Here's a special opportunity to own an Itoh hybrid Peony. Also known as intersectional Peonies, these hybrids arose from a cross between a white Herbaceous Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Kakoden') and a yellow hybrid Tree Peony (Paeonia x lemoinei) carried out in 1948 by Mr. Toichi Itoh. All the resulting offspring were vigorous plants with foliage similar to that of Tree Peonies, and they died back to the ground each fall like Herbaceous Peonies. 'Yellow Crown' has semi-double golden yellow flowers, reddish at the base, and can be up to 10in across. Midseason.
Plants in the genus Paeonia generally like full sun and neutral to slightly sweet soil, and they shrug off cold. After bloom is complete, you are left with a handsome mound of glossy, deep green foliage that will happily anchor the next sequence of bloom in the neighborhood. Peonies make superior cut flowers, lasting more than a week if cut in full bud.
Southerners should seek out our early bloomers and provide afternoon shade.
