Paeonia lactiflora Pink Hawaiian Coral

Paeonia lactiflora 'Pink Hawaiian Coral' is an unusual Chinese peony, both in the shape of its semi-double flowers, which are very globular when they open, like some old roses, and for their bright pink colour strongly tinged with coral, which gradually fades to a soft apricot pink until it becomes creamy white. This relatively recent variety develops strong stems that do not require staking and adapts well to fairly dry soils in summer. Easy to grow and reliable, peonies sometimes take a little time to establish, but they grow year after year and can live for over 50 years.

Chinese herbaceous peonies are mainly derived from Paeonia lactiflora, a perennial herbaceous plant native to central and eastern Asia (from eastern Tibet, northern China, to eastern Siberia), where it naturally grows in woods and meadows. This plant belongs to the Ranunculaceae or Paeoniaceae family.

The 'Pink Hawaiian Coral' variety is a cultivar introduced in 1981, and awarded in 2000 and 2009 for its ornamental qualities and performance in the garden. It is a cross between the Paeonia lactiflora Charles White (white and double), and the Paeonia peregrina Otto Frobel (single and reddish-orange). The plant forms an imposing and slightly suckering herbaceous and bushy clump from spring onwards, reaching a height of  90 cm (35in) when in flower with a minimum spread of 50 cm (20in). Its 16 cm (6in) diameter flowers appear quite early in May, depending on the climate, and last for about three weeks. They emerge as a large bright pink bud and then open into a very original semi-double flower, rounded, displaying a large heart of bright yellow stamens at full bloom. The colour of the flower, a bright coral pink when it opens, fades over time into different shades of pink, coral, salmon, apricot, and creamy white, creating a subtle gradient on the plant. Despite being quite heavy, they are borne without weakness on strong stems that do not require staking. The foliage consists of large, firm, deeply divided, and glossy green leaves. They disappear in winter, while the buds persist at ground level and develop in spring. This very long-lived plant grows from a large fleshy root that does not appreciate being moved.

Peonies are among those plants that form the foundations of a garden. In the past every garden, from the humblest to the most elaborate, proudly displayed clumps of peonies that made their way into the house, keeping lilacs and bluebells company in bouquets. Different, the Chinese peony Pink Hawaiian Coral deserves a prime location in the garden. It can be planted in a border or along a path, combined with timeless plants such as light blue or mauve garden irises, columbines, forget-me-nots, campanulas, large daisies, carnations, or even Christmas roses. It can also be grown in the vegetable garden to supply cut flowers for the house. Growing it in a pot is not recommended, as its needs will not be met. Over time, the peony becomes majestic and blooms more and more abundantly, producing up to 60 flowers. It is not uncommon for it to outlive the person who planted it.