Peony Breeder  

Listing last updated on Fri Jun 2025

Niigata, Niigata
Japan

[From https://botanical.greenery-niigata.or.jp/hanamonogatari/history5_3.html, by the Niigata Prefectural Botanical garden for the Next Generation, 1998:] [translated from Japanese] Nagao Jiro (1868-1930) from the village Koai dedicated himself to the breeding of peony varieties, and created no less than 60 sorts, which is said to be half of the peonies in Niigata. It is unclear when he started breeding, but the documents indicate that he started prior to 1897. At that time breeding was still carried out by collecting and sowing the fruits of any plants, instead of crossing particular blooms. Also it is said that grafting was utilised to accelerate the blooming of seedlings. Nagao Soseien, under the management of Nagao, issued in 1908 the first Plant shipping catalogue of the prefecture. 112 Peony varieties were listed on the first page, among them five sorts like 'Hokan' von Nagao and 'Himegozen', bred by Watanabe Yokichi from the town Kosudo. These were high-quality varieties which were already introduced to the abovementioned Sekine of the village Ibarasone and the Sakami-Peony Garden in the Prefecture Hyogo, known for its peonies...