APS-registration:
?
Ken Clare (2000):
(Saunders - Reath 1991) This light pink flower is a many-layered semi-double whose center often has white petaloids. A strong plant with never failing stems. Dark green leaves are huge. Multiple buds, in bloom for 5 weeks here. Strong but pleasing fragrance. Hybrid.
"Robert C. Johnson"
Datum: Mon, 07 Aug 2006 15:38:07 -0700
Betreff: [peony] Blushing Princess...a fertile tetraploid ??
Is anyone familiar with the parentage of Blushing Princess ?? Basically I was wondering if it was a reliable hybrid seed-setter ?? I know that it is one of the parents of Carnation Bouquet, but was wondering if it's pollen was effective on other fertile tetrapiods, and if it sets seeds itself ( with any regularity) when pollinated by other hybrids ??
"Reiner Jakubowski"
Datum: Mon, 7 Aug 2006 19:15:28 -0400
Betreff: Re: [peony] Blushing Princess...a fertile tetraploid ??
A good choice, I'm told. You won't find it in the APS Registration books, but it was published in Bulletin 280, page 13.
'Blushing Princess' (Saunders / Reath / Rogers, 1991.) Blush pink, semi-double. It has stamens, pollen and seeds. Most reliable. Excellent substance, 32 inches in height. Fragrant, early to mid season bloom. Large medium green foliage. Sometimes the flower has so many petaloids in the center that it is close to double. This seedling came via the Reath Nursery. It was named by David Reath and registered by Caprice Farm Nursery, August 15, 1991. Seedling # 16350."
The seedling number should probably have been "16350 F2" as reported by Seidl in his 'Carnation Bouquet' registration.
'Pink Vanguard is another Seidl creation with 'Blushing Princess' as a seed parent. Check the June 2005 Bulletin for the info on that one. Reiner
"Dan Quaranto"
Datum: Mon, 7 Aug 2006 20:15:21 -0400
Betreff: Re: [peony] Blushing Princess...a fertile tetraploid ??
Robert- I believe B.P. is a very under rated peony. Out of all my cv's growing its in the top 5 for sure. Huge leaves w/thick stems and a most beautiful..... almost double flwr. Seems to grow well here yr after yr and although never "loaded" with flowers is a great v. early plant here that always draws people to it. This is the first yr. I have tried it as both a pollen and seed parent and we shall see how things develop here in a couple of weeks. I quizzed Don H. on this plant earlier this Spring and if he doesn't chime in here I'll pass on what he told me about it later -dq-
"Don Hollingsworth"
Datum: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 08:34:12 -0500
Betreff: [peony] Blushing Princess, et al
There is not much to add for purposes of seeing the breeding potential of Blushing Princess and its progeny. Most valuable, I believe, is the fact that it is a fertile tetraploid and offers the opportunity to work with other early tetraploids for additional colors and other wanted ornamental characters. Planning and technique are relevant factors in setting oneself up for better chance of success. For example, Blushing Princess offspring Pink Vanguard is a semi-double, also resistant to late freeze damage of the flowers, which makes it a much easier sort to work with than some of the other doubled progeny of Blushing Princess which I have seen. Some other important tetraploid clones for breeding that I have noticed are Sunny Boy and Old Faithful.
Doubling as we see it in the most doubled forms of Lactiflora cvs. reflects a complex of heritable factors. I have commented on this before. I will reiterate. My results in the early hybrids, where doubleness is extremely scarce suggest strongly that if seeking doubleness use doubled flower clones as the seed parent - think maternal ineritance. I have previously related my analysis of separate heritable factors of doubleness. Two of these, "progressive stamen transformation" and "two-stage" (or "flower-in-flower" appear to be likely transmitted via, or at least the expression is under influence of, maternal inheritance. Of "multi-petal" (a Roy Pehrson coinage) mode of inheritance I have no conclusion.
None of the foregoing three factors are expressed in an individual clone as a simple yes / no, being on a scale from almost absent to full expression. Thus we have two stage and progressive stamen transformation yielding semi-doubles to full doubles (with anthers) and different clones expressing enormous differences in the number of petals. When "all-over stamen transformation" (the fourth factor of my story), withlevel of expression is at the staminode level, is present along with progressive stamen transformation and two-stage we get the forms illustrated by Lavon, LaDonna and Golly. When the degree of all over stamen transformation is maximum - full petals - we get the big doubles that have no stamens.
The actual patterns of heritability are very likely much more complex, but for purposes of planning matings these seem to give a workable approach. An overall problem in breeding among the early hybrid peonies is that there are not a large quantity of clones which show the characters we are talking about. But, if one give attention to the search, the odds of getting something important are going to be much less. Most of the plants which are going to be keys to future generations will appear among the seedlings not yet growing.
Another "reiterate" is get the books that provide techniques and observations of previous breeders (and read them!). Of course, this discussion doesn't mean much to a casual dabbler. It is applicable for one who is seriously pursuing peony breeding and willing to stick with the project through several generations. Don
Don Hollingsworth"
Datum: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 21:28:25 -0500
Betreff: [peony] Re: Blushing Princess, et al
Retrieved my Silvia Saunders file today. I find that during several years beginning in the late 1960s she offered the plant she called 16350 F2, also 16350 F3. One year when she listed them with a bit of description - "16350 F2(blush doubling)" and "16350 F3 (red doubling)". I believe this favors that the blush 16350 F2 became 'Blushing Princess'. I have never known of anyone who may have had the red one.
According to the A P Saunders summary notebook Saunders 16350 was of the cross Pink Jap x Saunders 14079 which became 'Gwenda', called Triple Hybrids. The seedlings of that cross were numbered 16322 through 16368. Saunders 16339 was named 'Sprite'. Saunders 16347 and 16363 were put together as 'Rushlight'. Roselette is of the same breeding ecept from a Lactiflora listed as "Double Albi" by Gwenda pollen. Don
