Paeonia lactiflora 'Charles Burgess'
A show stopping early blooming Japanese style herbaceous peony with large single open blooms of rich crimson and burgundy tones which are contrasted by an explosion of colour at the centre with a large central cluster of golden edged staminodes giving an effect like glowing embers of a fire, this combination sets off a stunning style and unique bloom for this truly beautiful variety. Blooms are large up to 18cm wide on stems to 90cm
with dense foliage and is a strong garden performer with striking blooms ideal for
cutting.
This variety ‘Charles Burgess’ was bred by William Krekler and registered in 1963
with the American Peony Society and is said to be named after a young visitor to his
nursery. William Krekler started breeding peonies with the purchase of seedlings and
from 1955 onwards a total of 433 varieties were registered with the American Peony
Society up until his death. Among the first ones was Peony ‘Zuzu’.
In 1977 he sold his entire peony plantation to Charles Klehm and Son Nursery.
Born in 1900, William Krekler died on 7 February 2002, in Tucson, Pima, Arizona,
United States, at the age of 101, and was buried with his wife in West Elkton, Preble,
Ohio, United States.
