Artemis
This plant has 4 different species in its background, so is known as a “quad” hybrid. The quads Saunders introduced often have interesting patterns not seen in other lines of peonies. This is a very delicate and distinctive beauty. I don’t think it is nearly as widely grown as it deserves. I love this plant!
Saunders named several of his quadruple hybrids after Greek goddesses. Artemis, daughter of Zeus, is the goddess of childbirth. Wouldn’t you like to know why he chose this particular name?
| Cultivar: | Artemis |
| Year: | 1951 |
| Seedling No: | 16230 (Page 46 of Silvia Saunders’ notebook) |
| Parentage: | 28: lactiflora X (‘Otto Froebel’ X 5397) (5397 = mlokosewitschii X macrophylla) |
| Flower: | Color: | pink and white blend; pink flares veins, and edges on white background |
| Form: | single, flat flower with beautifully notched edges | |
| Blooms: | Week 3 | |
| Carpels: | 2-4, grey-green, slightly woolly | |
| Stigmas: | deep pink | |
| Disc: | white, edged pink | |
| Stamens: | filaments red at base, fading to yellow, abundant stamens | |
| Plant: | Habit: | upright |
| Foliage color: | medium green | |
| Foliage form: | rather narrow leaves, incurved | |
| Height: | 34″ in 2021 | |
| Recommendation: | Highly recommended |
| Availability: | Few specialty nurseries |
