Weixihong

Weixihong (C. reticulata). China Regn. #2009-050. China Flowers & Horticulture, 2009, No.12, p.49. Flowers deep red, rose double form to loose peony form, 13-15 cm in diameter; petals 28-32 in 5- 6 whorls, subcircular, shallowly notched at the apex, outer whorls slightly flat, inner whorls incurved; stamens divided into several fascicles in the center, pistils mostly rudimentary, seldom fertile. Leaves 9.5-12.5 cm long and 5-6 cm wide, margin shallowly serrate. FI. early Jan. to late Feb. It got its name by local brook called Weixi, “Hong” means red in Chinese. This cultivar was selected by an ancient tree planted by a monk in Hemotang Temple in Ming Dynasty and was propagated by a local people called Shi Zhengyi in 1992 by approaching grafted method. The temple was ruined 200 years ago but the tree keep alive till 2002.