Peony (Paeonia 'Red Charm')
Celebrate Paeonia 'Red Charm', a magnificent herbaceous peony boasting deep red, fully double blooms in May. Hardy and showy.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Paeonia ‘Red Charm’ is a highly valued herbaceous perennial renowned for its spectacular floral display, making it a centerpiece in any spring garden. This specific hybrid peony produces ruffled, deep red, fully double blooms that command attention early in the season, usually mid-May. As a shrubby perennial, it grows to a respectable height, providing robust structure before dying back completely after the first hard frost.
This variety exemplifies the best traits of the Paeonia genus, offering long-lived beauty without requiring constant division or replacement. Gardeners appreciate the attractive, divided green foliage that remains visually appealing throughout the summer, even after the short, magnificent bloom period of Paeonia ‘Red Charm’ concludes. It is an excellent choice for traditional perennial borders where structure and impact are desired.
The value of this Peony lies in its reliability and high aesthetic appeal, recognized by receiving the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1956. Successful cultivation ensures years of stunning deep red flowers, provided the basic cultural needs for sun and well-drained soil are met.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Paeoniaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2.5-3 ft
- Spread: 2.5-3 ft
- Bloom Time: May
- Bloom Description: Red
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Planting Peony ‘Red Charm’ should occur when the soil is workable, ideally in the fall, though spring planting is often successful. Choose a location that provides rich, fertile, medium-moisture, and most importantly, well-drained soil. Incorporate compost before planting to amend the structure and nutrient levels. Ensure planting depth is correct; eye buds should be no more than 1-2 inches beneath the soil surface, as planting too deep is a primary reason Paeonia cultivars fail to flower.
Ongoing care involves moderate watering, especially during dry spells, aiming for consistently moist, but not waterlogged, conditions. While the initial compost addition is beneficial, heavy fertilization is generally discouraged as it can encourage foliage growth over flower production. Since the blooms of Paeonia ‘Red Charm’ are large and heavy, staking or providing peony rings is often necessary to prevent the stems from arching onto the ground, especially after rain.
As the bloom period for this early-season Peony is approximately 7-10 days, consider planting other cultivars with staggered bloom times nearby to extend the overall peony display in your garden. After the flowers fade, remove spent blooms. A critical fall task is cutting the foliage down to the ground after the first frost and removing the debris from the garden to minimize the potential overwintering of fungal diseases. These plants are exceptionally long-lived and should be left undisturbed for many years.
Landscape Uses
Peonies are fundamentally a standard of the perennial border, excelling both as singular statement specimens and planted in thoughtful groupings. Paeonia ‘Red Charm’ provides excellent vertical accents along walkways, driveways, or bordering fences where its striking red color can draw the eye. The foliage remains attractive through the mid to late growing season, making it an effective frame or backdrop for later-blooming perennials.
These shrubs work beautifully integrated into mixed borders, where their substantial structure contrasts nicely with softer, airier companions like Salvia or Nepeta. Because they are reliable and long-lived, establishing a grouping of Paeonia ‘Red Charm’ creates a dependable focal point that requires minimal long-term maintenance once established.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Paeonia is a genus including around 30 species of herbaceous perennials and subshrubs originating from Europe, Asia, and Western North America, with herbaceous types dying back annually. The genus name honors Paeon, the Greek physician of the gods, rumored to have discovered the medicinal qualities of these plants. ‘Red Charm’ is a soft-stemmed hybrid known for its annual growth of about 36 inches tall, featuring ruffled, deep red double blooms early in the season.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
Potential Problems
Peonies are generally considered pest-free, though they can occasionally suffer from fungal issues like Botrytis blight or Phytophthora blight, particularly in wet, humid conditions. Ants are frequently seen crawling on the developing buds; these are harmless and are attracted to the nectar secreted by the buds.
If your Paeonia ‘Red Charm’ fails to produce flowers, investigate common causes: ensure it was not planted excessively deep or shallowly, confirm it receives adequate sun exposure, and note that recently moved plants or very young specimens may take a few seasons to establish flowering. Due to the weight of the mature, fully double blossoms, staking or installing support hoops early in the season is highly recommended to prevent stem breakage from rain or wind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Peony suitable for?
Paeonia ‘Red Charm’ is suitably hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8.
How large does Peony grow?
This herbaceous perennial typically achieves a height between 2.5 and 3 feet, with a similar spread of 2.5 to 3 feet.
What sun exposure does Peony need?
Paeonia ‘Red Charm’ thrives best when situated in areas that receive full sun to light partial shade throughout the day.
When does Peony bloom?
This variety is an early bloomer, with flowers typically appearing in May, displaying a rich red color.
Conclusion
Paeonia ‘Red Charm’ delivers unparalleled early-season drama with its deeply saturated, fully double red flowers, solidifying its place as a perennial garden classic. Providing rich, well-drained soil and adequate support will reward you with decades of magnificent blooms from this iconic Peony. Before planting, always confirm your garden’s hardiness zone compatibility and ensure you site this beauty where its impressive display can be fully appreciated in late spring.
Companion Planting
When planning the border surrounding your Paeonia ‘Red Charm’, select companions that offer bloom interest later in the season to mask the foliage once the peony finishes flowering. Consider airy perennials like Catmint (Nepeta) or Siberian Iris, which share similar sun and water needs but bloom later, filling the visual gap left after the early May show. Tall ornamental grasses planted behind the peony provide excellent textural contrast throughout the summer months, framing the dark green leaves effectively.
Design Ideas
For formal gardens, mass plantings of Paeonia ‘Red Charm’ along a straight path create a powerful, stately effect early in the year. Alternatively, use single specimens as anchors in a mixed herbaceous border, placing them near the back third of the border due to their 3-foot mature height. Because the foliage remains acceptable through fall, feature them near structures or walls where they can benefit from reflected heat, which can sometimes encourage better blooming performance.
