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Monrovia’s Itoh Peony Series
In 1948, Toichi Itoh was the first person to successfully cross a tree Peony with a garden Peony resulting in a “best of both worlds” Peony which features the colorful and exotic flowers of tree Peonies with the perennial growing cycle of garden Peonies. This year, Monrovia honors Mr. Itoh’s achievement by giving two of its new Itoh Peonies Japanese-inspired names and re-naming two of its existing varieties in its popular Itoh Peony series. Itoh Peonies are easy to grow and once established, they offer a blooming period unlike any other with individual plants boasting as many as 50 blooms in a single season. A closer look at Monrovia’s images and descriptions of the individual varieties reveals why the hardest part will be selecting your favorite one!
 Takara (“Treasure”) – New for 2011, this variety has large flowers, up to six inches across, in an exquisite, ever-changing blend of colors. When opening, blooms appear mostly pink, but are actually light yellow heavily flushed with deep lavender pink. As the flowers mature, the blooms fade to light pink with large dark burgundy flares in the center. Blooms appear early May through end of June. Finely cut dark green foliage and a rounded form to three feet tall and wide, make this an excellent landscape plant. Prefers full sun.
 Misaka (“Beautiful Blossom”) – New for 2011, this herbaceous perennial features large flowers that appear orange when first opening - rare among intersectional hybrids – fading to a beautiful, peachy-yellow in full sun. Large contrasting dark-red central flares are extremely prominent. Its heavy flowering is due to its higher than average number of secondary buds. This new cultivar has a vigorous growth habit with narrow, finely cut foliage that is disease resistant. Prefers full sun.
 Keiko (“Adored”) – Formerly known as Pink Double Dandy, its large, semi-double to double flower measures up to six inches and is held on strong stems above a compact mound of 24 to 30 inches tall and wide, dark green foliage. As the flower matures, its dark lavender pink petals slowly fade to a soft pink, revealing a cluster of yellow stamens in its center. Lightly fragrant. Prefers full sun to dappled shade.
 Yumi (“Beauty”) – Formerly known as Yellow Doodle Dandy, its large, double flower, measuring seven to eight inches, is spectacular. Masses of clear yellow petals form a perfect flower with a light and very pleasant fragrance. Blooms are held on strong stems just above a compact mound of dark green, trouble-free foliage. Plant is very hardy and prefers full sun to dappled shade. Excellent dark green foliage lasts well into autumn.
 Cora Louise - Large semi-double white flowers with striking dark lavender flares, opening a pale pink, quickly fading to white. Blooms are held on strong stems just above a compact mound of dark green, trouble-free foliage 24 to 32 inches tall and wide. The flower has a light and pleasant fragrance. Prefers full sun.
 Kopper Kettle - Large eight inch, copper-orange, semi-double flowers with a darker center and occasional yellow streaks in the petals! Blooms are held on strong stems just above a compact mound of dark green, trouble-free foliage 26 to 28 inches tall, 3 feet wide. The flower has a light and pleasant fragrance. Prefers full sun.
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