The Breeding and Propagation of Intersectional Peonies:

Transcription

1 The Breeding and Propagation of Intersectional Peonies: A Pictorial Review of my 15 Year Intersectional Breeding Program Presentation to the Minnesota Peony Society 26 February 05 Don Smith Breeder of exceptional intersectional hybrids yellowpeoniesandmore.com

2 Acknowledgements I am grateful to the following people for providing help, support, encouragement and inspiration Roger Anderson Bill Seidl Don Hollingsworth Chris Laning And the late L. Roy Pehrson, Louis Smirnow & Toichi Itõ 2

3 Yellow Peonies and More Smith Family Yellow (Smith, 2002) 3

4 Intersectional Hybrids Intersectional Hybrids are produced by crossing herbaceous peonies (mostly lactiflora varieties from section paeonia) ) with tree peonies (mostly lutea hybrids from section moutan) Reverse cross remains exceedingly difficult Long thought to be impossible, the cross was first successfully made by Toichi Itõ around 1949 and the resulting hybrids were discovered around 1967 by Louis Smirnow Sterile Triploids 2 parts tree peony 1 part herbaceous Tree peony flowers & foliage on mostly herbaceous plants 4

5 Intersectional Peonies and Seedless Watermelons Inter-sectional hybrids are rare in the plant world but triploids are not Virtually all seedless fruits are sterile triploids Seedless Oranges and other citrus fruits Seedless Watermelon Edible Bananas (non seedless bananas are inedible) Etc. 5

6 Yellow Peonies and More This talk will emphasize the And More in Yellow Peonies and More Bright yellow intersectionals such as Bartzella & Garden Treasure are well known and still remain highly sought after The non-yellows are far less known and greatly under-appreciated These include: These include: Beautiful Pinks Gorgeous Pink and Cream Blends Stunning Pink Picotees And more 6

7 Characteristics of the Pink and Yellow Blends The blends mature quite handsomely Pink and yellow blends are created by red overlaid on top of yellow colors do not mix - most pronounced when first open Red pigment Fades more quickly than yellow Often the red remains on the outer most petals or the outer edge of all petals creating a picotee effect Yellow pigment matures in two different ways In many cases, the yellow slowly fades to pale yellow, cream or white In other cases, the yellow intensifies after opening Result: Ever-changing & often stunning combinations of pink and yellow or cream 7

8 Seedling Identification Nomenclature Culivar Name Smith Family Jewel Pink Double Dandy Unnamed Seedling ID # IC-XX-xx IC IC IC Garden Location Row #/Plant # R2P23 R4P8 R2P7 IC = Intersectional Cross, XX = Year plant first grew (cross made in previous year) 8

9 Flower Color Distribution Distribution of my intersectional hybrids by flower color Bright Yellow = 49% Light Yellow = 15% Near Whites = 4% Pinks = 13% Pink and Yellow Blends = 17% Total Sample = 82 Non-yellows make-up about 1/3 of the hybrids 9

10 Yellow Peonies and More Smith Family Jewel (Smith, 2002) 10

11 Yellow Peonies and More Smith Family Jewel (Smith, 2002) 11

12 Smith Family Jewel Pretty to the Very End Smith Family Jewel First day flower Smith Family Jewel Same flower 4 days later 12

13 Yellow Peonies and More Smith Family Jewel 13

14 Flower Color Variation with Time Flower Form & Color Variations of Smith Family Jewel 14

15 Yellow Peonies and More Yankee Doodle Dandy (Smith, 2002) 15

16 Pinks on Parade Reverse cross hybrid from (Age of Gold x Martha W.) Reverse Magic (Smith, 2002) 16

17 Pinks on Parade Scrum-didley-umptious (Smith, 2002) 17

18 Pinks on Parade Berry Garcia (Smith, 2004) 18

19 Pinks on Parade Berry Garcia (Smith, 2004) 19

20 Pinks on Parade Magical Mystery Tour (Smith, 2002) 20

21 Pinks on Parade Magical Mystery Tour (Smith, 2002) 21

22 Pinks on Parade R4P12 22

23 Pinks on Parade R2P7 23

24 Unnamed Seedlings R2P7 24

25 Unnamed Seedlings R3P13 25

26 Unregistered Seedlings Berry Nice 26

27 New 2004 Seedling R5P17 (Martha W. x D-67) 27

28 Yellow Peonies and More Impossible Dream (Smith, 2004) 28

29 (P. suffruiticosa x P. lactiflora) Reverse Cross Intersectional Hybrid Impossible Dream (Smith, 2004) 29

30 Yellow Peonies and More Impossible Dream, semi-double form 30

31 Beautiful Buds & Opening Flowers R3P13 Opening bud R3P13 Opening flower 31

32 Flower Color Distribution Distribution of my intersectional hybrids by flower color Bright Yellow = 49% Light Yellow = 15% Near Whites = 4% Pinks = 13% Pink and Yellow Blends = 17% Total Sample = 82 Near Whites make-up less than 5% of the hybrids 32

33 Yellow Peonies and More R3P2 33

34 Yellow Peonies and More R3P8 34

35 Yellow Peonies and More Haleigh s Comet 35

36 Yellow Peonies and More R4P10 36

37 Yellow Peonies and More Registrations Present and Future 37

38 My 2002 Registrations Singing in the Rain Smith Family Jewel Magical Mystery Tour Smith Family Yellow Yellow Doodle Dandy Strawberry Blonde Reverse Magic Build Me Up Buttercup Maximus Glorious Yankee Doodle Dandy Scrum-didley-umptious Golden Delicious 38

39 My New 2004 Registrations Red Eyed Susie Candy Cane Goldsmith Rocket s Red Glare Pink Double Dandy Pink Passion Berry Garcia Berry Berry Fine Sail Away White Knight Haleigh s Comet Golden Extra 39

40 Registration # 13 The one and only Impossible Dream 40

41 Future Registrations 2005 Unnamed R4P16 Massachusetts Moonshine Screaming Yellow Delight Unnamed R3P2 Unnamed R3P1 Unnamed R2P7 Berry Nice Unnamed R3P7 Mock Orange Yellow Mother of the Bride White Gold Garden Joy 41

42 Seedlings Still Under Evaluation Unnamed R3P5 Unnamed R1P14 Unnamed R1P21 Unnamed R4P4 Unnamed R4P17 Unnamed R4P12 Unnamed R4P20 Unnamed R3P14 Unnamed R3P3 Unnamed R1P20 Unnamed R3P9 Unnamed R4P5 42

43 More Seedlings Still Under Evaluation Unnamed R4P18 Unnamed R2P5 Unnamed R3P22 Unnamed R3P23 Unnamed R2P8 Unnamed R1P16 Unnamed R2P16 Unnamed R4P3 Unnamed R4P10 Unnamed R1P13 Unnamed R5P2 Unnamed R4P11 43

44 Intersectionals in Bloom Pink Passion Candy Cane Yankee Doodle Dandy Strawberry Blonde Smith Family Jewel Magical Mystery Tour 44

45 Two Unique & Wonderful Characteristics of the Intersectional Hybrid Group Flower Color Variations Many hybrids undergo remarkable & beautiful color transformations as the flowers mature (over 1-4 days) Unique Sidebud Flower Characteristics Sidebud flowers are unexpected surprise Result: Two flower forms & two flower colors on the same plant, often at the same time 45

46 Flower Color Variation with Time Color Phases of Mock Orange Yellow 46

47 Flower Color Variations Candy Cane Candy Cane 47

48 Flower Color Variations Singing in the Rain Singing in the Rain 48