plant named ‘Smithopus6’

A new and distinct cultivar of intersectional hybrid (Itoh) Paeonia plant named ‘Smithopus6’ is disclosed, having large pink and cream colored flowers of semi-double to fully double form carried on strong stems, which present the flowers above and beyond the foliage. Plants have very attractive, dissected foliage, which lasts through the fall and is also highly disease resistant. Plants have a symmetrical, compact plant habit/shape which is excellent in the landscape. The new variety is an intersectional hybrid (Itoh) Paeonia normally produced as an outdoor ornamental garden plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Paeonia hybrid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor to produce new Paeonia hybrid cultivars with strong stems, large panicles, compact habits, and attractive flower aging. The crossing resulting in the new cultivar was made in summer of 1998 in a backyard in Windham, NH.

The seed parent is the cultivar Paeonia ‘Martha W’, unpatented. The pollen parent is the cultivar Paeonia ‘Smith's Yellow’, an unpatented tree peony hybrid. The new cultivar was found and selected by the inventor in 2012 in the same backyard in Windham, NH. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Smithopus6’ was first performed at a research laboratory during 2014 in South Africa by tissue culture. Through subsequent confidential propagation, multiple additional generations have been reproduced, having shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

Plants of the new cultivar were first sold Jul. 1, 2024 in the United States. This was from plant material originating from the inventor. Plants were advertised on a website from the Entity “Plants Nouveau”, which has received a license, information and plant material directly from the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Smithopus6’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Smithopus6’ as a new and distinct Paeonia cultivar:

PARENT COMPARISONS

Plants of ‘Smithopus6’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘Smithopus6’ differ in the following:

Plants of ‘Smithopus6’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘Smithopus6’ differ in the following:

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of ‘Smithopus6’ can be compared to plants of the commercial cultivar Paeonia intersectional hybrid ‘Smith Family Jewel’, unpatented. Plants of ‘Smithopus6’ are similar to plants of ‘Smith Family Jewel’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘Smithopus6’ differ in the following:

Plants of ‘Smithopus6’ can be compared to plants of the commercial cultivar Paeonia intersectional hybrid ‘Garden Treasure’, unpatented. Plants of ‘Smithopus6’ are similar to plants of ‘Garden Treasure’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘Smithopus6’ differ in the following:

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Smithopus6’ plants grown outdoors in Camarillo, CA. The plants were 2 to 3 years old from large tubers, grown in 5-gallon pots. Temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. at night to 12° C. to 30° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

PROPAGATION

PLANT

FOLIAGE

FLOWER

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS