Peony (Paeonia l.) collection at the Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University

Abstract

During 1933–2015, Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University has accumulated the collection of Paeonia L. consisting of 258 collection numbers. They include 11 species and intraspecific taxa, 48 Lithuanian cultivars and 199 cultivars originated in other countries. The majority of peony cultivars is originated from 1900–2000. Cultivars originated until 1900 are protected in Kaunas Botanical Garden. The collection of Kaunas Botanical Garden contains more than 90% of the cultivars of Lithuanian peonies. Currently, the collection of Lithuanian peonies consists of plants originated by four Lithuanian plant breeders: Ona Skeivienė, Jonas-Evaldas Tarvidas, Emilija Tarvidienė and Kęstutis Vyšniauskas. The article presents the results of peony introduction in Kaunas Botanical Garden and investigations of Lithuanian cultivars peonies.