Once upon a time, in a small village deep in the woods, there lived a young witch named Molly. Molly was known for her kind heart and love for all things magical. She had a special bond with nature and spent most of her time tending to her enchanted garden. In Molly's garden, she grew a variety of mystical plants and flowers that possessed unique powers. One of her most cherished plants was a rare witch peony. This peony had vibrant purple petals that sparkled under the moonlight and emitted a sweet, intoxicating fragrance.

My Holy Grail: Paeonia Mlokosewitschii, Molly the Witch Peony

I often wonder if I’m the only gardener who has a ‘holy grail’ plant. That one plant that is always eluding you, hard to find, hard to grow, and hard to get a grower to part with. Mine became an obsession over 20 years ago while working at Harlow Carr Botanical Garden in North Yorkshire England.

As a part of my final months of school I became an intern. One of the most important things I learned was ‘Head Down, Butt Up”. The old gardener in charge of the interns had one thing to teach us. It didn’t matter what you knew, how much school you had or why you were there, his goal was to teach us to work in the garden. Weeding was his number one focus. Mucking out ponds, streams, and water features was another. Gravel paths and raking under trees was upper level work for us interns.

Once while working along the streamside I came across a plant in jail. It was a lovely peony, deep yellow with a blush of red at the base of the petals. It was surrounded by an iron fence with a padlock. The fence was about 2 feet away from the plant. When I asked about it (timidly I assure you) my boss said ‘Plant thieves’. I wandered away confused until another employee had pity on me.

Apparently, this one Peony was one of the showpieces of the Botanical garden. The amazing yellow blooms were prolific and amazing. The common name ‘Molly the Witch’ was a good name for it. The fence was to keep visitors to the garden from stealing pieces of the plant. Old ladies and young ones, gentlemanly men with dapper hats, and moms with prams, all looking for a way to have this plant for their own. Visitors to the garden would pick the blooms, take the seeds before they were ripe or try to break off pieces to try to root them. The only way to propagate the peony is to wait until the seeds mature. They put a net around the seeds so as they open and fall they are collected. The fence was required to keep all the viable seeds from being stolen and provide new plants to sell.

A long story to be sure but one of the reasons I’ve been hunting Molly. I found the plant at a Nursery once, it died. Several years passed and I ordered one online, it died. Another couple of years passed and I got one labeled Paeonia mlokosewitschii (Molly) from a grower, I grew that one for 4 years until it finally bloomed. It was pink. Two years ago, I found three plants at Wells Medina Nursery in Seattle. I planted them in the same area, amended the soil, and carefully babied them. This year, finally, I have my first bloom. The excitement I felt when I first learned of this beauty came back and it was amazing. Maybe next year I’ll have more than one bloom. The other two plants are alive but not blooming.

Now yellow blooms have been bred into the new itoh peonies so they are more common. The species, however, is still rare, hard to grow, and highly sought after.

Here are my first flowers. I’m excited to see it grow and get larger.

What is your ‘Holy Grail’ of flowers, plants, or grasses? What do you still search for?

Paeonia mlokosewitschii

Molly-the-Witch is a tongue and cheek reference to the unwieldy botanical name of this rare species. Plants form a medium-sized mound of blue-green leaves, often veined or edged in purple. The single flowers are rounded in form, in an amazing clear yellow with darker stamens. This needs especially good drainage. Best in full sun to light shade. Peonies seldom need to be divided or moved, but if necessary it should be carried out only in the fall. Trim off old stems to the ground in late fall, to help prevent disease problems. Can be grown from seed but takes 3 to 5 years to flower.

This peony had vibrant purple petals that sparkled under the moonlight and emitted a sweet, intoxicating fragrance. The witch peony had a special ability - it could grant wishes. However, the wishes had to be pure and genuine, coming from the heart.

Further details for
Paeonia mlokosewitschii

Plant Uses & Characteristics
Accent: Good Texture/Form
Alpine & Rock
Border
Cut Flower
Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Specimen

Foot Traffic
None

Growth Rate
Slow

Disclaimer: This information is presented for reference only. This plant is not currently part of our Heritage Perennials lineup.

Molly the Witch

By March 22nd things were beginning to happen in the front border that showed that Molly was on the move once more. The “molly” I’m referring to is Paeonia mlokosewitschii, commonly known as Molly the Witch. When the leaves first break through the soil, they are the most beautiful burgundy colour.

The foliage of Molly, matched exactly, the colour of the backs of the sepals on the hellebore planted in front, I think I forgot this when I planted the hellebore.

Just 10 days later the foliage is already opening out and showing the touches of green/grey that the leaves will end up.

Just 6 days later and what a difference in growth and colour. Buds have formed and are looking very promising.

While we were away on holiday, the buds grew and the first hints of yellow could be seen.

10 days later, the first flower opened, thank goodness we were back in time to see it!

Once again we are able to enjoy the beautiful pale yellow flowers of this lovely plant. I’ve noticed over the years that the flowers close when the weather is cold or wet, protecting the pollen inside – clever.

Getting paler and paler as the days go by…….

………so pale now but so very beautiful.

I’m not sure how long the flowers will last now that we are having one or two sunny days with quite a bit of wind, but it has been the first plant that I have looked at each morning for quite some time now. Molly hasn’t finished yet, eventually her seed pods will open and the seeds will be bright fuchsia pink or black, depending on whether they are viable or not, only the black ones will be worth saving.

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Molly would often sit by the peony, whispering her dreams and aspirations, each wish spoken with true intent and love. One day, a young girl named Lily stumbled upon Molly's garden while exploring the woods. Lily had always been curious about magic and was fascinated by Molly's mystical sanctuary. As she wandered through the garden, captivated by the beauty that surrounded her, Lily spotted the extraordinary witch peony. Unable to resist the allure, Lily couldn't help but make a wish. She closed her eyes and whispered her deepest desire to the peony - to have the courage to follow her dreams and make a difference in the world. As soon as her wish left her lips, the witch peony began to glow, its petals opening wider and releasing a burst of magic. From that day forward, Lily felt a newfound sense of purpose and determination. She pursued her dreams relentlessly, using the courage she gained from the witch peony's enchantment. With time, Lily became an inspiration to others, as she dedicated herself to making the world a better place. Word of the witch peony's power spread throughout the village, attracting numerous visitors who sought its magical influence. Molly, being the wise witch she was, decided to share the peony's gift with the world. She started organizing workshops and gatherings in her garden, inviting people to share their deepest wishes and dreams, and experience the transformative power of the witch peony. As the peony granted wish after wish, the village began to flourish, filled with people who had found the courage to pursue their passions. Molly's garden became a sanctuary of hope and inspiration, where dreams came to life and new beginnings were born. The tale of Molly the witch and her enchanting peony serves as a reminder of the power that lies within us all. It encourages us to tap into our own inner magic, believe in our dreams, and have the courage to make them come true. Just like Lily, we too can find the strength to create a positive impact on the world and inspire others to follow their hearts..

Reviews for "The Symbolism of Molly the Witch Peony in Different Cultures"

1. Sarah - 2 stars - I found "Molly the witch peony" to be extremely dull and lacking in excitement. The story seemed to drag on and I found myself losing interest halfway through. The characters were flat and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with them. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others looking for an engaging and captivating read.

2. Alex - 1 star - "Molly the witch peony" was a complete waste of my time. The plot was predictable and the dialogue felt forced. I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in the writing style, which was uninspiring and lacked creativity. The characters were forgettable and their actions often illogical. I regret picking up this book and would advise others to steer clear of it.

3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Molly the witch peony" but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The story lacked originality and failed to keep me engaged. The pacing was inconsistent, with slow parts dragging on while the more exciting moments were rushed through. The writing itself was average at best, lacking the descriptive language needed to truly bring the story to life. I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied after reading this book.

The Enchanting Fragrance of Molly the Witch Peony: A Scent to Remember