Website/Catalog  (29 Jan 2010)  Includes photo(s).
 
Paeonia officinalis L. subsp. humilis (Retz.) Cullen & Heyw.
Fully-hardy herbaceous perennial with hairy stems and leaf stalks and single, cup- or bowl-shaped purple-red flowers in spring or summer.  To 80cm.  [RHSE, Hortus, Don].

Horticultural & Botanical History
‘The dwarf Peony differs from P. peregrina, No. 1050, chiefly in having its leaves more finely divided, glaucous above, and clothed with a soft pubescence underneath; its leaflets are more acute and more incised; the germens are nearly smooth, having only a few thinly scattered short hairs, whereas in peregrina they are quite woolly.  This species seems to have been well known to the older Botanists, but was never correctly described till taken up by Retzius.  With his ample description our plant corresponds in every respect, except that, in his specific character, he has capsulis pilosis; in his full description, however, he says the capsules are but slightly hairy (parum pilosae).  Supposed to be a native of Spain, and is perfectly hardy’.  [BM t.1422/1811].  Paeonia humilis was introduced to Britain in 1633. [JD]. 

History at Camden Park
Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [B.392/1850].

Notes
Paeonia humilis Willd. (1821) = Paeonia paradoxa Anders.
Paeonia humilis Retz. is related by some to Paeonia peregrina Mill. which see.

Book  (2010)  Page(s) 238.  
 
Paeonia officinalis subsp. microcarpa (Boiss. & Reut.) Nym. ...
P. paradoxa G. Anderson var. leiocarpa DC

Book  (Jan 1999)  Page(s) 41.  
 
Paeonia officinalis subsp. humilis (formerly P. humilis or P. officinalis subsp. macrocarpa) Magenta flowers

Website/Catalog  (1931)  Page(s) 42.  
 
Pivoines herbacées, espèces et hybrides...Microcarpa; plante nain, feuillage finement découpée, vert glauque, fleurs carmin vif, 10 mai ....2 fr. 50

[no longr listed in the 1935 catalogue]

Book  (1917)  Page(s) 229.  
 
Peregrina...Varieties: Humilis (dwarf), mountains of Spain. Bright red flowers, turning to magenta.
Microcarpa (small fruited), even smaller than Humilis, to which it is closely allied.
 

Book  (1917)  Page(s) 229.  
 
Paradoxa (paradoxical). Levant. First cultivated in Holland. One of the smallest peonies. Bright carmine pink flowers on very short stems. Lower leaves finely divided.

 

Website/Catalog  (Aug 1910)  Page(s) 14.  
 
Pivoines herbacées...Variétés nouvelles...Humilis; plante basse, folioles étroites à revers velus, fleurs moyennes, en forme de tulipe, aniline clair, carpelles velus, 15 mai ...75 cents

[no longer listed in the 1928 catalogue]

Website/Catalog  (Aug 1910)  Page(s) 14.  
 
Pivoines herbacées...Variétés nouvelles...Microcarpa; plante peu élevée, folioles découpées comme celles de certains Delphinium, vert olivâtre cendré, revers poilus, grandes fleurs dépassant 12 centimètres de diamètre, carmin vif, carpelles glabres, fleurit vers le 10 mai ...50 cents

[no longer listed in the 1928-1930 catalogues, but again in 1931]

Book  (1907)  Page(s) 4.  
 
Peonia Humilis, Retz. A French species of low growth, with somewhat velvety foliage, and with bright red flowers on short stems, and borne in clusters of three or more, with smooth seed pods.
 

Book  (1907)  Page(s) 4.  
 
Peonia Microcarpa, Boiss and Reut. Closely allied to P. Humilis, with even dwarfer habit and more downy foliage. Presumably a native of France.