Magnificent colors, elegance, variety of forms - one can talk endlessly about the peony, as one of the most ideal creations of nature. What about its floral scent? It's just a miracle! And only the rose, perhaps, overtook him in its charm and perfection. These two plants are similar not only in their amazing beauty, but also in the variety of species. Yellow peonies have recently become especially attractive. Consider the history of their appearance, some types and features of selection.
Peony is the king of 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 wilting. Of all the existing species, yellow peonies have recently received particular popularity. Botanists appreciate old varieties and are constantly working on breeding new ones with even more beautiful inflorescences. What attracts those around yellow peonies? The photos clearly demonstrate all the richness of the decoration of the buds, their splendor and magnificence. But in addition to the appearance, the flowers also have an amazing and fairly stable aroma. Consider how these flowers appeared, and also talk about the successesbreeding.
Herbaceous varieties
Don't think that this is such a novelty - yellow peonies. The varieties listed below were discovered by botanists in nature several decades ago.
- Mlokosevich's peony. 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 also has another, playful name - "Molly the Witch." This perennial plant reproduces by seeds (experts say that blue-colored plants have the highest germination rate). Flowers solitary, lemon yellow.
- Crown-shaped peony, or Golden Wheel. One of the best herbal representatives. Discovered in the late 30s of the last century in northeast China during the Japanese occupation. The Chinese consider it rare and claim that this peony is the only truly yellow of the milk-flowered ones. In addition to flowers, buds and rhizomes, it even has greenish-yellow leaves.
- Dahurian peony. A Latvian researcher discovered this flower during a trip to Iran. The color is exceptionally bright. Based on it, five subspecies have been bred.
Yellow peonies: breeding history
Initially, several types of flower were discovered by botanists in nature. Then yellow peonies growing in the wild became living material for experiments. The Frenchmen V. Lemoine and L. Henry began breeding work at the beginning of the last century. They crossedwild tree-like yellow peonies with large-flowered ones. The result of the experiments were plants known as lutea hybrids. Then, in the 50s of the XX 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 breeders have repeatedly made attempts to develop new varieties. But the main secret of selection, as the researchers realized, was the skillful work of crossing shrub and grassy peonies.
Important tasks for breeders
Despite the variety of appearance of the buds, researchers have always set themselves the main goal - breeding a peony as bright as possible, true yellow in color. Such work has always been one of the fashionable and relevant trends. Hybridization did not work for quite some time, until the researchers tried to cross tree and grassy yellow peonies. Varieties obtained in 1958 using this method by Japanese gardener Toichi Ito were distinguished by more saturated colors. It was a kind of breakthrough in science. A little later, in 1974, having acquired joint rights to a hybrid, the owner of a nursery in the USA, Louis Smirnov, officially registered it in the registry and bred four new subspecies.
Features of intersectional hybrids
If the ancestors had only a solid color and not so lush and wavy hats, then modern species can boast a number of advantages:
1. "Conveyor" of flowers. On one stem per season, they usually replace each other up to 10-15 andeven 30 buds. In addition, almost all varieties can please the eye with the simultaneous blooming of several flowers.
2. Features of forms. Smooth, albeit lush, inflorescences have been replaced by wavy, double and jagged.
3. Strong stems. Thanks to crossing, their elasticity increased. This allows you to boldly use peonies for landscape design. After all, even under heavy rain, the stems of the plant will remain erect.
4. Color options. In addition to the usual color, the simultaneous combination of several shades and a wide palette of yellow variations please the eye.
The future of intersectional hybrids
What are the goals and plans for breeding peonies set by breeders when growing yellow peonies? First, the expansion of the color palette. As they say, there is no limit to perfection, right? Secondly, an increase in the bushiness of foliage, as well as the possibility of re-blooming in the fall. And, of course, the result of the efforts made will be that the beauties we are considering will be better known, 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 backyards of any gardener.
So far, these beauties are widely used only in the preparation of fashionable flower arrangements, including wedding ones. More and more modern brides want their bouquetdecorated with yellow peony. Customer reviews almost always sound the same: "Stylish, fashionable, elegant and fragrant!"
