$1.69 Peony from Aldi's - Not 'Sarah Bernhardt'
This seems like an appropriate story for Halloween. Is the $1.69 'Sarah Bernhardt' Peony a Trick or Treat? I guess that depends on how you look at it. This peony I purchased in 2016 Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt' for $1.69 at Aldi's! did not turn out to be the correct variety, Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt'. It look more like Peony 'Paula Fay' to me (hot pink in color instead of light pink and single to semi-double in nature instead of fully double), but who knows what cultivar it really is, if it is even a named cultivar. I originally planted and purchased 3 bags of this peony. The first one bloomed this year. I'm guessing the other two will bloom next year. I did see it fully open, but I didn't get a picture of it. This was right before my trip to China, 2018 Southern Peony Visits China National Flower Garden 中国国花园. So I guess I was just busy getting ready for the trip and missed taking the open bloom photo. Hopefully I will get a picture of it this coming spring when the rest of them bloom. As for whether this was a Trick or a Treat, I guess it could really be both. It was definitely a Trick since it was not the correct cultivar, but it could also be considered a Treat since the peony was so cheap, just $1.69 and the one of the plants bloomed on its second spring! Happy Halloween!
Sign for Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt'
$1.69 Peony from Aldi's - Not 'Sarah Bernhardt'
I looked at your posting regarding your original purchase of this root, and it looked like a plant which had been grown from an adventitious root piece, rather than a crown division. Which….Paula Fay would certainly do, but Lacti's would not. Even so, one does wonder where they are growing these things, given what the original grower must have been paid for them. If fresh, there's no reason why small roots like this should not make good plants with time. After all, many growers often begin with roots this small, when propagating for root sales later.
ReplyDeleteBob,
DeleteYou're right, it does kind of look like an adventitious root piece. I didn't photograph all three of them, so I wonder if the other two looked similar. I just dug up the mislabeled plant to give away, and it had a beautiful root system with many, many feeder roots.
Yes, it seem like it would be hard to make a profit on these roots, especially here in the US. I'm guessing these were grown overseas somewhere and imported here. I don't see the origin on the packaging photos I took. I will have to look a little closer the next time I see them offered to find our where they are grown.
Adriana
you know - I love grabbing up plants at aldi in the spring, I agree you can't guarantee variety etc but I've gotten beautiful mock orange, forsythia and hydrangea for next to nothing.
ReplyDeletesuch a great way to fill out the garden and still honor the budget.
fwiw - the color on your not sarah bernhardt looks beautiful. so my vote is "treat!" =)
Lyndaker Farms,
DeleteI agree both about getting budget plants (I try to be frugal too - as possible), and about the "Treat". Although I was a bit disappointed it wasn't 'Sarah Bernhardt', the peony did still have a nice color and form. It is still worth growing - definitely not anything you would throw away. :-)
Adriana