Coral Charm Peony

Plant Coral Charm peony roots in autumn, setting the eyes (pink growth buds) no more than two inches below the soil surface. This planting depth is critical, as planting too deeply is the single most common reason peonies fail to flower. Space three to four feet apart in full sun with rich, well-drained soil. Choose a permanent location, as peonies resent being moved and can take two to three years to re-establish after transplanting.

Water regularly during the first two growing seasons, then provide supplemental water only during extended dry periods. Peonies are remarkably drought tolerant once their deep root system is established. Feed with a balanced granular fertilizer in early spring as growth emerges and again lightly after flowering. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds which promote foliage at the expense of flowers.

Coral Charm is exceptional among peonies for its color-changing blooms that open deep coral, fade to soft peach, and finish in ivory, sometimes displaying all three stages simultaneously on one plant. The strong stems of Coral Charm rarely need staking, unlike many other peony varieties. Support with peony rings if needed. Deadhead after flowering but leave the foliage until it naturally dies back in autumn, as it feeds the root system for next year's bloom.

Coral-toned herbaceous peonies represent one of the most celebrated achievements in twentieth-century ornamental plant breeding. The breakthrough came from the pioneering work of Samuel Wissing, a peony hybridiser based in Lombard, Illinois, who spent decades crossing carefully selected Paeonia lactiflora cultivars with other species to introduce the elusive coral pigmentation into garden peonies. His two most famous creations, Coral Charm and Coral Sunset, remain benchmarks of the colour class more than half a century after their development. Coral Charm was registered with the American Peony Society in 1964 and went on to receive the society prestigious Gold Medal in 1986, an award reserved for cultivars that demonstrate exceptional garden merit over an extended period of evaluation. Coral Sunset was registered posthumously in 1981 after Wissing passing and has since earned its own Gold Medal recognition, cementing the breeder legacy. The parent species, Paeonia lactiflora, is native to a broad swathe of temperate eastern Asia, spanning from eastern Siberia through northern China, Mongolia, and into the Korean Peninsula. Wild populations grow in open meadows, grasslands, and forest margins at elevations ranging from lowland river valleys up to around 2,400 metres. Chinese gardeners recognised the beauty and medicinal value of peonies well over two millennia ago, and by the Tang Dynasty the flowers had become symbols of prosperity, honour, and romance. European plant collectors introduced Chinese garden peonies to the West in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and European and American breeders soon began their own hybridising programmes. The coral colour break was particularly challenging to achieve because standard Paeonia lactiflora cultivars lack the carotenoid pigments responsible for orange and coral tones, requiring the introduction of genetics from other peony species through complex interspecific crosses.

Coral Charm peony thrives in rich, deep, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Prepare the planting hole deeply, amending with compost and bone meal. Apply a balanced granular fertilizer in early spring and a light application of bone meal after flowering. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds. Peonies benefit from a thick compost mulch applied in autumn but keep it away from the crown. The deep root system accesses nutrients from well below the surface.

Cut Coral Charm peonies at the marshmallow stage, when the bud feels like a soft marshmallow when gently squeezed and shows color but petals are still tightly furled. Buds cut at this stage will open beautifully in the vase over three to five days and last seven to ten days total. Cut in the morning and place immediately in cold water. The spectacular coral-to-peach-to-ivory color transformation is one of the most stunning effects in the cut flower world.

Peony roots should remain in the ground permanently. They are extremely long-lived perennials that improve with age and can bloom for fifty years or more. For extended cut flower storage, peony buds can be dry-stored in the refrigerator for two to four weeks: cut at the marshmallow stage, wrap loosely in newspaper, and refrigerate at 34 degrees Fahrenheit. When ready to use, recut stems and place in warm water. Buds will open within twenty-four to forty-eight hours.

Peony petals are edible and have been used in Chinese cuisine for centuries. The delicate petals can be added to salads, floated in cocktails and punches, or crystallized with sugar for cake decoration. Peony-infused water and peony petal tea are traditional preparations. The flavor is subtly floral and sweet. Only use petals from plants that have not been treated with pesticides, and remove the bitter white base of each petal before use.