机构概况

美国牡丹协会（American Peony Society，简称APS）是一家国际性非营利组织，致力于推广牡丹（芍药属，Paeōnia）的文化、教育、科学研究和观赏乐趣。协会自1924年成立以来，始终是全球牡丹爱好者、种植者、杂交工作者和科研人员的重要交流平台。1974年起，美国牡丹协会正式成为国际牡丹品种登记机关（International Cultivar Registration Authority, ICRA），负责全球牡丹品种的规范登记与管理工作。

核心职能

作为国际牡丹品种登记机关，协会建立了完善的牡丹品种数据库（Peony Database），为全球种植者和爱好者提供品种查询服务。协会提供在线品种登记提交工具（New Cultivar Submission Utility），杂交工作者可通过该平台在线提交新品种登记申请，流程高效且便于追踪记录。协会每年举办年度大会（Annual Convention），2026年大会将于近期举办，活动包括牡丹展览、专题研讨会及相关交流环节。协会还设有年度全体会员大会（Annual General Membership Meeting），2026年会议于4月23日通过Zoom在线举行。

种子交换计划

协会最受欢迎的项目之一是种子交换计划（Seed Distribution Program），每年向会员提供稀有牡丹、杂交品种和原种牡丹的种子。2026年种子订购现已开放（5月前暂停），会员可通过协会网站在线订购，邮寄范围仅限美国和加拿大境内。种子为开放授粉所结，播种后植株可能产生独特的个体变异，为花园增添多样性。每位会员每捐赠两个品种的种子，即可获得一包免费种子（最多五包）。协会还设有”教育种子”项目（Seeds for Education），向教育或研究机构免费提供种子。种子发芽需经历夏季户外播种、冬季休眠过程，从播种到首次开花通常需要3至5年。

会员与出版物

美国牡丹协会会员涵盖植物园、公共花园园丁、收藏家、杂交工作者、教育工作者、科研人员、花艺设计师和商业种植者等广泛群体。个人会员年费30美元起。协会定期出版《Peony Society Bulletin》公报，最新一期为2026年春季第417期。协会还推荐经典著作《PEONIES: The Manual of the American Peony Society》（1928年出版），该书介绍的许多牡丹品种至今仍可获得，是20世纪早期牡丹文化的重要文献记录。协会在社交媒体上保持活跃，拥有Facebook、Instagram和Pinterest账号，与全球牡丹爱好者保持互动。

官方网站：https://americanpeonysociety.org/

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Overview

The American Peony Society (APS) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the culture, education, science and enjoyment of the genus Paeōnia. Founded in 1924, the society has been a vital platform for peony enthusiasts, growers, hybridizers, and researchers worldwide. Since 1974, the American Peony Society has served as the International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA) for Paeonia, overseeing standardized cultivar registration globally.

Core Functions

As the ICRA for Paeonia, the society maintains a comprehensive Peony Database for global growers and enthusiasts. It provides an online New Cultivar Submission Utility for hybridizers to register new cultivars efficiently with tracking and record-keeping capabilities. The society holds an Annual Convention each year—featuring peony shows, seminars, and related activities—with the 2026 Convention announced recently. The 2026 Annual General Membership Meeting was held on April 23 via Zoom.

Seed Distribution Program

One of the society’s most popular programs is the Seed Distribution Program, offering rare, hybrid, and species peony seeds to members annually. The 2026 seed ordering is now open (unavailable through May). Members order via the society website with shipping limited to the United States and Canada. Seeds are open-pollinated, producing unique garden diversity. For every two varieties donated, members receive one free seed packet (up to five free packets). The Seeds for Education program provides free seeds to educational and research institutions. Germination requires outdoor summer planting followed by winter dormancy, typically taking 3–5 years from sowing to first bloom.

Membership and Publications

APS members include botanical gardens, public garden curators, collectors, hybridizers, educators, scientists, floral designers, and commercial growers. Individual membership starts at $30 per year. The society publishes the quarterly Peony Society Bulletin, with the latest issue being Spring 2026, No. 417. It also recommends the classic reference “PEONIES: The Manual of the American Peony Society” (1928), documenting many peony varieties still available today. APS maintains active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, engaging with peony enthusiasts globally.