origination:
COMMAND PERFORMANCE (Don Hollingsworth 1996, Maryville, Missouri), June 5, 1996. Seedling #994. Parentage Lactiflora #139. Unnamed anemone x Good Cheer. First bloomed about 1980. Cardinal red (RGS 53A), bomb. No pollen or stamens. Moderate increase, one bud per stem, blooms midseason. Flower grows to a 7-inch globe, carpels greenish yellow, tipped pale pink. Strong fragrance. Height 30-32 inches, medium green foliage, veined lighter.
Command Performance (Hollingsworth 1996) EM-M. Bomb Type; many cardinal red petals grow to a very large flower. Has attracted much attention at the national exhibitions, was Grand Champion in 1998. The flower dominates; buds massive, flowers may grow to nine inches diameter, probably best cut. Medium height, vigorous, stems occasionally crooked, bush presentation best for public view with support and/or screening plants. Seed parent Belleville, Lorelei sibling.
This picture is from Joe Shroer. For large resolution pictures of this cultivar look in the 'Gallery' of the Heartland Peony Society's Website www.peonies.org .
Robert Johnson on y!groups #5468
Re: [peony] Favorites for 2001
Gang,
As you may know, I grow mostly herbacious hybrids, so my
"favorites" do not include many of the lactis. They, for
some strange reason, do not seem
to do as well in my sand and
frosts and desert climate.
The following were my favorites this
year:
'Raspberry Charm' by S. Wissing.
This is still
perhaps my top favorite. The flowers this year were almost double,
although I primarily like the semi-doubles that this plant can
throw. It is notable for blooming quite a bit ahead of other
full-flowered peonies, lasts forever as a cut flower, has stems
like a tree, and is long lasting on the bush as well. Always
performs well for me, which is not the case for me with all my
other peonies. It is the earliest of the peonies I grow that I
really look forward to. Worth searching out. (Klehm,
A+D?)
'Etched Salmon' by Lyman Cousins
Perhaps
the best of the wonderful Cousins things, and perhaps the most
attractive of ALL hybrid creamy pinks, in my humble opinion. When
will this peony get the Gold Medal? It deserves it. Always
expensive because frustrating crown structure makes for few
divisions.
'Helen
Mathews' bought from Saunders by Kreckler.
This is
new for me. It used to show up on many "My Favorite 20
Peonies" lists (see '75years of APS') which is why I tried
it. A very nice 5 row single(semi-double)brilliant red that I just
loved. Perhaps hard to locate,(Caprice?) but really worth growing.
Fairly early among the hybrids.
'Salmon Dream' David
Reath
Absolutely
wonderful plant habit, and a standout color-wise wherever we saw
it blooming this season. Relatively new, and hard to locate
because of high demand, but sure to become more common in the
future.
Honorable Mentions:
'Coral Sunset' My
favorite coral.
'Command Performance' Large, sturdy,
and so far quite reliable among the big double hybrids, not all of
which do well for me here. From Don Hollingsworth.
'Carnation
Bouquet' Unique in form, parentage, and foliage, and quite
early. Good early season interest.
'Camellia'
Finally nice for me this year. Unique because of how VERY EARLY
(despite what descriptions say) this is for any double, especially
a white. Blooms with Roselette. Not the greatest foliage later in
the season, however.
'Pink Derby' One lacti that
does well for me here, but paradoxically may not do well for some
others in more conventional growing areas. Appears on many "My
Favorite Peonies" lists. Fairly expensive, apparently because
of demand.
Bob J.
