Bartzella Peony
Paeonia Itoh 'Bartzella'
Height
80–90 cm
Flower size
20–25 cm
Bloom time
June – July (mid-late)
Light
Full Sun / Partial Shade
Watering
Moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3 (up to -40°C)
Fragrance
Fresh, citrus (lemon)
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Rarest rich yellow color for peonies
- Huge flowers (up to 25 cm) that face up and don't hide in foliage
- Bush doesn't sprawl and never requires staking
- Foliage stays decorative (green and lacy) until frost, like tree peonies
Disadvantages
- High cost of rhizomes
- Roots are very hard and woody, making division difficult (requires a saw)
- Grows slowly in the first 1-2 years while establishing root mass
Use in Landscape Design
Bartzella is a garden aristocrat. Plant it in a prominent 'focal' spot. A mature bush has a perfect hemispherical shape. It looks great against dark conifers like Thuja. Needs space (approx. 1 meter diameter).
Variety Description: What is an Itoh Hybrid?
The most perfect yellow peony in the world. A cross between herbaceous and tree peonies. It inherited hardiness from one parent and yellow color with lacy foliage from the other. Flowers are semi-double, lemon-yellow with red flares at the center. Pleasant lemon scent. A mature plant can produce up to 50–60 flowers per season due to lateral buds.
Planting (Differences from Herbaceous)
Rhizome is like a log — hard and long. Hole must be wide. Buds are located on both the crown and the stems. Plant so buds are 3–5 cm deep. Soil: neutral or slightly alkaline (add dolomite lime or ash to the hole).
Watering and Care
Moderate watering; doesn't tolerate standing water. In spring, new growth looks reddish, which is normal. Standard feeding: Nitrogen in spring, complex during budding, K-P in autumn. Don't overfeed with nitrogen or it will grow leaves instead of flowers.
Winter Pruning: Important Nuance
Unlike common peonies, the base of the stems becomes woody and holds buds for next year. DO NOT cut to the ground. Leave 5–10 cm stumps. Cutting too low removes next year's potential blooms.
Wintering
Hardiness is phenomenal. Mature bushes don't need cover even in Zone 3. Young plantings can be mulched with peat or humus to prevent frost heaving.
Diseases
Itoh hybrids get sick much less often than common peonies. High resistance to rust and Botrytis. If nearby plants are sick, use preventive fungicides, but usually, Bartzella handles itself.