fbpx

Pink Hawaiian Coral peony

The Pink Hawaiian Coral peony is a vibrant herbaceous peony with coral-pink petals and a yellow center. The blossoms of Pink Hawaiian Coral have a rounded cup-like shape with delicate cream-yellow stamens in the middle. It starts with light pink petals that deepen to a rich, bright pink as the flower blooms.

This hybrid cultivar grows about 36″ tall, with ornamental deep green foliage on strong stems. The Pink Hawaiian Coral Peony was bred by American Peony Breeder Roy Klehm.

Pink Hawaiian Coral peony basics

The Pink Hawaiian Coral peony is one of the most stunning types of peonies to grow. The Pink Hawaiian Coral peony is a hybrid developed from two different peonies: Paeonia ‘Charlie’s White’ x Peony peregrina ‘Otto Froebel.’ This peony cultivar won the American Peony Society’s Gold Metal in 2000.

Pink Hawaiian Coral peonies grow about 3 feet tall. These plants have strong stems and glossy green foliage with pointed oval leaves.

Pink hawaiian coral peonies in a flower vase

Pink Hawaiian Coral peony plants (Paeonia ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’) are herbaceous peony plants with semi-double type flowers that bloom early in peony season (typically in early to mid-spring). The flowers start with almost rose-pink peony petals, aging to a lighter cream coral color.

The Pink Hawaiian Coral peony was developed and first registered in 1981 by Roy Klehm of Song Sparrow Nursery (Chicago & Wisconsin, USA). The American Peony Society honored Roy Klehm in 1989 with the A.P. Saunders Memorial Medal. The Klehm family has produced many notable peony varieties throughout previous decades.

How to plant peonies

Begin by choosing a location with at least six hours of full sun each day and well-draining soil. Peonies prefer a pH that is neutral to slightly alkaline. If you’re not sure about your soil’s pH, it’s a good idea to test it.

When planting, be mindful of the timing; the best period is in the fall, about six weeks before the ground freezes. This timing allows the roots to establish before the winter.

Prepare the planting area by tilling the soil to a depth of about 12-18 inches, incorporating compost or well-rotted manure to enrich it. When you plant peonies, pay special attention to the depth at which you plant them. The “eyes,” or growth buds, on the tuber, should be planted no more than 1-2 inches below the soil surface. If they are planted too deep, they may not bloom.

Dig a hole large enough to comfortably fit the roots without bending them. Place the tuber in the hole with the eyes facing upward, and gently backfill the soil, being careful not to compact it too much.

After planting, water the peonies thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. A light mulch can be applied to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature, but avoid covering the crown of the plant.

Growing peonies in the garden

This peony can grow to be 36 inches in height as well as 36 inches in spread. It usually grows in a fairly large, dark green bush with rich, glossy leaves. When they first bloom, flowers sport a brilliant, coral-pink color accented by yellow stamens (which are very noticeable in full bloom).

The Pink Hawaiian Coral peony is known to bloom in late spring to early summer (from April to June and sometimes even July). This peony will only flower for seven to ten days, so it is advisable to plant other cultivars that have staggered bloom times. That way, your garden will be in full splendor for the entire growing season.

Once the Pink Hawaiian Coral flower has matured, it will often fade to a pleasantly soft apricot pink. As long as they are taken care of, your Pink Hawaiian Coral peonies will provide color and fragrance to your garden!

Because its flowering period is often relatively short, it is a good idea for you to deadhead your peonies (which means to cut away the dead “heads,” or blossoms). Doing so will make way for new, healthier blossoms to grow and help your peonies last longer.

One of the nicest things about the Pink Hawaiian Coral Peony is its resilience. They appear light and delicate, but peonies are actually very sturdy and tough in most conditions. It can shrug off the cold with almost no problem and withstand severe heat periods. As a matter of fact, some peonies have even been known to survive for 50-100 years! Additionally, they have a long vase life as long as you cut flowers in a full bud. They will usually last for at least a week, if not longer.

These peonies are extremely adaptable. They can be put in flowerbeds, used as borders (especially for walks and driveways), used as specimen plants, and even put in cottage or city gardens. You could even plant Pink Hawaiian Coral peonies as an informal hedge. They are big enough to serve as one and pretty enough to be pleasing to the eye. If you are willing to take care of them, they will serve you well for years upon years!

Pink hawaiian coral peony bouquet

Peonies can get pretty big. Because their blossoms are so large, peonies are often known to droop with the weight. If you begin to notice this happening, you should take immediate action and put stakes or cages in your garden as soon as possible. If your peony has bloomed just before a forecasted rainstorm, you may wish to cut flowers before bringing them in for a bouquet instead of letting the rain droop them over.

The size of these plants when mature means they need plenty of room to grow and thrive. When you plant them, be sure to give them at least 32 inches of space. As mentioned before, they can grow to 36 inches in height and spread. This will ensure that your plants have enough room to reach complete maturity without overtaking each other or other plants.

As for planting bare-root peonies, the process is straightforward but must be handled with care. If you damage the peony’s roots, it will not grow properly. When digging the holes, ensure they are deep enough and wide enough to cover the roots without bending them. You should plant them during the fall, at least six weeks before the ground starts to freeze. You can plant them in the mid-spring, but if you do that, your plants may not blossom for up to two years. Planting peonies in the fall at least allows you to have flowering plants by the next early spring.

Mary Jane Duford
Mary Jane Duford

Mary Jane Duford is a quintessential Canadian gardener. An engineer by trade, she tends to an ever-expanding collection of plants. In her world, laughter blooms as freely as her flowers, and every plant is raised with a dash of Canadian grit.

Mary Jane is a certified Master Gardener and also holds a Permaculture Design Certificate. She's also a proud mom of three, teaching her little sprouts the crucial difference between a garden friend and foe.

When she's not playing in the dirt, Mary Jane revels in her love for Taylor Swift, Gilmore Girls, ice hockey, and the surprisingly soothing sounds of bluegrass covers of classic hip-hop songs. She invites you to join her garden party, a place where you can share in the joy of growing and where every day is a new opportunity to find the perfect spot for yet another plant.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *