How to Select Varieties 
Ratings awarded by the American Peony 
Society are based on the quality of the bloom 
as a show-flower. Showing peonies in competi¬ 
tion is very interesting and has marked cultural 
and educational value to the community. How¬ 
ever, there are other and perhaps more impor¬ 
tant features to be considered by the peony 
novice, the general gardener, and the home- 
owner. This list is arranged to enable the 
average buyer to select sorts to fit his own re¬ 
quirements and avoid stocking up on varieties 
ill-adapted to the purpose of the planting. 
Some peonies answer every requirement. Such 
are listed below as “General Utility” peonies. 
Plants in this list have decorative value in the 
garden; the stems and foliage are adequate; 
the plants tend to be vigorous, free-blooming 
and reliable every year; the blooms rate high 
for competition in shows, and are excellent for 
home cut-flowers. A novice may select from 
this list with perfect confidence. 
Some peonies have especial decorative value 
in the garden, lawn or perennial border . Avoid 
sprawly plants with weak stems and few side- 
buds. Plants with strong stems, numerous side- 
buds, bright, vigorous foliage and colorful 
blooms of impressive size are best for this 
purpose. The blooms need not be fully double. 
In fact, semi-doubles, singles and Japs are the 
most attractive and stand up best in wind and rain. 
Varieties listed here as “Show Peonies” are 
not well adapted to lawn decoration or cut- 
flower use. They cannot be relied upon to be 
at their best every year. Extreme doubleness, 
tight buds or other features make them some¬ 
what finicky under general garden conditions. 
They are only for “peony fans” or those who 
are willing to devote extra care to cultivation 
and be satisfied with a superlative burst of 
bloom in good seasons, viewing the poor seasons 
philosophically. But they win in the shows when 
they are good. 
For an abundance of cut-flowers for home 
use, select varieties so marked (or from “Gen¬ 
eral Utility” list). These varieties will furnish 
a steady, reliable supply of cut-flowers of ex¬ 
cellent quality. The plants are vigorous, but by 
reason of weak stems or sprawly habit they do 
not furnish the highest decorative value in lawn 
or border, and the quality of bloom is hardly 
high enough for competitive showing. 
