Saturday, June 7, 2014

Feature Spring Perennial: Hybrid Peony: Itoh Paeonia 'Bartzella'-A True Beauty!

Paeonia x 'Bartzella'
I came across a new hybrid variety of Paeonia called Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' this past week and thought it was definitely worth sharing the information I found on it.  As an avid gardener and designer I was thrilled to find this yellow beauty to fill a void in my garden where the past harsh winter had severely damaged an established spirea. Itoh Peonies are hybrids created from a blend of woody Tree Peonies and herbaceous Garden Peonies. The plant is named after the Japanese breeder Mr.Toichi Itoh who created the first hybrid. The first successful cross was made in 1948 but this cultivar is considered to be relatively new.  The enormous double blossom flowers on this plant are breathtaking and resemble that of tree peonies but have the expanded color range of garden peonies. Their stems are sturdy like those of a tree peony and will support the weight of the unusually large blooms that appear in late spring. Itoh Peonies are hardy in zones 4-9, grow to a height of 30-36 inches and once established have an extended bloom time in succession for up to a month. 
Paeonia x 'Bartzella'
Plant Itoh Paeonia 'Bartzella' in full sun and in a moist, well-drained soil.  Keep them evenly moist to establish a deep, extensive root system but do not over water.  As blooms fade remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms.  After blooming, the dark green foliage of this hybrid peony resembles that of Tree Peony and adds interest to the garden well into fall. At the end of the season cut back stalks and cover with a thin layer of mulch as you would treat any herbaceous peony to protect the roots. Paeonia 'Bartzella' serve beautifully as a single focal point or as a mass planting and fit into a large range of garden styles including perennial borders, foundation plantings and cottage gardens.  As an added bonus Paeonia 'Bartzella' are also disease resistant, deer resistant, low maintenance and long-lived... hands down a winner!

As Always...Happy Gardening! 

                                             
       Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.


10 comments:

  1. A very pretty one - similar colours to my Itoh paeony. Aren't they beautiful!

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    1. I love this plant and was so glad I ran across it at the nursery!

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  2. I now have four Bartzellas and they are loaded with buds this year... they are also getting huge!! This is by far my personal favorite intersectional... I've been told that the original belonging to Roger Anderson (developer of the plant) has had as many as 300 blooms in a season. I can't say first hand this is true but it's a nice thought!! Larry

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    1. Hi Larry. Thank you for the input. I can't wait to see how they do when they are established. I like way they bloom in succession and not all at once like my Karl Rosenfelds. That gives a little more bloom time to look forward to!

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  3. I've never seen one this color, Lee, and it is just gorgeous!

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  4. Dear Lisa,
    oh thank you for sharing this information!!! She is a beauty and would fit in my garden!!!
    This colour!!!
    Sunny days and all the best from Austria
    Elisabeth

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  5. Hi Lee
    Just recently I came across someone writing about a type of peony called an Itoh but hadn't had the chance to research it yet. You just did it for me - thx! What a beauty and what a terrific idea to combine the tree peony and the herbaceous one.

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    1. You are very welcome Astrid! This hybrid peony was such an exciting discovery and addition to my garden. I guess I was just in the right place at the right time!

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Thank you for visiting. I love reading your comments and knowing you have been here, and will try to reciprocate on your blog. If you have any questions I will try my very best to answer them. As always...HAPPY GARDENING!