Magnificent colors, elegance, variety of forms - about peony, as one of the most ideal creations of nature, you can talk endlessly. And its floral aroma? This is just a miracle! And only a rose, perhaps, surpassed him in his charm and perfection. These two plants are similar not only in their amazing beauty, but also in the variety of species. Especially attractive have recently become yellow peonies. Consider the history of their appearance, some types and features of selection.
Peony - King of the Flowers
This plant has long been considered a symbol of peace, happiness and love. The main attractive feature was noted - the multiplicity of buds and a rather long (up to a month) period of their gradual opening and withering. Of all the existing species, yellow peonies have been especially popular lately. Botanists appreciate the old varieties and are constantly working on breeding new, with even more beautiful inflorescences. What attract yellow peonies around? Photos clearly demonstrate all the richness of the decoration of the buds, their splendor and splendor. But in addition to the appearance, the flowers have an amazing and fairly stable aroma. Consider how these flowers appeared, and also talk about the success of breeding.
Herbaceous varieties
Do not think that this is such a novelty - yellow peonies. The varieties listed below were discovered by botanists in nature a few decades ago.
- Peony Mlokosevich. This is one of the first yellow-flowered plants, which was discovered by a Polish botanist in the Caucasus at the end of the 19th century. By the way, this is a rather rare species of grassy peonies. He has another, humorous name - "the witch Molly." This perennial plant is propagated by seeds (experts say that blue-colored ones have the highest germination rate). The flowers are single, lemon yellow.
- Peony crown-shaped, or Golden Wheel. One of the best grassy representatives. Discovered in the late 30s of the last century in the northeast of China during the Japanese occupation. The Chinese consider it rare and argue that this peony is the only truly yellow of milk flowering. In addition to flowers, buds and rhizomes, it even has leaves of a greenish-yellow color.
- Daurian peony. A Latvian researcher discovered this flower during a trip to Iran. Color is extraordinarily bright. Based on it, five subspecies are derived.
Yellow peonies: selection history
Initially, several types of flower were discovered in nature by botanists. Then yellow peonies growing in the wild became living material for experiments. The selection work began by the French V. Lemoine and L. Henry at the beginning of the last century. They crossed wild tree-like yellow peonies with large-flowered ones. The experiments resulted in plants known as lutea hybrids. Then, in the 50s of the 20th century, the work was continued by the American breeder A. Saunders, having received and registered more than 75 subspecies of peony. Also, many other plant growers have repeatedly made attempts to develop new varieties. But the main secret of breeding, as the researchers realized, was the skillful work of crossing shrubby and grassy peonies.
Important tasks for breeders
Despite the variety of the appearance of the buds, the researchers always set themselves the main goal - the removal of the peony as bright as possible, a true yellow color. Such work has always been one of the fashionable and relevant areas. Hybridization did not work out for quite a long time, until researchers tried to cross the tree-like and grassy yellow peonies. Varieties obtained in 1958 using this method, a gardener from Japan Toichi Ito, had a more saturated color. This was a kind of breakthrough in science. A little later, in 1974, having acquired joint rights to the hybrid, the owner of the nursery in the United States, Louis Smirnov, officially registered him in the registry and introduced four new subspecies.
Features of intersection hybrids
If the ancestors had only a single color and not so lush and wavy caps, then modern species can boast a number of advantages:
1. The "conveyor" of flowers. On one stem per season, usually replace each other up to 10-15 and even 30 buds. In addition, almost all varieties can please the eye with the simultaneous blooming of several colors.
2. Features of the forms. The smooth, albeit lush, inflorescences were replaced by wavy, terry and serrated inflorescences.
3. Durable stems. Thanks to crossing, their elasticity increased. This allows bolder use of peonies for landscaping. Indeed, even under heavy rain, the stems of the plant will remain upright.
4. Coloring options. In addition to the usual color, the combination of several shades and a wide palette on the theme of yellow variations are pleasing to the eye.
The future of intersection hybrids
What are the goals and plans for breeding peonies set for themselves by breeders, growing yellow peonies? Firstly, the expansion of the color palette. As they say, there is no limit to perfection, right? Secondly, an increase in bushiness of foliage, as well as the possibility of repeated flowering in the fall. And, of course, the result of the efforts will be that the handsome men we are considering will be more famous, people will be able to intensively propagate yellow peonies. Where to buy this miracle? So far, this can only be done in special nurseries. But in the future, as their popularity grows, thanks to active breeding and, as a result, lower prices, beautiful yellow flowers will decorate the garden plots of any gardener.
So far, these beauties are widely used only in the preparation of fashionable floral arrangements, including wedding ones. More and more modern brides wish their bouquet to be decorated with a yellow peony. Customer reviews almost always sound the same: "Stylish, fashionable, elegant and fragrant!"