It is uncertain, if the historical concept of cultivars of Paeonia arietina has anything to do with the species we recognise as Paeonia arietina nowadays. The majority of the historical Arietina-cultivars is extinct (with the exception of Paeonia 'Northern Glory')
P. arietina. Referred by Kew to P. peregrina. "Not distinct from peregrina in a broad sense. ' — Baker.
Flowers dark red, 4 inches in diameter. (Bot. Reg., Pl. 819, var. cretica.)
Varieties:
Andersoni
Baxteri
cretica
Crown Prince
Diogenes
Excelsior
Matador
Max Leichtlin
Northern Glory
oxoniensis. Syn. cretica
Penelope
Purple Emperor
Rosy Gem
PEONY SPECIES .
280/281
Such of these varieties as I have had in cultivation have not shown themselves to be particularly desirable, the shades of red inclining too much toward a dull and purplish color.
The variety cretica has been sometimes given specific rank. It often goes under the name P. arietina oxoniensis. It is said to be one of the first peonies to bloom, coming even before P. tenuifolia. The flowers are pale rose or nearly white. The plant occurs wild in the mountains of Crete.
source of the name:
used by A.P.Saunders for breeding (link to Saunders' notebooks)
