Paeonia 'Bartzella'

Paeonia 'Bartzella': Lemon-Yellow Blooms by the Armload

'Bartzella' is the peony that skipped the flop phase entirely. Huge, fragrant, lemon-yellow blooms on stems so sturdy they've never met a stake. YELLOW, LOUD AND STRUCTURALLY SOUND.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Paeonia (Itoh Group) 'Bartzella'
• Common Name: Intersectional Peony, Itoh Peony
• Height: 80 cm (31 in)
• Spread: 90 cm (35 in)
• Flowers: Lemon yellow, semi-double to double, 15–20 cm (6–8 in) across, fragrant, often with small red flares at the base
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May to June)
• Foliage: Deeply cut, rich green, tidy until frost
• Features: Fragrant, strong stems that rarely need staking, long bloom period, American Peony Society Gold Medal (2006), RHS Award of Garden Merit

Where to Plant: Give it a front-row seat in a sunny border, beside a patio, or as a stand-alone focal point. Its rounded, shrubby mound looks good from spring to frost. Each plant opens many buds over several weeks, so there's usually a flower to cut.

Companion Plants: Delphinium 'Pagan Purples' rises to 120 to 180 cm behind the peony with purple spires from June to August. Salvia Perpetual Purple™ adds purple spikes at 40 to 45 cm from June to September, a rich contrast to the big yellow flowers. Achillea 'Strawberry Seduction' brings red heads at 45 to 50 cm over the same long season. Plant them all in full sun.

Plant Care: Plant it in a sunny spot with fertile, well-drained soil. Set the crown so the eyes sit about 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) below the surface. Water regularly the first season, then only during long dry spells. Its stems hold the flowers up without help. Itoh peonies have semi-woody stems, and next year's buds can form low on them. In late fall, cut the stems back but leave a few centimetres above the soil, and clear away the old leaves. Division is rarely needed. If you do it, wait several years and cut the crown in early fall with a sharp knife or spade.

History: Wisconsin breeder Roger Anderson registered 'Bartzella' in 1986, from a double white garden peony crossed with a tree peony hybrid. It received the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 2006 and its Award of Landscape Merit in 2009.

Final Thoughts: Long blooming, deer resistant and low maintenance. Plant it once and let it outlive your patio furniture. BUILT TO LAST, BUILT TO BRAG.