the price was so high. So I actually left the nursery - Logan's Garden Shop, and went on shopping to see what else was being offered this spring.


Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah' at Local Nursery
I actually went to Homewood Nursery to see what they were selling this year. I wasn't actually looking for a peony that day, when I found 2022 Peonies at Local Nurseries - Logan's Garden Shop & Homewood Nursery. I was really looking for anemones, the small, short growing single variety, in hot pink, red, and white. I had just seen them growing in nearby Edenton, NC when we took a weekend trip for our anniversary. Those anemones were so bright, and their colors just popped in the early spring garden, blooming with the snowdrops. Alas, I did not find any anemones, but I kept thinking about the Intersectional Peony, 'Haleigh's Hallelujah'...


Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah' Plant Tag
I figured that no matter which catalog or grower I ordered this plant from, the price would probably be $50-$100 anyway, 2022 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List (and actually I've never seen it offered before since I've been doing my intersectional peony price list - way back to 2013!) So even if someone did offer it, the price would likely be closer to $100 since it is still rare. Also you'd have to pay a shipping fee to get it to your house (on top of the price of the root). And - it would be a root, this one is a decent sized plant growing in a large 3 gallon pot!


Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah'
Anyway, I rationalized my way back to Logan's Plant Shop! Ha Ha! 😃 Luckily, the plant was still there and had not been sold (since it was the only one of that variety). Also when I got back to it, I examined it a bit closer, and it did actually have some bloom buds on it. I was thinking earlier that it did not. I think I wouldn't really let myself get close enough to it to really look at it, since the price tag had scared me off! In the end I was able to purchase my very own Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah', and I'm very glad I did, as it is actually a peony that was hybridized by my friend Don Smith, who I interviewed in 2016 Peony Hybridizer Interview - Don R. Smith. Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah', was actually named after Don Smith's daughter - Haleigh!

I can't wait to grow it!!

2022 American Peony Society Convention Donation - Intersectional Peony 'Hillary'

This past Sunday I got an email request for donation from the American Peony Society (as all APS members should have received), and although I am not a commercial peony grower, and I definitely do not have fields or even a field of peonies, I still decided to donate a peony to the auction. If you are an APS member and have a home garden like me, I hope you too will consider donating a plant to the auction. Each year this APS auction is the main fundraiser for the APS organization, and it helps support the APS convention and bulletin publishing costs.


Intersectional Peony 'Hillary'
The peony that I decided to donate is Intersectional Peony 'Hillary'. It is definitely one of my favorite intersectional peonies, and it is also a Southern Peony Best Performer. This peony grows so well here that it will make a very large bush (which can also be divided). Even after division, this plant bounces back and keep on growing. The blooms on this plant are stunning, and as you can see from this photo (from our bloom season last year), the petals can slowly fade to an almost pastel like bloom, while the new flowers open a bright reddish-pink! This Intersectional Peony 'Hillary' is as stunning in person as it is in photos (or perhaps more)!

2022 Swenson Gardens Offer 43 Intersectional Peony Varieties for Sale!

Wow! It is a record! Swenson Gardens is offering 43 distinct varieties of Intersectional Peonies for sale this year in 2022! This is the first year since I've been tracking Intersectional Peony prices (way back in our Southern Peony 2013 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List) that any peony grower has offered 40 or more intersectional peony varieties for sale. This really speaks to how popular this type of peony has become over the years. It brings joy to my heart to see this type of interest and availability in Intersectional Peonies, as this type of peony grows and performs really well here in the South!

Swenson Gardens Intersectional Peonies
From the Swenson Gardens web site and emails, it looks like this is their 20th anniversary as well. So if you are interested in seeing all 43 photos in their digital catalog - the entire Swenson Gardens Intersectional Peony 2022 offering on one page, head on over to the Swenson Gardens web site and click on their "INTERSECTIONALS" link. If you are interested to see how their prices stack up against other peony growers, be sure to check out our Southern Peony 2022 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List.

2022 Spring Hill Nursery Sells 2 New Intersectionals - Peony 'Belle Toulousaine' & Peony 'Symphone Pourpre'

When I was working on my Southern Peony 2022 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List this week, I couldn't help but notice all of the new intersectional peony varieties on this list. I was curious to see if Spring Hill might be offering any of the new intersectional peony hybrids again this year. I was happily surprised to see they are offering for sale 2 new intersectional peonies I had never seen offered before - Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine' & Intersectional Peony 'Symphone Pourpre'.


Spring Hill Nursery Sells 2 New Intersectional Peonies
Peony 'Belle Toulousaine' & Peony 'Symphone Pourpre'
Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine' is on the Southern Peony 2022 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List being sold by Peony Shop Holland, and Peony 'Symphone Pourpre' is not even on the list. I already had my eye on Peony 'Belle Toulousaine' being offered in Peony Shop Holland's 2022 catalog for €55.00 (about $62.74 USD today). Spring Hill Nursery is offering this Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine' variety for $79.99. They do however have a 10% off and free shipping sale going on, with coupon code 0477306. So with the lower price of $71.99 + free shipping, this seemed like a comparable price to Peony Shop Holland (when you add international shipping).


Spring Hill Nursery Coupon
10% Off Sitewide + Free Shipping on $50+
Plus with the opportunity to purchase Intersectional Peony 'Symphone Pourpre' as well, I just couldn't resist. 'Symphone Pourpre' translates from French to 'Purple Symphony' (and purple is my favorite color!). It looks like both of these varieties, Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine' & Intersectional Peony 'Symphone Pourpre', were created by French hybridizer Theirry Rat. I am grateful to see some new international intersectional peony varieties being introduced to the US.

Peony 'Symphone Pourpre' is described as:
"From our French breeder, Symphonie Pourpre is ‘Purple Symphony’, best appreciated, much like a full orchestra, as a whole plant exploding with notes of fuchsia purple. This is one of the most floriferous Itoh we have come across; the bush is covered in semi-double fuchsia flowers lightly edged with a creamy pink picotee."


Spring Hill Nursery Intersectional Offerings
Also if you search Spring Hill's site for the word "itoh" (another name for intersectional), you will find that they are actually offering several intersectional peony varieties. Please keep in mind however, that the intersectional peonies they are offering are likely cloned varieties and usually only have 1 stem. These will take much longer to get established than most roots sold from traditional peony farms. This year they are offering Intersectional Peonies 'Oochigeas', (which I purchased in 2019 Spring Hill Nursery Peony Order Arrives) 'Bartzella', 'Duchesse de Lorraine' (which I purchased in 2020 Intersectional Peony 'Duchesse de Lorraine' Arrives from Spring Hill Nursery), 'Symphonie Pourpre', 'Belle Toulousaine', 'New Millenium' and 'Joanna Marlene' (not shown). If you are able to plant these in a nice home and are able to wait a bit longer for them to get established, this might be a good chance to get some expensive or hard to find varieties for a reasonable price!

2022 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List

It's been a little over 2 years since I published my last Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List! I hope this list aids you in your 2022 intersectional peony purchasing selections! The vendors who don't have their lists up yet still have a line through them. I'll update this information as more online peony catalogs are updated and become available.

If you'd like to compare this year's prices to prices 2 years ago, here's a link to my 2020 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List. Enjoy!

(Also if you'd like your company to be listed here, please join the American Peony Society as a Commercial Member, since this is where I obtain my peony grower information.)


Southern Peony 2022 Intersectional Peony Price List
Intersectional Peony 'Misaka' 美 (Beautiful Blossom)

Varieties Offered	Peony Vendor	Price Change from Last Year
38	Adelman		mostly lower or same
0	Blossom Hill		same
19	Brooks		mixed, lower, same, & higher
6	Cricket Hill		same
9	Fina		mixed, lower & higher
3	Hidden Springs		higher
7	Hollingsworth		mostly lower
27	Oh My Peonies		mostly same
6	Peony's Envy		same
39	Peony Shop Holland		mostly lower
15	Solaris Farms		mixed, lower & higher
43	Swenson		mostly higher

Intersectional Peony	Price	Vendor
Al's Choice	$80.00	Brooks
Al's Choice	$85.00	Swenson
Anderson's Kaleidoscope	€18.00	Peony Shop Holland
Anderson's Kaleidoscope	$50.00	Oh My Peonies
Anderson's Kaleidoscope	$60.00	Swenson
(Anderson's) Kaleidoscope	$75.00	Brooks
Bad Hair Day	€60.00	Peony Shop Holland
Ballarena de Saval	$50.00	Adelman
Bartzella	$45.00	Adelman
Bartzella	$48.99	Hidden Springs
Bartzella	$50.00	Hollingsworth
Bartzella	$50.00	Oh My Peonies
Bartzella	$55.00	Swenson
Bartzella	$56.00	Fina
Bartzella	$79.00	Peony's Envy
Bartzella	$89.00	Cricket Hill
Belle Toulousaine	€55.00	Peony Shop Holland
Bully Buck	€750.00	Peony Shop Holland
Border Charm	$35.00	Swenson
Border Charm	$40.00	Adelman
Border Charm	$40.00	Oh My Peonies
Callie's Memory	$50.00	Swenson
Callie's Memory	$89.00	Cricket Hill
Canary Brilliants	$50.00	Oh My Peonies
Canary Brilliants	$55.00	Adelman
Canary Brilliants	$60.00	Brooks
Canary Brilliants	$79.00	Peony's Envy
Caroline Constabel	€55.00	Peony Shop Holland
Cat Whiskers	€130.00	Peony Shop Holland
Chief Black Hawk	$90.00	Brooks
Chief Black Hawk	€90.00	Peony Shop Holland
Chief Black Hawk	$95.00	Swenson
Chief Black Hawk	$100.00	Adelman
Cora Louise	$60.00	Adelman
Cora Louise	$60.00	Brooks
Cora Louise	$65.00	Oh My Peonies
Cora Louise	$79.00	Peony's Envy
Cora Louise	$89.00	Cricket Hill
Court Jester	$45.00	Swenson
Court Jester	$50.00	Oh My Peonies
Danse Du Feu	€55.00	Peony Shop Holland
Dark Eyes	$99.00	Adelman
First Arrival	$50.00	Swenson
First Arrival	$54.00	Hollingsworth
First Arrival	$58.00	Adelman
First Arrival	$60.00	Brooks
First Arrival	$60.00	Fina
First Arrival	$89.00	Cricket Hill
Fizzy	$99.00	Adelman
Fruity Flash	€50.00	Peony Shop Holland
Garden Treasure	$40.00	Solaris Farms
Garden Treasure	$48.99	Hidden Springs
Garden Treasure	$50.00	Adelman
Garden Treasure	$50.00	Brooks
Garden Treasure	$50.00	Hollingsworth
Garden Treasure	$79.00	Peony's Envy
Going Bananas	$35.00	Swenson
Gordon E. Simonson	€55.00	Peony Shop Holland
Gordon E. Simonson	$88.00	Hollingsworth
Gordon E. Simonson	$99.00	Adelman
Gordon E. Simonson	$100.00	Solaris Farms
Gordon E. Simonson	$100.00	Swenson
Hidden Treasure	$40.00	Solaris Farms
Hillary	$45.00	Adelman
Hillary	$50.00	Brooks
Hillary	$50.00	Swenson
Hillary	$55.00	Oh My Peonies
Hillary	$89.00	Cricket Hill
Joanna Marlene	$50.00	Fina
Joanna Marlene	$55.00	Adelman
Joanna Marlene	$55.00	Swenson
Joanna Marlene	$60.00	Solaris Farms
Julia Rose	$40.00	Swenson
Julia Rose	$65.00	Adelman
Julia Rose	$65.00	Brooks
Julia Rose	$65.00	Oh My Peonies
Julia Rose	$79.00	Peony's Envy
Kopper Kettle	$45.00	Fina
Kopper Kettle	$95.00	Oh My Peonies
Kopper Kettle	$99.00	Adelman
Kopper Kettle	$150.00	Swenson
Lemon Dream	$34.00	Fina
Lemon Dream	$35.00	Solaris Farms
Lemon Dream	$36.00	Adelman
Lemon Dream	$40.00	Swenson
Lemon Dream	$50.00	Brooks
Lavender Splash	€130.00	Peony Shop Holland
Lilac Flash	€120.00	Peony Shop Holland
Little Darlin'	€25.00	Peony Shop Holland
Little Edgy	€150.00	Peony Shop Holland
Lollipop	$35.00	Fina
Lollipop	$35.00	Solaris Farms
Lollipop	$45.00	Oh My Peonies
Lollipop	$60.00	Brooks
Lollipop	$60.00	Swenson
Love Affair	$60.00	Hollingsworth
Love Affair	$70.00	Solaris Farms
Love Affair	$85.00	Adelman
Love Affair	$90.00	Brooks
Luxuriant	$125.00	Brooks
Luxuriant	$125.00	Swenson
Magical Mystery Tour	$50.00	Solaris Farms
Magical Mystery Tour	$68.00	Adelman
Mock Orange Yellow	€100.00	Peony Shop Holland
Morning Lilac	$60.00	Swenson
Morning Lilac	$68.00	Adelman
Morning Lilac	$75.00	Oh My Peonies
Momo Taro (Peach Boy)	$52.00	Fina
New Millennium	$90.00	Hollingsworth
New Millennium	$99.00	Adelman
New Millennium	$100.00	Swenson
New Millennium	$125.00	Oh My Peonies
New Millennium	€185.00	Peony Shop Holland
Norwegian Blush	€28.00	Peony Shop Holland
Norwegian Blush	$50.00	Swenson
Old Rose Dandy	$35.00	Swenson
Old Rose Dandy	$40.00	Adelman
Old Rose Dandy	$40.00	Brooks
Old Rose Dandy	$40.00	Oh My Peonies
Oneida Chief	€50.00	Peony Shop Holland
Oochigeas	€55.00	Peony Shop Holland
Pastel Lilas	€55.00	Peony Shop Holland
Pastel Splendor	€22.00	Peony Shop Holland
Pastel Splendor	$35.00	Swenson
Pastel Splendor	$40.00	Oh My Peonies
Pastel Splendor	$44.95	Hidden Springs
Pastel Splendor	$48.00	Adelman
Pastel Splendor	$50.00	Brooks
Pastel Splendor	$56.00	Fina
Pastel Splendor	$89.00	Cricket Hill
Peekaboo Flash	€120.00	Peony Shop Holland
Pink Flash	€130.00	Peony Shop Holland
Prairie Charm	$30.00	Swenson
Prairie Charm	$40.00	Oh My Peonies
Predawn Beauty	$60.00	Swenson
Raggedy Ann	$75.00	Oh My Peonies
Rosy Prospects	$50.00	Swenson
Royal Blush	€35.00	Peony Shop Holland
Royal Blush	$50.00	Swenson
Ruffled Flash	€200.00	Peony Shop Holland
Saffron Innocence	$50.00	Swenson
Scarlet Heaven	$40.00	Hollingsworth
Scarlet Heaven	$40.00	Swenson
Scarlet Heaven	$48.00	Adelman
Scarlet Heaven	$79.00	Peony's Envy
Scarlet Heights	$75.00	Swenson
Scrumdidleyumptious	$100.00	Oh My Peonies
Sequestered Sunshine	$65.00	Oh My Peonies
Sequestered Sunshine	$85.00	Brooks
Shining Light	$30.00	Swenson
Singing in the Rain	$50.00	Adelman
Singing in the Rain	$50.00	Oh My Peonies
Singing in the Rain	$60.00	Brooks
Smith Family Yellow	$80.00	Adelman
Smith Opus #1 (Misaka)	$150.00	Oh My Peonies
Smith Opus #2 (Treasure)	$150.00	Oh My Peonies
Soleil D'Ambre	€55.00	Peony Shop Holland
Son Flash	€50.00	Peony Shop Holland
Sonoma Amethyst	€33.00	Peony Shop Holland
Sonoma Amethyst	$60.00	Adelman
Sonoma Amethyst	$60.00	Fina
Sonoma Apricot	$65.00	Adelman
Sonoma Apricot	$75.00	Oh My Peonies
Sonoma Blessing	€28.00	Peony Shop Holland
Sonoma Blessing	$35.00	Solaris Farms
Sonoma By the Bay	€28.00	Peony Shop Holland
Sonoma By the Bay	$80.00	Solaris Farms
Sonoma Floozy	$45.00	Adelman
Sonoma Halo	€55.00	Peony Shop Holland
Sonoma Halo	$150.00	Solaris Farms
Sonoma Halo	$185.00	Adelman
Sonoma Rosy Future	$40.00	Solaris Farms
Sonoma Rosy Future	$50.00	Adelman
Sonoma Sun	€33.00	Peony Shop Holland
Sonoma Sun	$40.00	Adelman
Sonoma Surprise	$125.00	Adelman
Sonoma Velvet Ruby	$35.00	Adelman
Sonoma Velvet Ruby	€40.00	Peony Shop Holland
Sonoma Welcome	$50.00	Adelman
Sonoma Yedo	€65.00	Peony Shop Holland
Sonoma Yedo	$185.00	Adelman
Sonoma Yedo	$199.00	Oh My Peonies
Sonoma Yedo	$250.00	Solaris Farms
Strawberry Blush	$99.00	Adelman
Strawberry Blush	$100.00	Swenson
Strawberry Blush	€150.00	Peony Shop Holland
Strawberry Creme Brulee	€55.00	Peony Shop Holland
Sunrise Flash	€130.00	Peony Shop Holland
Sunset Flash	€60.00	Peony Shop Holland
Tonka Berry	$100.00	Swenson
Tonka Burst	$150.00	Swenson
Tonka Delicacy	$150.00	Swenson
Tonka Mulberry	$200.00	Swenson
Tonka Peach	$300.00	Swenson
Tonka Pink	$100.00	Swenson
Tonka Purple	$500.00	Swenson
Tonka Sublime	$250.00	Swenson
Tonka White	$250.00	Swenson
Unique	$42.00	Adelman
Unique	$50.00	Swenson
Viking Full Moon	$40.00	Oh My Peonies
Viking Full Moon	$40.00	Solaris Farms
Watermelon Wine	$50.00	Swenson
Watermelon Wine	€55.00	Peony Shop Holland
Watermelon Wine	$75.00	Adelman
Watermelon Wine	$80.00	Brooks
Watermelon Wine	$85.00	Oh My Peonies
White Emperor	$75.00	Swenson
Yankee Doodle Dandy	$75.00	Oh My Peonies
Yellow Crown	$30.00	Solaris Farms
Yellow Dream	$60.00	Brooks
Yellow Emperor	$70.00	Oh My Peonies

2021 Peony 'First Arrival' Southern Peony Best Performer - Week 4

Peony 'First Arrival'
Southern Peony Best Performer

Peony 'First Arrival'
Southern Peony Best Performer
Intersectional Peony 'First Arrival' was supposedly the first ever intersectional peony that bloomed for Roger Anderson from his intersectional peony breeding attempts. It sure is a beauty, and I don't think I've seen another intersectional peony on the market with a color quite like this one. It has a very nice pink color with a bit of a lavender tint. Intersectional Peony 'First Arrival' was hybridized by Roger Anderson and registered with the APS in 1986.


Peony 'First Arrival'
Southern Peony Best Performer

Peony 'First Arrival'
Southern Peony Best Performer
This intersectional peony will fill up the bush with buds, which bloom over a few days giving a fresh set of blooms, while the old blooms fade cleanly from the bush all on their own. This Intersectional Peony 'First Arrival' grows well here in the South. My plant took a few years to settle in, but it really seems to be taking off now. The bush gets larger and has more blooms on it each year! The blooms on this plant are quite variable in number of petals and form, but most of them have a pleasing symmetrical shape with rounded petals. The very center of these blooms have small dark pink/purple flares, giving the blooms a delightful inner glow of color!


Peony 'First Arrival'
Southern Peony Best Performer

Peony 'First Arrival'
Southern Peony Best Performer

2020 Giant Bloom on Intersectional Peony 'Gordon E. Simonson'

Intersectional Peony 'Gordon E. Simonson'
WOW! That's all I can really say about this Giant Bloom on my Intersectional Peony 'Gordon E. Simonson'. Of all the intersectional peonies I grow, the flowers on this one are definitely the largest. This is actually the first year this intersectional peony has bloomed for me. I first planted it in 2017, and it took until now to grow it to blooming size. The very first flower to open on this plant is super huge!! The petals on this flower just continued to grow and expand as it was open.


Intersectional Peony 'Gordon E. Simonson'
The color has faded some since it first opened, but for the most part, it has held the color pretty well, and is still a very nice shade. The substance on these petals is unbelievable! They are thick and really hold up well to the sun. This plant had 4 blooms on it for me this year, the first year that it has ever bloomed for me. What a giant stunner! I can't wait to see how this one does next year as well!! I wasn't sure if I would like this peony or not since it doesn't have a great name, but I am really impressed.


Intersectional Peony 'Gordon E. Simonson'

2020 Intersectional Peony Blooms Week 7 Very Late

Never Have I Ever...
1. Never Have I Ever had 4 weeks of intersectional peony cultivar blooms opening for the first time, until 2 weeks ago!
2. Never Have I Ever had 5 weeks of intersectional peony cultivar blooms opening for the first time, until last week!
3. Never Have I Ever had an intersectional peony open for the first time in Week 6, Late Bloom Season, until 2 weeks ago!
4. Never Have I Ever had an intersectional peony open for the first time in Week 7, Very Late Bloom Season, until just this past week!!

Wow!!! This has really been an exceptional year for the peony bloom season. While there are a few other blooms left on some cultivars that starting blooming earlier in the season like Intersectional Peony 'Bartzella', these two peonies 'Chief Black Hawk' and 'Berry Garcia' opened their first blooms this past week in Week 7. I just can't believe it. The weather really does make a difference in when during the year your peonies will bloom, how fast (or slow) all of buds on the plant will open, and how long the blooms will stay on the plant before falling off. If you'd like to see how this year stacks up to some of the previous years here at Southern Peony, take a look at our Southern Peony Bloom Dates page. It shows which years had flowers in which weeks for the past 10 years! This is pretty much the end of the intersectional bloom season. However there are still some herbaceous lactifloras that haven't opened yet. So I'm still looking forward to Week 8, Very Very Late!


Intersectional Peony 'Chief Black Hawk'

Intersectional Peony 'Berry Garcia'