Many local nurseries carry herbaceous peonies of the most well-known varieties such as Festival Maxima (White double flecked with red, Mielles, 1851), Felix Crouse (Double Carmine red, Crousse, 1881) or Mon Jules Elis (Rose-pink double, Crousse, 1888). No true peony lover could be without these old stand-bys.

But where do you find the rare varieties that have thrived since 1400 A.D., that were once thought to be the province of only the East?

Chinese tree peonies have gained in popularity in just even the last decade. With the advent of the web, we are fortunate that many nurseries now display their peonies to us at the click of the mouse.

Many of these sites provide an excellent education on the types of peonies (single, double, and everything in between). You can find tips on planting, cultivating, maintaining, even hybridizing. Some are also a source for ordering hard to find books on Peonies. Others delve deeply into the history and development of peonies.

Here are a few sources I like. Click on the flower icon to visit.

Nature’s Promise features irises and peonies, primarily Chinese, both herbaceous and Tree. They provide cultiver information, suggest companion plants, and Links to Peony and Iris Societies. They are well rounded in their specialties.

Check out the peony pictures in the Botanical Link page; many are the rare P. Rockii. They are achingly beautiful! I might just have to dig a little deeper into my pocketbook this year.

BROTHERS PEONIES AND HERBS ~ 27015 SW Ladd Hill Road ~ Sherwood, OR 97140 (503) 625-7548 Fax (503) 625-1667 ~ Owner Rick Rogers tells a tale of how he and 3 to 4 other men dug up a peony, with roots weighing over 450 pounds! (Or was it 900?!! This is how rumors get started!)

I have ordered a number of peonies from them, including: P. Rockii (Peace Lotus), Anna Marie, Black Panther, Blue Sapphire, Irridescent Butterfly, and received an additional gift of a P. Ludlowii. You can expect personal service here.

Rick Rogers does not have his own site but you can find some information of his peonies at Great Plants

I also recommend the book written by Rick’s father, Allan Rogers.

Rogers, Allan. 1995. Peonies. Portland Oregon, Timber Press, Inc. ISBN 0-88192-317-6.

Caprice Farm is closely related, also in Sherwood. In addition to peonies they have irises (Bearded and Siberian) and unusual varieites of day lilies. Each time my neighbor comes back from a trip there I end up wanting exactly what she bought! And Caprice Farms gets another sale! Their site is well organized, pictorial, and worth the visit.

Nicholls Gardens is a great site for pictures.

Paradise Garden has lovely pictures, including one of my favorites, Gay Paree, a hot-pink Japanese variety with a thick, icy-white center. It often produces pink petaloids in the center, bursting higher than the white petals, a charming effect.

Golden Port International remains one of the best sites for Chinese Tree Peonies. I have ordered King of Black Flowers and Bronze Complexion from them, and was well satisfied with the service. The photo art of Shen Huang is the best I’ve seen of peonies on the web. These are two of my favorites, (I own both), and their descriptions of them.

Lan Bao Shi ~ Blue Jewel, also known as Blue Sapphire

He Ping Lian ~ Peace Lotus

Goldenport Catalogue description: "Single shaped, off white color with dense fragrance, the dark maroon flares at the base of each petal which look like another circle of petals, with the yellow stamens in the center, this combination makes this flower an unusual beauty; plant height to 7 feet." Ours had one bloom this year, its first.

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