Paeonia lactiflora 'Charles Burgess'
A show-stopping, early to mid-season Japanese-form herbaceous peony with large, open blooms in rich crimson and burgundy tones. At the centre, a large cluster of gold-edged staminodes glows like the embers of a fire, a striking contrast that gives this variety its stunning, unmistakable character. The blooms reach up to 18cm across on stems to 90cm, above dense foliage. It is a strong garden performer, and the bold flowers are excellent for cutting.
'Charles Burgess' was bred by William Krekler and registered with the American Peony Society in 1963. It is said to have been named after a young visitor to his nursery. Krekler began breeding peonies from purchased seedlings and registered his first variety in 1955. From then on he registered more than 400 peonies with the Society, most released through the 1960s and 70s, among the earliest being 'Zuzu'. In 1977 he sold his entire peony plantation to Charles Klehm and Son Nursery. Born in 1900, Krekler lived to the age of 101, dying in 2002.
