(C.japonica), Poiteau, Apr.1846, Review Horticole, p.6-8: Named at the March Exposition

and is the earliest positive listing and gives the name ‘Decazes’ in one word. It is a

place name and the splitting into “De Cazes” is erroneous. Later in the same year, van Houtte,

in his Catalogue 27:19, gives Adonidea, ‘Gallesi d’Italie’ and ‘Dorusio à bords blancs’ as

synonyms. The last two are synonyms for Adonidea, which was in commerce in 1837, and it

is probable that these are all the one cultivar. The Duchesse Decazes at present listed by

Claude Thoby, Nantes in Colour Catalogue, Apr.1971 as ‘Duchesse de Caze’ is a soft pink

with a veining and edging of white. A medium size, full peony form with vigorous, upright,

compact growth. Flowers mid-season. Said to have been introduced by Souchet. Orthographic

variant: ‘Duchesse Decaze’. Orthographic errors: ‘Duchess de Case’, ‘Duchess de Casa’,

‘Duchess de Cases’, ‘Duchess de Casse’, ‘Duchess de Caze’, ‘Duchess de Cazes’, ‘Duchess

de Gaze’, ‘Duchesse de Casas’, ‘Duchesse de Case’, ‘Duchesse de Cases’, ‘Duchesse de

Cassi’, ‘Duchesse de Caze’, ‘Duchesse de Cazes’, ‘Duchesse de Gaze’, ‘Comtessa de Cazes’,

‘duches duy Cazes’, ‘Duchese de Cazes, ‘Comtesse de Cages’. See colour illustration, p.115,

Fairweather, 1979, Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Synonyms received in America include:

‘Hime’, ‘Juanita’, ‘Opelousa’s Peony’ and ‘Mrs Conrad Wall Jr.’. Sports: Duchesse Decazes

Pink, Duchesse Decazes White.