Here are five favorite white heirloom peonies that were introduced in the nineteenth century, so are well over 100 years old. All are available through catalog and/or on line sources.
‘Avalanche’
The full white flowers of ‘Avalanche’ are fragrant and the edges of the petals are flecked with red. The good petal substance makes helps them stand up to wind and rain. Look similar to ‘Festiva Maxima’ described below.
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Breeder and Introduction Date: Crousse, 1886
Height: 35”
Type: Double
Bloom Time: Midseason
‘Duchess de Nemours
The creamy white fragrant flowers are full and globe-shaped with touches of green on the petals and a yellow center.
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Breeder and Introduction Date: Calot, 1856
Height: 34”
Type: Double
Bloom Time: Midseason
‘Festiva Maxima’
Probably the most popular and available of the white heirloom peonies, ‘Festiva Maxima’ offers large, loose, fragrant blooms with red flecks. The flowers are similar to those of ‘Avalanche’ but the bloom date is significantly earlier.
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Breeder and Introduction Date: Miellez, l851
Height: 36”
Type: Double
Bloom Time: Early
Madame de Verneville
Another white peony with red flecks but this one has an inner glow of yellow from its base and is very fragrant with a rose scent.
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Breeder and Introduction Date: Crousse, 1885
Height: 31”
Type: Double
Bloom Time: Midseason
Baroness Schroeder
The white flowers open with a blush and then turn pure white. They and are mildly fragrant. and are excellent as cut flowers.
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Breeder and Introduction Date: Kelway, 1889
Height: 35”
Type: Double
Bloom Time: Late-midseason
Most of the old heirloom white peonies are double, fragrant, but they vary in height and bloom time. To get a long bloom our of your peony bed, plant a variety of cultivars so that at least one kind is blooming from early to late.
