Hi Sue, in The Gardener's Peony, Martin Page writes that Sarah Bernhardt is fragrant, although Jane F-W doesn't mention fragrance in her book. A couple of sources that I've read mention that Sarah B, though a gorgeous flower, has weak stems. Is this true of yours? I guess that could be environmental anyway.

Sorry, I'm no help but I loved the picture. I think that I have a similar peony also unnamed. It's frustrating! Hopefully some who have a named Sarah will offer opinions. And pictures?

What I have seen, is that the blooms are so big, that the stems bend due to the heaviness of the bloom. I think I have read in one place that Sarah is fragrant, and in another there is no mention.

I received a nice start of Sarah at a swap meet last spring.

Hopefully it will bloom in 2007 that I can verify that they are the same...or not.

Maybe someone here will show us 'their' Sarah.

Do you know if your no name that is similar is fragrant?

Sue

If I remember correctly it has a slight fragrance but I may have it mixed up--one of several moved from deep shade so I've only seen it bloom once. The flower probably isn't large enough to be a Sarah Bernhardt.

Next spring I'll take pictures and make an effort to identify the orphans.

The descriptions and pictures given here might help. Scroll down the page to the Sarah Bernhardt entry.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sarah Bernhardt

Whatever it is, it's lovely. Only 6 more months and I can see the peonies blooming again.

For some reason, that doesn't look quite right to be Sarah Bernhardt, which I've always thought was a lighter pink than that picture. Also, the shape doesn't seem quite right, it doesn't look as full as I think of SB. Yet, I'm no expert, and of course climate might play as much a role in color for peonies as it does in roses.

--Ron

I got my SB from a big box store, so its provenence is suspect (it very well might not be the REAL 'Sarah B.'). For what it's worth, mine have smallish flowers (3-5" across), pale pink (lighter than yours, but never white), more strongly cupped and fuller in texture (a very dense double), little to no fragrance, about 30-34" tall, new foliage is dark red, and with a tendency to FLOP, especially in wet weather on open flowers. It's very pretty, vigorous, and a good increaser; quite nice as a cut flower, if you don't mind staking it in the garden.

Laurel

'Sarah Bernhardt' is a much softer pink, so if your picture shows the color correctly I'm pretty sure it's something else.

Pics of Sarah: and {{gwi:1145826}}.

My head is swimming after looking at so many Sarahs, and especially after I had to look at so many others at the site cdjr provided.

Here is their description.

Lemoine, 1906) - Double - Pink - Late. Medium height. Fragrant, but not especially so. Very large. Dark rose-pink, edged a trifle lighter, with inconspicuous red edges on a few central petals, and an occasional golden yellow anther in the collar; Floriferous; strong steins. Good foliage. M....so mine fits that

Somewhere else described the petals as having white tips, so I will watch for that too in more mature blooms. My pics shows just a little white.

My pic is a new bloom, not fully opened. I'm wondering if after it opens it will look more like Milo's Sarah.

I guess next season, I will compare it with my new (supposed to be) Sarah, and take pics of the bloom at different stages.

Thank you all for you help.

I really enjoyed all the pics.

Sue

Milo, are those Sarahs from your garden?? They are GORGEOUS!! Just as I remember them from my mother's garden. Makes me wonder why I don't grow that variety myself. ;-D

Sue, your peony is also stunning. I just don't think it's Sarah Bernhardt.

So many peonies...so little space!
Judye