Paeonia 'Morning Lilac'
Common Name: Intersectional Peony
This colorful selection produces vivid fuchsia purple blossoms with a bit of darker purple and white striping on the petals surrounding a large central boss of gold stamens. It is the earliest blooming of all the Intersectional Peonies we offer.
These single to semi-double, fragrant flowers are produced relatively early in the peony season, as they are nearly finished when ‘Bartzella’ and ‘Kopper Kettle’ are in full bloom. This is an incredibly floriferous selection, producing flowers all over the top and sides of the clump of sturdy, compact, dark green foliage.
Intersectional peonies are a relatively new class of Paeonia created by crossing herbaceous garden types with woody tree types. They are often called “Itoh Peonies” because the original cross was first made successfully by Japanese nurseryman Mr. Toichi Itoh in 1948. Sadly, he passed away before ever seeing one of his crosses bloom. Since that time, other hybridizers have continued his work including American breeder Roger Anderson.
Intersectional Peonies offer the best qualities of both garden and tree peonies combined including:
- Very large, tree peony-like flowers in colors not previously seen in herbaceous types
- Healthy, herbaceous foliage similar to tree peonies but with a robust, bushy habit that does not require staking
- Strong, herbaceous stems that hold the flowers upright even after a heavy rain; makes a better landscape plant than older herbaceous peonies
- A longer bloom time due to additional flowers being produced on side shoots
- Extreme winter hardiness like herbaceous types but with increased vigor
