Hi, it seems that the current trend for peonies is pastel colors, but some of the old cultivars are pretty impressive in vase and in the landscape. I wonder what you consider best cultivar(s) in magenta pink double category in terms of plant structure, flower composition and overall plant presentation when in flower. And of course in vase. I ordered Pink Derby for fall delivery but consider it more for cutting as it will probably need staking. Fawn is on my short list for future pinks ( may be not totally magenta-pink though), but there are others as well and I'd love to hear from those who grow pinks and (!) see their pictures.

Alex, I would say Rozella is the only double which I don't support in the garden, and I have to stake even some single peonies! Probably due to too cool weather, my guess. Unfortunately Rozella is a slow grower for me but I highly recommend it anyway. People praise Kansas for its nice flowers and strong stems but I always support it. This is Rozella:

Does "stand-alone" mean no staking?

Rozella is the one I was looking at recently, Anya. I guess it is the right size/weight of bloom and strength of stems that make it such a good plant. Does it fade for you and does it have any fragrance?
Littlebin, preferably no staking, but I do not mind a ring at the middle of the plant. I started to do it even to strong-stemmed varieties - they look very nice when the clump is tight and all flowers together, not sprawling under 45 degree and the worst ground kissing varieties. I remove the adjusting ring after the blooms are gone.
But for me stand-alone is more a of a overall plant statement in the garden - when in full flower or even without them. Plenty of single or double varieties ( and some of Itohs ) certainly have a mind-blowing effect, but double Red Charm is certainly floriferous enough in my garden as well.

Alex, last summer was awfully wet and cool, peonies did not fade. I looked at 2019 pictures and Rozella did fade, it was flowering the first time, being planted in fall 2018. I love this variety, amazingly strong and beautiful bush thoug still small in my case.

Rozella looks lovely, Anya !

The dark pinks and reds typically don't appeal to me in pics so I don't own as many as the lighter colors. To me though Paula Fay stands out enough to stand alone but not a double. When I read the title of your string another jumped to mind—Raspberry Charm. It's one that I bought and killed and never bothered with again until seeing it in full glory in a garden on my way to the APS convention in WI. It was truly amazing....I shared the pics here, I'm sure it's in a really old string, think that was 2017? And I don't even remember which garden it was in except it wasn't during the tour, was in one of the gardens Tracey suggested for on my way there. Needless to say I ordered that one again after that trip, still underperformed in CO but I have hopes for AL.

Paula Fay caught my attention a few years ago with her undescribable color. There is some shimmering involved.

In 2017 I took a picture in Oshawa garden of a peony that stood out as well. I do have some doubts that is Bravura as a tag claimed. Bravura suppose to be red... I wonder if anybody can guess what it could be... But it is not a magenta pink in my opinion.

Should be Olbrich botanical Garden at Madison, WI.
but I think Raspberry Charm is more red than magenta pink.

LizinElizabeth said:The dark pinks and reds typically don't appeal to me in pics so I don't own as many as the lighter colors. To me though Paula Fay stands out enough to stand alone but not a double. When I read the title of your string another jumped to mind—Raspberry Charm. It's one that I bought and killed and never bothered with again until seeing it in full glory in a garden on my way to the APS convention in WI. It was truly amazing....I shared the pics here, I'm sure it's in a really old string, think that was 2017? And I don't even remember which garden it was in except it wasn't during the tour, was in one of the gardens Tracey suggested for on my way there. Needless to say I ordered that one again after that trip, still underperformed in CO but I have hopes for AL.

Alex, your question was about a magenta double peony. Do you consider other options?

Princess Margaret comes to mind when I think about double magenta pink.

Anya, it could be something panache.

I do not grow those peonies personally and did not see them in the field, but Lois E. Klehm and LG picture of Paree Fru Fru with matching irises certainly caught my attention. Are they really magenta at opening? I find that some of my salmons losing intensity of their color when in full sun and want something like a bomb of panache color. I expect Pink Derby could do it in vase. Morning Lilac could do it in the field.

Alex,
This may not really be magenta. 'Nice Gal' makes a nice little bush for me with absolutely no support. You can see the variation of color in the picture below as the blooms age. My favorite characteristic is the beautiful long lasting red-purple foliage.







Love that foliage!

Is it Cytherea? Is the stigma pink?

AlexUnder said:In 2017 I took a picture in Oshawa garden of a peony that stood out as well. I do have some doubts that is Bravura as a tag claimed. Bravura suppose to be red... I wonder if anybody can guess what it could be... But it is not a magenta pink in my opinion.

Littlebin, from the pics I can see it is pink. Do you think it is Cytherea? The plant did not have strong straight stems, was probably some kind of spreading variety.
Laurie, certainly a very floriferous peony. Very tight clump. How big are those flowers?

Not sure--I've never measured them. Probably about "average." The clump is three years old; the closeup of the 1 bloom is when the plant was 2 years old.

My Cytherea, I have to stake it but it is not in the sunniest spot:

Sorry I am not sure. Cytherea and Paula Fay looks pretty similar to me.

AlexUnder said:Littlebin, from the pics I can see it is pink. Do you think it is Cytherea? The plant did not have strong straight stems, was probably some kind of spreading variety.
Laurie, certainly a very floriferous peony. Very tight clump. How big are those flowers?

Hi Alex,
I agree with Anya. Rozella has awesome stems. I have to put tomato cage rings around everything because the deer step on everything! This one is at the end of a flowerbed, so it is really exposed.

It does fade, but not all that much.



Here is that photo you mentioned of Paree Fru Fru with the Siberian irises. Hopefully this combo will bloom together again this year. Last year was the first time for PFF.