Chinese Peony ‘Coral Charm’ boasts cup-shaped, vibrant coral pink blossoms that evolve into a paler hue as they mature. Each flower is crowned with a lush tuft of yellow stamens at its heart, creating a striking contrast. These perennial blooms emerge from a robust bush in spring, the herbaceous stems and deep green foliage reaching up to grace gardens with their bold yet delicate appearance.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Coral Charm’ is an unusual Chinese peony, both in the shape of its semi-double flowers, which are very globular at blooming, like some old roses, and in their coral pink colouring tinged with peach. At the time of its introduction in 1964, this old variety was in fact the first to sport this pretty shade between pink and orange.
Close to the botanical species Paeonia lactiflora, this robust peony develops somewhat sparse but relatively tough foliage, of a fresh green, and strong stems that do not require staking. As unusual as it is charming, ‘Coral Charm’ blooms early in the peony season. Easy to grow and faithful, peonies sometimes take a little time to establish themselves, but they grow year after year and can live for well over 50 years.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ needs sufficient sunlight and is resistant to partial shade, but cannot tolerate blazing sunlight. It needs shade in hot summer weather so the leaves won’t get a sunburn. It is suitable for planting at sites where the tree crown can provide suitable shade at noon. It can be planted among shrubs.
Temperature
Chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ likes a cool environment; it is suitable for planting in cold climates and high latitudes. It can overwinter at low temperatures. The temperature for growth is above 0 ℃, and the optimum temperature for growth is 16 to 18 ℃. When the temperature is higher than 25 ℃, it becomes dormant. It must experience 2-3 months of low temperatures (1 to 10 ℃) before blooming. The best temperature for blooming is 17 to 22 ℃. Chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ is resistant to drought, but accumulated water is fatal.
Watering
Keep the soil moist for recently planted chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’. Don’t water it too often under normal conditions, because excessive soil moisture can cause root rot and other diseases. Remember to water chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ once thoroughly when spring buds begin to expand leaves. Watering too early or too late affects plant growth. Water it once or twice before blooming to keep the soil moist.
With enough rain and good drainage, chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ flowers beautifully in summer. In case of continuous heat without rain, water to keep the soil moist. Water once before fall to prepare for the next year’s flower buds. Water once before winter to keep the soil temperature constant, prevent frost damage, and help it overwinter.
Soil
Chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ needs loose and deep culture medium with sufficient nutrients and good drainage. The suitable soil pH is 6.5-7; chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ will grow poorly in acidic and sticky soil. Select the loose, breathable peat as the culture medium, add coarse sand to improve air permeability and drainage, and add garden soil and organic matter so the medium retains enough water but does not accumulate it.
The recommended culture medium ratio is 1/3 peat + 1/3 coarse sand + 1/3 garden soil. Sterilize the culture medium before transplanting; sunlight combined with medical treatment is generally adopted.
Fertilizing
Chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ likes fertilizer, and nutrition affects the quantity and quality of flowers. Besides the basic fertilizer applied when transplanting, three applications of fertilizer are required every year.
Before the first watering in the early spring, when the branches, leaves, and buds grow.
About 15 days after the flowers wither. Appropriate amounts of fertilizer promote flower bud differentiation and improve the plant’s resistance.
In fall and winter, the application of organic fertilizer provides nutrients for plant growth in spring and builds some cold resistance.
Apply fertilizer in a ring. Dig a ring of shallow ditches 5 to 10 cm deep around the edge of the plant crown. Apply the fertilizer evenly in the ditch and water. Loosen the soil after it dries.
There are three things to avoid in chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ fertilization. Firstly, do not apply high-concentration fertilizer, which causes fertilizer damage. Secondly, do not apply fecal water, which causes diseases (soybean meal or rapeseed meal is recommended as organic fertilizer). Thirdly, do not apply fertilizer in summer. Growth slows or stops in hot weather, and applying fertilizer at this point of time can easily cause damage.
Planting Instructions
Plant chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ in fall when the roots have stored a large amount of nutrients. After transplanting, the damaged root can continue to grow, and this is beneficial for seedling restoration. Plant 41 to 51 cm deep with a 36 cm diameter. When chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ is planted in flowerpots, the pot should be the same size. Cover with 2.5 to 4 cm of sterilized, sandy loam. In severely cold zones, cover the planting pit with 20 cm-thick soil to ensure healthy overwintering.
Pruning
Pruning is important to maintain a good shape and increase nutrition distribution to flowers and fruits. The sprouts at the root sprouting parts consume too many nutrients from the plant in spring. If they are not pruned, they will impact not only the appearance, but also the ventilation, sunlight, blooming, and fruiting of the plant. They should be pruned as early as possible.
New branches should be pruned in spring when they are roughly 5 cm long; keep 1-2 sprouts in one direction. To prune older branches, leave 2-3 buds and don’t keep too many flower buds; otherwise, they’ll take too much nutrition, resulting in smaller flowers prone to dropping.
Propagation
Chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ can be propagated by division, cutting, and sowing. The most common method is division because it is relatively quick. The best time for division is in the fall when the temperature begins to drop. At that time, seedlings recuperate quickly and the root is still growing.
Split the plant with a sharp knife along the natural texture, and apply sulfur powder on the cut to prevent pathogens. Dry for 1-2 days, and transplant it until the cut is dry. The plants dug out should not be planted immediately; keep them outdoors for 30-50 days in the natural cold weather to break dormancy.
Transplanting
Chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ thrives when transplanted during cool and dormant periods, notably early to mid-spring or early winter. Choose a sunny, well-draining spot for optimal growth. While specific steps are key, focusing on these periods and conditions guarantees success.
III. Harvesting and Storage
Chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ blooms in early summer. Harvest cut flowers when the buds are mature and will bloom soon. The best time to harvest chinese peony ‘Coral Charm’ is in the morning after dew evaporates, or in the evening. If dewy flowers are cut, the cutting site is prone to pests and diseases. The evening is best because the plant accumulates more carbohydrates at this time.
Use clean, sharp gardening scissors to cut the flower. Cut near the base, but leave 1-3 pairs of leaves on the plant to ensure future growth. Remove any ants and aphids from the cut part. Cut the base at 45º, remove 1/3 of the lower leaves from the stem, and soak the harvested stalk in cool, clean water as soon as possible to avoid water loss.
