The Peony Group

Officers of the Peony Group

Chairperson Kath Carey The Peony Group St Annes Windmill Lane of the Hardy Plant Society Appleton Warrington LU7 9NL e-mail [email protected]

Group Secretary Mrs Gail Harland Newsletter Spring 2011 The Owl House Coddenham Green Suffolk IP6 9UN e-mail [email protected]

Treasurer Mr John Richey 55 Franklin Court Brook Road Wormley, Godalming Surrey GU8 5US e-mail [email protected]

Newsletter editor John Hudson Deene Cottage Back Lane, East Langton Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 7TB e-mail [email protected]

DTP and newsletter distribution is by Irene Tibbenham, The Barn, Clay Street, Thornham Magna, Suffolk, IP23 8HE e-mail: [email protected]

Seed distribution is by Judy Templar, 117 Wood Road, King's Cliffe, Northants. PE8 6XR, e-mail: [email protected]

Other Committee Members are Peter Johnson (membership secretary)

Membership of the Peony Group is available to all members of the Hardy Plant Society. If you are interested in joining, please contact the Secretary at the above address

Copy deadlines are 31st March for the Spring Newsletter, and 30th September for the Autumn Newsletter.

Editorial John Hudson please contact me; details are on the back page. Thank you to those who put their HPS numbers on the subscription renewal form; our records are near to being com- Some of you will know that the late Jim Archibald, besides being the coun- plete from your efforts. try’s leading supplier of wild collected seeds and an authority on alpines, he It’s a slow cold year so far, with almost everything a month past due. Yet the red also had a notable collection of species peonies, many grown from wild ma- peony shoots are now coming fast, so let us hope they catch up in time for the AGM. terial. He grew these in a polytunnel, with the aim of supplying seed from hand-pollinated flowers; not quite wild-collected but as near as one can get, consistent with obtaining a regular supply. Increasingly tempting seeds have been appearing in his lists in recent years, and some of us have been duly tempted. The sad news, of course, is the loss of an outstanding plantsman and his expertise. The good news is that the peony collection has been passed on to Tom Mitchell, known to some of us as an enthusiastic collector of species hellebores and supplier of their seed. Inevitably, there are prob- lems with identifying some of the plants, but it is reassuring that they will be in good hands. Tom has promised to write a note for our newsletter once the collection is established in its new home near Bath.

From the Chair Kath Carey

Dear Members, The New Year has started just like last year, with a prolonged freeze. I feared for the many plants I have in pots as they wait for replanting this coming autumn. Surprisingly there seem to have been very few losses. The red early shoots of the peonies are showing and the tree peony I lifted is budding. The lifting has had a good side effect. It was very lop-sided and now is starting to throw shoots on its bare side. So at the end of the day it will be a much better shape. The grafted cuttings from Jo Bennison’s workshop have fared well so far: see the article on the grafting day.

Some of you may remember visiting Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden some two years ago. I have just been through an old planting list from a garden owned by the same family to get some idea as to what might have been planted year ago and amaz- ingly no peonies were listed. This has not deterred the Head Gardener accepting a tree peony (from Will Mc Lewin’s seed). He is working on the basis that the family were adventurous when they undertook the original plantings and so we should follow in their footsteps. The plant was transplanted last October and seems to have fared well over the winter. It was cut back by half so it will be next year before it really gets into flowering routine. It should ultimately do better there in a rather heavier soil that its previous position in a very sandy soil.

Ness Botanic Gardens run a series of fortnightly lectures throughout the winter and among the lecturers this year was John Grimshaw of snowdrop fame. During the

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Rates of growth in peonies John Hudson course of his talk he showed a picture of Paeonia mairei as a follow-on from snow- drops. It was not one I was familiar with but the young foliage and its short stature Many people have commented on how attractive herbaceous peonies are early in the really did look splendid. He did not rate the flowers however as they tend to fade to season, from the time their crimson shoots first appear above ground in late winter a washed out pink. to their gradual unfurling as spring advances. Eventually one is rewarded by the It is the time of year when I look at my peonies to see which are showing signs of sight of their freshly expanded leaves; these extremely variable in colour and form flower buds. With the cold winter they are all a little later than usual but it is the P x between different species. An aspect I have not seen discussed is the rate of growth Chameleon (from seed so it is anyone’s guess what it really is) that has buds just of the various species. As one would expect, the early-flowering forms such as P. beginning to swell. In another few weeks, the buds will break to reveal cherry-red single blooms. I love it when they emerge and I feel spring is really under way. mascula and P. mlokosewitschii start early and grow fast. ‘Judy’s White Peony’ is a real champion in this respect, as in many others. At the Spring equinox all these had big I hope many of you can make the journey to Waltham in June for our AGM, and I flower buds showing above the foliage. P. officinalis had fat shoots with the buds hope to see you there. Wishing you all well, Kath Carey concealed within. Most of the lactifloras, being later flowering, start later but were From the Secretary Gail Harland nevertheless well above ground, with long spindly shoots and no flower buds showing. What is perhaps more remarkable is the performance of P. anomala and its sub- After a really long, cold winter for many of us it will be interesting to see how the species P. veitchii. These flowered about a week before the lactifloras last year, but peonies fare this year. Some species ones such as P. emodi are already unfurling leaves here so they do not seem to have been put back at all. I am sure that our newsletter their shoots were scarcely visible in March. Even after several warm days of early editor would appreciate receiving reports from members on how peonies have fared April, the Finnish form of P. anomala and also P. vetchii alba have only inconspicu- in different parts of the country and abroad. ous short ‘noses’. P. veitchii woodwardii (so named in my garden) is farther advanced The 2011 Annual General Meeting of the Peony Group though. So the anomala group in general start late but grow fast. Possibly this is related to their habitat in cold and/or mountainous terrains. More observations on Notice is hereby given that the 2011 Annual General Meeting will be held at the this topic would be welcome. home of Maurice and Jean Claridge: 90 Brigsley Road, Waltham, Grimsby Lincoln- shire DN37 0LA on Sunday 12th June 2011 at 2.00pm. As is usual with our meet- ings, lunch will be available from 12.00 but please could you contact me beforehand Treasurer’s Report John Richey (Tel: 01449 760553 or email [email protected]) so that we have an idea of numbers. After the meeting we will visit Jo Bennison’s peony field at The Grange, You will see that our accounts remain reasonably stable with a year-end balance that East Firsby, Market Rasen. I have been to Jo’s before and was very impressed by compares favourably with last year. You can thank your editor and publisher for delights such as a tree peony hedge, specimen Itoh hybrid peonies and of course the controlling costs on the newsletter last year despite rising postal and printing ex- immaculately cared for peony field, so I can thoroughly recommend this visit. If you pense. We also had a nice fillip from Judy’s seed sales this year. would like a little taster, visit Jo’s website at www.bennisonpeonies.co.uk

Subscription renewals are holding at last year’s levels for the UK members, HPS and Directions to the AGM from Jean and Maurice Claridge: Our home is situated on with ourselves. We have written encouraging our past UK subscribers to renew if the southern edge of the village of Waltham, on the B1203, some 3 miles from they feel able. On the whole, the year looks reasonably good, so that at mid-March Grimsby. our bank balance is at £922.03 From the south east: A1 north to A46 at Newark. Follow A46 to A18 roundabout, If cost can be controlled subscriptions should remain at £4.50 for UK members, and right on A18 and travel east to the next roundabout with B1203. Turn left and pass £6.00 for overseas members, the latter sent to Pam Adams with your HPS fees. If through Brigsley. Our house is on the left shortly after you pass the Waltham sign. you want to pay by Standing Order mandate for a UK subscription for next year,

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From the north west: M62 east to M18 at junction 35. M18 to M180 at junction The cut peony in bud was Figure 7 5. placed in the neck of a water bottle and carried around with Travel east on M180 which becomes A180 after junction 5. Exit A180 at the third us until it flowered three days turn-off onto A1136 and turn left when you reach the T junction roundabout- con- later. Our hosts at the guest- tinue on a1136 and fork right at the TRAWL public house roundabout. Pass house, who had no idea that straight through the next mini and main roundabouts until you reach the final T such a beautiful thing grew in junction roundabout. Turn left into Waltham village and then right at the B1203 their country, were delighted to cross-road, which is Brigsley road. Our house is on the right after you have passed be given this lovely flower. (See the windmill on your left. figures 6 and 7)

From the south or south west: M1 north to M18 at junction 32. East on M18 to M180 at junction 5, then as above for directions from the north west.

Phone 01472 823167. E- mail [email protected]

Figure 8 Finally we did see what I con- Seed Distribution Report Judy Templar sidered to be P. daurica ssp coriifolia, above Artvin at Thank you to all who sent me peony seeds last Autumn, rather more than in 2009. 1180m. The flowers were Likewise there were more requests for seed. As usual seed of the Gansu Group and mostly over but some pink named P. lactiflora went very quickly. There was also great interest in the P. x chamae- petals hung on round the leon seed. I had to restrict many packets to 3 seeds so that more people could be tomentose carpels. The gla- satisfied. One excitement was the promise of P. jishanensis which I listed and many brous leaves were in the typical of you sent in requests for this shrubby species. I was able to visit the donor of the form of three, three, three seed who showed me a photo of the plant in flower and to my great disappointment leaflets. The plants certainly it turned out to be P. ostii, a very nice plant but not jishanensis. One species which I had the look of what we used would like more seed of is P. mascula ssp. mascula. to know as P. caucasica or kavachensis. (See Figs 8 and 9) I would welcome reports of seed sowing efforts, particularly those resulting in flowering plants. If the account could be expanded into an article I’m sure the editor would be delighted. My appetite has been whet- Last year I was fortunate to have a share in a pot of wild collected P. broteri seedlings ted for these peonies near to (from private land in the Algarve). They had been sown the previous year by John the Caucasus and I am keen and Shirley Palmer and showed good germination. The interesting point to me was to explore those in Georgia. the size and depth of pot used. I have always used small pots for seed sowing and Next year, maybe. then potted on as necessary with the resulting loss of many plants. This pot was 22cm across and 15cm deep and the advice was to resist potting on until the autumn, which I did. The strong carrot-like roots of these plants reached well down the pot and needed to be accommodated in deep pots. The plants are re-growing now. As a result I have changed my regime and all peony seeds are given the luxury of deep pots. Some of the plants will find their way to the AGM, if not this year Figure 9

4 13 tuberous, as are P. officinalis, whereas P. mascula Figure 5 then certainly on subsequent occasions. As usual, seedlings from surplus seed will roots are carrot shaped. This we could not be available this year at the AGM. verify. Many thanks to those of you who requested seed last year for sending a large letter Four days later came the next peony excitement. stamp with the order. Don’t forget, you can buy second class large letter stamps. I We had been promised a sight of P. wittmaniana find that it is always assumed at the post office that a first class stamp is required. above Ayder village but it was not in the area I look forward to a bumper crop of peony seed this Autumn for the Distribution. that we botanised so after quite a strenuous day Please send me your surplus seeds when they ripen. Don’t forget to label them clear- in the field I, and a few others, went in search ly, and send to me at 117 Wood Road, Kings Cliffe, Peterborough, PE8 6XR. of the peony up a different valley, to no avail. However our leaders, made of sterner stuff, carried on up the path and returned bearing a cut stem of the peony in bud. Fortunately the minibus driver was willing to take the enthusiasts in the party up to Tree Peony Grafting Methods Kath Carey and John Richey the site after supper. You may recall my account of seeing P. daurica ssp tomentosa in northern Iran in the newsletter Autumn 2010. This site in Turkey was similarly on a This article is based on the grafting day organized by Jo Bennison, as reported in the last news- slope and under small deciduous trees. (See figure 5) The plants here were much letter. bigger, on strong stems with large bright green leaves which were villose beneath. In Grafting is often used as a means of propagating tree peonies. Dividing them is Figure 6 sometimes impractical because of the hardness and shape of the root crown. Cut- tings can take a long time to give plants of a flowering size. Commercial propagators use specialised equipment for cuttings, though success can be had by the simplest of methods (see Peony Group Newsletter, Spring 2008; the ‘Eternal Camellias’ plant so produced is alive and well in a member’s garden).

Many of us with a prized tree peony would like a second plant if only as back-up in case of some mishap to the original. The article by Jo Bennison in The Plantsman last year (Volume 9, Part 1 March 2010) led to her offering at short notice to do a practical day devoted to grafting tree peonies.

The equipment:

 Bucket to sterilise the rootstock and scion  Domestic bleach  A board on which to prepare the cutting material  Rubbing alcohol  A very sharp knife (eg Stanley knife, safety razor or scalpel)  Elastic bands (maybe the red Post Office ones dropped by postmen)  Grafting tape (a web search reveals several sources)  Sealable plastic bags – they need to be quite large to take the completed graft (approx 45cm deep) the village we found some plants growing in a garden and being at a lower altitude the flowers were over, revealing glabrous carpels. So I concluded that we must have  Labels and a non-fading marker pen. P. steveniana or, as Hong would have it, P. daurica ssp macrophylla.

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Choosing and sterilising the root stock: The rootstock should be from peonies that The next day, on an open steep stoney hillside (at 1650m), lots more of this peony do not produce secondary buds and as far as possible should be fairly straight to were found. The foliage was ‘tighter’ and less lush but I would say that could be due make handling easier. Lactifloras or P. mascula are best. Peonies with P. officinalis or peregrina in their breeding are best avoided. Wash the rootstock clean of soil and Figure 3 select sections between 15 and 20cm long. Cut the root using a straight cut at the top and a sloping cut at the base to enable the orientation to be kept when doing the actual grafting. The rootstock is invariably larger in diameter than the scion. This does not matter, as it is the cambium layer of the scion that must be in touch with the cut surface of the rootstock. Remove small hairy bits and check the roots for holes. These could be slug damage or swift moths, so holes need cleaning out. Immerse the prepared rootstock in a bucket of bleach (10% domestic bleach in water) for between 1 and 2 hours.

Selecting and sterilising the scion: The scion should have two or three well developed buds in the leaf axils. Where a flower bud has formed the buds in the leaf axils are either small or blind. Cut about 5 cm lower than the lowest bud, and label the scion if more than one is being attempted. Immerse the scion in bleach for upwards of two hours. If more than one is being done it helps to place each scion in a plastic bag and fill it with the dilute bleach solution.

Preparing the root stock: Sterilise the cutting board and cutting blades by wiping with rubbing alcohol. Trim the top and bottom of the stock to remove the cut surface that was in contact with the bleach, and remove a tapering wedge. This is easily done using two safety razors. Insert one blade at a slight angle, cutting in at the top approximately to the diameter of the scion to be used later and coming out about 2.5 to the drier growing conditions. (See figure 3 and 4) By now the identification was o cm below. Use a second razor to cut against the first blade at an angle of about 60 considered to be P.daurica ssp coriifolia. P. daurica typically has 9 leaflets on lower and the wedge simply lifts out (figure 1). leaves and these plants certainly had a greater number than that. I feel that the plants here, and those we saw the previous day, were what used to be called P. mascula ssp arietina (and had been collected from this area under that name). Martin Page, in ‘The Gardener’s Peony’ regards P. arietina as a species in its own right and states that, from a mor- Figure 1 phological perspective it appears closer to P. officinalis subsp. villosa than P. mascu- Preparing the scion: The aim is to cut the scion to match the wedge taken from the rootstock. Two cuts are needed and the result should look like the prow of a boat. la. Similarly Hong, in his The cut may be slightly larger than the wedge taken for the rootstock, into which it is 2010 monograph, gives it specific status. The lateral inserted (figures 2,3,4). roots of P. arietina are always Figure 4

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Some Peonies in North Eastern Turkey Judy Templar Figure 2

In May 2010 I joined an AGS tour to North Eastern Turkey. This part of the world has a tremendously rich flora and we were not disappointed. On our very first day of

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Figure 1 plant hunting, as we were driving to our hotel in Bayburt after a splendid day explor- ing sites on the Zigana Pass, a pink flowered plant was spotted from the bus on the roadside banks. In a rather damp shady spot were several lovely peony plants. We were told that this should be Paeonia mascula ssp arietina. I had never seen this peony before but the plant here Binding the two together and sealing: A cheap elastic band is best as it will perish had a look of P. officinalis to me. As over twelve months and does not need removing later. Snip the band so you have a you will see from the photograph the strip of rubber and then leaves are more divided and less wind the strip tightly 3 or 4 rounded than P. mascula. Whatever times round the joint to its name, this was a lovely thing and hold it firmly while making much photographed, including the sure the cut faces are in grasshopper-like insects which were good contact. It is tricky munching the petals. (See figure 1 getting the end of the band and 2) Figure 2 locked in position under a

10 7 previous turn to stop it unravelling. The whole union then needs covering in bud- Conditioning the graft and planting out: Wrap the graft in a damp kitchen towel dy tape. This allows the graft to breathe but stops moisture getting in (figure 6). and place it upright in a sealable plastic bag. Put it in an airing cupboard at approx 18°C-20°C for between two and four weeks. This gives sufficient time for the joint to Figure 6 heal. Having given it time for the healing to occur, the graft should be planted out. This can either be in protected open ground or in a deep pot. The soil should be well- drained, improved with sand/grit and compost if needed to give a moist, not wet, and friable texture in which the roots can begin to grow. The new grafts should not be exposed to rain in the first months, so a glasshouse is ideal, or a covered area adjacent to a wall. The soil or compost should remain damp, but the grafts should NOT be watered until growth starts in the spring.

Whatever the choice, the graft union should be not less than 10cm below soil level, covering the first and perhaps the second bud of three. Very often, the upper buds fail to sprout in the spring but the lower one is successful.

Growing on: When new growth begins watering can also start, for the grafts should not become dry during the early growth period. Remove any flower buds that appear in order to focus growth on the root system. The Autumn of the first year is a time to Label the graft (figure 7). lift and check the root growth, which should have appeared on the nurse root and on the scion. When the latter are sufficiently developed, probably in the second Figure 7 year, the nurse root can be removed to further encourage growth underground.

At that point the plant can be placed in its permanent position, planted well down, even up to and over the lowest leaf buds, to cover as much stem as possible and encourage yet more root growth. At that point you have the right to feel you have been successful in your effort.

Addendum March 2011 Kath Carey

The grafted cuttings from Jo Bennison’s workshop spent five weeks in the airing cupboard before being planted out. I chose a very large pot and plunged them in deeply. Just one bud was peeping out at compost level. They were then promptly forgotten outside at the back of the greenhouse. It was a sheltered spot but given the cold of this last winter, certainly not frost free. None of the top buds are shooting but shoots have emerged from buds lower down and at present look healthy though how far they are shooting on their own resources or giving an indication of roots generating roots I have no idea at present. Currently they are about 8cm long. The one graft from my own plant is not showing any signs of growth as yet. The graft material for this was much more woody than Jo’s and so much harder to cut and bind to the rootstock.

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