Description
(syn. Paeonia mascula turcica)
This species is endemic to the Antalya Province of Turkey where it grows on a limestone soil in open Cedrus libani forest. It was first described in 1965 and is supposedly distinguished from its closest relative Paeonia kesrouanensis by a shorter style and stigma and the fact that the two species have styles which are curved differently. The carpels of both this species and of kesrouanensis are glabrous. Recent studies suggest that the characteristics of P. turcica fall within that of the range of variation of kesrouanensis and the two are regarded as subspecies or synonyms of the earlier name of kesrouanensis
At Kew it is recorded as flowering two weeks ahead of any other Paeonia but though it is certainly early here (and certainly the earliest to ripen its seed – in July) it is not quite the first to flower. Glossy green leaves and strong bowl-shaped flowers of rich red with a subtle hint of pink taking on a slight violet tinge at the tips of the petals, with maturity. Here it does very well in a slightly limey, well drained soil in part shade and has taken a sustained -17°C. without protection flowering and setting seed the following spring as it does every year.
Seed-raised here from a plant gifted to us many years ago by a Swiss friend.
