The Beautiful Peony Variety You Might Want To Rethink Planting Near Your Patio

If you've spent any time scrolling through mood boards or reading fancy gardening magazines, you may have already seen and fallen in love with the 'Coral Charm' peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Coral Charm'). This particular hybrid is quite a showstopper. It's popular thanks to its gorgeous blooms that undergo a magical color transformation once they bloom around May to June. They begin with a deep coral pink, then evolve through a lighter peachy pink, and end with an ivory or cream. But while that show is nothing short of spectacular, 'Coral Charm' also has one notable downside: it smells a bit like dirty socks. 

Despite its good looks and an award from the American Peony Society, some gardeners have decided to give the perennial a wide berth. While some peonies have sweet notes of honey and roses, the 'Coral Charm' is quite different. Instead, once the curved-up blossom opens, they release a scent that's not exactly what you'd want to smell if you were wanting to sit out on your patio and read a book. While its unpleasant aroma is a natural part of this plant, as is the case for other color-changing flowers, like lantana, it simply may not be what you want to plant right next to your outdoor seating area. You don't have to give up on this beauty entirely — here's where it might fare better.

If you simply cannot live without having those cunning coral hues, you can still plant 'Coral Charm' in your garden, just do so strategically and avoid these peony growing mistakes. We recommend keeping it far away from your front door, patio seating, or windows you like to keep open (the scent will waft inside if it's that close). Instead, plant it along your garden border; this way you can still enjoy its lovely visuals but won't have to deal with its stench.

The quirky bloom is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, and prefers to grow anywhere with full sun and moist (yet well-drained) soil. Once mature, it can reach up to 3 feet wide and 30 inches tall. Planting is easy: Make sure you can comfortably spread out (but not force) their roots, place the crown roughly 1 to 2 inches beneath the soil, then give them a good watering. Also, deadhead individual stems after each flower is finished blooming. 

When it comes to the 'Coral Charm' peony, beauty is entirely in the eye of the beholder. It's a stunning flower visually, but the scent is definitely a matter of personal tolerance. It's up to you to choose to successfully grow peonies like these, but make sure you choose your planting spot wisely or you'll be holding your nose while you admire the view.