origination:
KISHU CAPRICE (Arthur O. Sasaki, Tualatin, Oregon), Sept. 2, 1988. Tree peony with unknown suffructicosa. First bloomed 1939. Silvery rose double ball, good substance with heavy amount of bloom. Has stamens and pollen, excellent stem strength, very very early and grows to 5 ft. in height. Large leaves of medium green. This plant is in bloom by the second or third week in April here in Oregon. The seedling was brought from Kishu perfecture Japan as an unbloomed seedling. Permission has been given Caprice Nursery to name this plant Kishu Caprice and to propagate, introduce, and sell it through their catalog. Permission granted by Arthur O. and Mrs. Sasaki, Tualatin, Oregon. Registered by Allan and Dot Rogers, Sherwood, Oregon. Bulletin #268.
Kishu
Caprice Japan Registered Rogers 1991
VE 3x3' F Semi-Dbl
The
earliest of all P.Suffruticosas to bloom, often by two weeks
starting the season here in mid-April. This silvery rose-pink
semi-double to loose double comes from the Southern most Island of
Japan. It seems uniquely suited to milder climates. its medium
sized mounded habit will be a focal point. Its place in history is
secured by the photo on the back cover of Dad's book, Peonies
(Timber Press).
Rick Rogers on Yahoo! groups, Apr.14, 2006:
Leon, Thank you for the note that Kishu Caprice is in bloom. It is one of my favorites. It is in bloom in Oregon also. You clumped it in with and called it Chinese. I have to correct you that Kishu Caprice is 100% Japanese. It is from the Southerly Island (of the same name but different spelling,) Kyushu in Japan. It is said that the plant came from the gardener of the Governor on the island and that this area was destroyed by air raids in WW2. The gardener quickly took some scions from this plant as they were evacuating the area, and shared some with a Japanese friend of ours.
She now has about 10 plants about 50 years old. Kishu Caprice is quite different, from the large leaves (I have never seen another tree peony with bigger leaves), to the early bloom season (In bloom now and is every year by April 15th) to the robust vigor of the whole plant. One of these older plants is pictured on the back cover of the 1st printing of my Dad's book Peonies by Allan Rogers. Thank you. Sincerely, Rick
