Description
Gifted Sun, a very early, herbaceous hybrid, is a novel cultivar this season for its large plant with large showy flowers, the terminal flowers of which open with the fern-leaf hybrid Early Scout. Flowers are light yellow, guard petals cupped and ruffled, an up-facing terminal flower on nearly all stems, with a later opening side-bud on about half. Has an average of two light green hairy carpels, normal stigmas are red, anthers are yellow, filaments pale yellow, disk white and obscure, pollen and seed fertile.
A welcome attribute is its almost complete flower bud resistance to damage from the late freezing weather fronts which too often plague peony growing here in northwest Missouri. A vigorous grower, strong stems are fully clothed in foliage. Leaflets are shining light green, free of mildew and leaf spot fungi, regularly remaining green and clean into late summer or autumn. Breeding potential is very promising, given the potential for imparting both very early reliable flowering quality and resistances to maladies some of which require chemical sprays for the peony bush to remain attractive throughout the season.
Best Use
Novel variety; general garden and landscape use; hybridizing; attracts pollinators and honey bees; deer resistant.
Basic Growing Requirements
Full Sun. Water as needed, sensitive to overwatering and waterlogged conditions. Soil pH 6.5-7. Fertile, well-draining soil.
Disclosure
The image(s) above shows the actual cultivar named and described on this page. The pictures are a fair and accurate depiction of the flowers as they are, in vivo, and are not staged or altered otherwise. The descriptions are based on our experience with plants that are grown by us here in NW Missouri.
ALL ORDERS SHIP BARE ROOT AFTER HARVEST AND USDA INSPECTION IN LATE SEPTEMBER THROUGH NOVEMBER.
