Mystery
‘Mystery’ can produce a very “finished” flower, perfectly round and carrying a dramatically dark center. Silvia Saunders displayed it at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 1962 where it won a Commendation. She speculated that it might be a tetraploid.
There are good examples of ‘Mystery’ at both Winterthur and the Scott Arboretum where I photographed them in 2017. However, these photos are from my own garden.
| Cultivar: | Mystery |
| Year: | 1948 |
| Seedling No: | 16475 |
| Group: | Mystery |
| Flower: | Color: | “pearled lavender” (Saunders) with dark plum flares |
| Form: | single, 2-3 rows of petals “with wonderful substance” (Silvia) | |
| Blooms: | Week 5-6 | |
| Carpels: | 5, green | |
| Stigmas: | cream with light pink tinge | |
| Sheath: | light creamy lavender | |
| Stamens: | filaments dark red plum, short | |
| Plant: | Habit: | rounded bush |
| Foliage color: | medium green, slightly red edges | |
| Foliage form: | leaves wider than typical with good substance, edged and tipped bronzy | |
| Height: | 29″ on 6 year plant | |
| Recommendation: | Highly recommended |
| Availability: | Few nurseries specializing in woody peonies |
