2020 Peony 'White Cap' Has Loads of Blooms, But They're All Over the Floor

Peony 'White Cap'
The blooms on this Peony 'White Cap' are just gorgeous, and it seems to be a very vigorous and floriferous bloomer here in the South. However it definitely does not stand up well. The stems actually seem pretty strong, but the problem seems to be at the very base of the stem, which is where they all seem to bend. Each stem carries multiple, multiple buds and blooms, with 3 buds or more on each stem! I will definitely try to put a peony ring on this plant next year to see if it is happier and more presentable next time. If you're willing to stake and support this Peony 'White Cap', the color combination on these blooms is quite striking, a bold hot pink tone with a (mostly) white center!!


Peony 'White Cap'
Stems Spread Flat on Ground

2020 Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt' Southern Peony Best Performer - Week 6

When it comes to giant fluffy, perfectly pink and sweetly fragrant blooms, Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt' can't be beat! It really does shrug off our Southern heat. However the blooms are very top heavy and must also be staked. The Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt' plant in this picture is being supported by a peony support ring which was put in place before the foliage grew, and as you can see the flowers are still flopping over the edge of the support ring a bit. Another alternative to staking them up is to cut them and bring them indoors. This peony also produces multiple buds and blooms per stem (another reason the stems are so top heavy). As you can see in the photo, one of the stems had a giant bloom on it with 3 large buds about to open on the same stem. Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt' was registered by Lemoine in 1906, another classic beauty!


Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt'
Southern Peony Best Performer

Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt'
Southern Peony Best Performer

Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt'
Southern Peony Best Performer

2020 Intersectional Peony Blooms Week 6 Late

When there are mostly yellow intersectional peonies blooming in the intersectioanl peony bed, you know the season is drawing near the end. It is definitely bittersweet, but I am thankful for all of the gorgeous peony blooms I've had in my garden so far this year. Especially since this is actually the first year ever that I've had any intersectional peony bloom in Week 6 (Late). That is just awesome! This spring has been so slow to warm up, the peony bloom season has lasted longer. While intersectionals are my favorite type of peony, there are still several herbaceous peonies that have yet to bloom. There are actually a couple more intersectional peonies that have not bloomed yet in Week 6. So look out next week for some more Southern Peony record-setting intersectional peony blooms, in Week 7 (Very Late)! :-o


Intersectional Peony 'Sonoma YeDo'

Intersectional Peony 'Mock Orange Yellow'

Intersectional Peony 'Lunar Glow'

Intersectional Peony 'Prairie Charm'

2020 Peony Blooms Week 6 Late

We have had quite the season so far. This past week has stayed relatively mild, with temps in the 70s or below. There have only been a few days in the 80s all spring thus far, and while they are calling for an 80 degree day tomorrow, all of the days next week will be below 80! This has made for a really long peony season this year, quite unlike any I've ever seen, and for some really confused peonies. As you can see below my Peony 'Sweeet May' and Peony 'Garden Peace' both bloomed this week. Looking at my Southern Peony Bloom Dates, they usually bloom in Week 3 (Early Mid) and Week 4 (Mid), respectively. The out of order blooms don't bother me, I am just enjoying the extra time with the flowers in the garden. :-)


Peony 'Many Happy Returns'

Peony 'Garden Peace'

Peony 'Guidon'

Peony 'Super Gal'

Peony 'Coral 'N Gold'

Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt'

Peony 'Victoire de la Marne'

Peony 'Sweet May'

Peony 'Old Faithful'

Peony 'Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt'

2020 Intersectional Peony 'Chief Black Hawk' Flower Bud is Really Black!!

Wow! That's all I could really say when I spotted this bud on my Intersectional Peony 'Chief Black Hawk'! The flower petals of this intersectional peony's buds really are black! I have never seen a bud quite like this before. So this was definitely a suprise when I found it. It is quite stunning! Now the wait is on to see it bloom! This will be the first year this peony has bloomed for me. I can't wait to see it in action.


Intersectional Peony 'Chief Black Hawk' Flower Bud
I just planted this Intersectional Peony 'Chief Black Hawk' last fall 2019, and it came from Oregon Perennial. I won it in last year's APS auction. (Oregon Perennial does not sell retail, but they do donate plants to the APS Auction.) If you're looking to purchase one, Brooks Gardens is definitely the place to be. They dropped the price on this plant this year, 2020 Intersectional Peony 'Chief Black Hawk' Price Drops Over 50%, and it looks like they still have some in stock. Now's your chance!