Itoh Peonies - intersectional Peonies

The Itoh peonies, also known as intersectional peonies, are the result of a cross-breeding between a shrub peony and an herbaceous peony. It was a Japanese horticulturist named Toichi Itoh who originally made this cross-breeding in the 1930s-1940s. It was only in the 1980s that they were introduced to the United States and then commercialized, and the 'Yellow Crown', 'Yellow Emperor', or 'Yellow Dream' peonies were the first available hybrids. Itoh peonies are deciduous peonies with a woody stump. Like shrub varieties, they have finely cut leaves and large flowers in shades of cinnamon, yellow, peach, apricot, and salmon. As easy to grow as herbaceous varieties, Itoh peonies thrive in rich, deep, and moist soils. They can be grown in full sun or partial shade and are highly hardy.