Peony 'Dr. F. G. Brethour'

Paeonia lactiflora 'Dr. F. G. Brethour' produces large, rose-shaped flowers that are white with a champagne coloured centre. These scented flowers are born on strong stems covered with dark green, healthy foliage, and multiple side buds extend the flowering season of this late flowering variety, making it an ideal addition to extend the peony flowering season in your garden. Its stems are much stronger and thicker than most white lactiflora cutflowers, making it easy to incorporate into a garden setting.

'Dr. F. G. Brethour' is one of our cut flower varieties and for those who have admired it in our fields or in a bouquet, this magnificent beauty is now also available as a bare root plant.

Registered in 1938 by John A. Bongers.

Dr. Frederick G. Brethour ( 1866 -1939) was a highly regarded Canadian dentist, as well as one of Toronto's leading horticulturists and plant breeders. He was passionate about flowers, and his collection of peonies, lilacs, and irises was renowned throughout Canada. His garden was located thirty miles from his home, and he travelled there by bus whenever possible, including almost daily during the flowering and planting seasons. Peonies were his first love, and he was very discerning: any plant that did not meet his standards was discarded. Among the crosses he introduced were P. “La Canadienne”, P. “Shirine”, P. “Blanche Elie” and P. “Lady of the Snows”. As a passionate peony enthusiast, he contributed interesting articles and photographs to the American Peony Society's Bulletin. He was a gracious and welcoming man who was close friends with Mr Bongers. Mr Bongers requested that the beautiful peony seedling 6-7 from H. P. Sass be named Dr. F. G. Brethour in his honour. Mr Bongers said, "May this living tribute ever exemplify the love of these outstanding, beautiful peonies that was a dominant factor in his life." 

We are very happy to grow this beautiful variety, and we love the fact that peonies come with stories to be told from far and wide. 

This information is taken from the American Peony Society Bulletin Nr. 75, which was published in March 1939.