Coral Charm peony

The Coral Charm is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating rose varieties around. With its spectacular colour gradient, sturdy stems and long vase life, this peony is a favourite among florists, gardeners and peony collectors alike. But what really makes the Coral Charm so special? Here we dive deeper into this unique peony variety: from its distinctive characteristics to where it is grown.

What makes the Coral Charm so special?

The Coral Charm is an Itoh peony, but is usually listed among the herbaceous (Paeonia lactiflora) species. It was introduced in 1964 by American nurseryman Samuel Wissing. This introduction revolutionised the peony world, and not without reason: the Coral Charm was the first coral-coloured peony to enter the market.

Special features:

Colour gradient: The flower opens in an intense coral pink hue that slowly changes to salmon pink, then to pale yellow to almost cream within a few days. This makes it look like you have several flowers in one.
Large flowers: The semi-double flowers can reach 15 cm in diameter.
Sturdy stems: Perfect for bouquets - they don't sag easily.
Early-flowering: Coral Charm is among the early-flowering peonies (usually in late May to early June).
Long vase life: Up to 7-10 days as a cut flower, if properly cared for.

A semi-double-flowered peony

There are many different varieties of peonies, but they are all different. Not only the colour, but also the number of petals, the size of the petals and the quantity of petals can differ enormously between peonies. For instance, there are single-flowered peonies, semi-double-flowered peonies and double-flowered peonies. The Coral Charm peony falls under the semi-double-flowered peonies, we are going to explain to you what the difference is and why the Coral Charm is a semi-double-flowered peony.

A single-flowered peony has about 7 flower petals, so when it opens, the yellow heart inside the peony is immediately striking. A double-flowered peony, on the other hand, has an enormous amount of flower petals, which makes the heart of the peony less conspicuous. Then, on the contrary, you mainly see flower petals, even when fully opened. The Coral Charm is thus a semi-double-flowered peony, meaning that the outer rim of the peony is filled with flower petals, but when she opens up in the vase, the yellow heart is also clearly visible. So the best of both worlds! In addition, the Coral Charm has quite large petals, making for a well-filled vase!

Fun facts about Coral Charm

Award-winner: Coral Charm won the prestigious American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1986.
Unique as a cut flower: Unlike many other peonies, Coral Charm opens beautifully even after cutting - perfect for the flower trade.
Instagram favourite: Thanks to its colour change and robust shape, this peony is very popular among flower arrangers and influencers.