THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



the earliest sweet scented double variety grown 

 in England. 



In 1837, the variety Pottsii was described as 

 the most splendid of the five albifloras cultivated 

 in Enghsh gardens. It had been introduced from 

 China by John Potts — an intrepid plant-collector 

 — in 1822, and named after him. 



The first large collection of named peonies in 

 England was made by Loddige in Hackney in 

 1845, and was sold eight years later. In 1850, 

 Salter, a nurseryman, began a collection with the 

 albifloras, Edulis superba (splendid, with edible 

 roots), originated by Lemon in France in 1824, 

 Pottsii and Reevesii, and some other varieties 

 imported from Belgium. In his catalogue, of 

 1855, twenty- four double sorts are listed. At 

 this time, peonies began to have such a large 

 sale that Salter was unable to supply the demand 

 for P. Grandiflora nivea plena (double large 

 snow white) — originated by Lemon in 1824 — 

 P. lutea plenissima (very double, yellow) — - 

 originated by Buyck in Belgium in 1842 — and 

 several of the others that he offered. 



In addition to the above-named varieties, the 

 first hybridisers in England had three forms of 



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