Paeonia x Itoh 'Cora Louise'

The Itoh Peony 'Cora Louise' is a beautiful herbaceous hybrid peony that stands out in spring in flower beds. Its large, semi-double, slightly fragrant flowers display an unusual and well-contrasted colouring: shaded from pale pink to mauve on a white background, they have beautiful purple macules at the base of each petal. This variety belongs to a category of hybrids resulting from cross-breeding between a shrub peony and a herbaceous peony, which are characterised by significant development as well as the production of flowers similar to those of shrub varieties, carried by very strong stems that do not bend under the weight of the flowers.

Like its two parents, this opulent herbaceous hybrid peony belongs to the Paeoniaceae family. Itoh peonies are the result of the work carried out by the Japanese breeder Toichi Itoh, starting in 1948, who bequeathed them his name. These plants, described as intersectional, are exceptional perennials that combine the qualities of herbaceous and shrub species, combining the vigour of herbaceous plants with all the splendour of shrubs in foliage and flowering.

'Cora Louise' is a creation by Anderson, dating from 1986. The plant forms, when mature, a nicely upright clump reaching an average height of 85 cm (34in) with a spread of 70 cm (28in), sometimes more. Its growth is rather slow but still faster than that of shrub peonies. The plant develops large compound leaves with dark green and pointed leaflets resembling shrub peonies. Flowering takes place in early May south of the Loire, a little later in cooler climates, for three weeks and in abundance. Semi-rigid leafy stems appear, carrying large buds at their tips that open into large solitary semi-double flowers, 12-15 cm (5-6in) in diameter. They are composed of pastel petals with a very satin appearance, slightly crumpled, with a large cluster of yellow stamens occupying the centre. These flowers are very beautiful but also slightly fragrant. The above-ground vegetation completely disappears in winter, remaining as buds at the soil's surface. It regrows in March-April.

The Itoh Peony Cora Louise is sensitive to heavy, waterlogged soils, especially in winter, and appreciates semi-shaded locations such as the edge of a grove or the shelter of a hedge. It is an exceptional plant that deserves a prime location. It is often planted in groups of 3 plants in a shrub or perennial bed. It forms beautiful combinations with irises or roses, catmints, foxgloves, bellflowers, lupins, and other daisies... Cut flowers in a bouquet are truly wonderful with lilacs and bellflowers.

Tip: Herbaceous peonies should not be buried more than 3 cm (1in) deep; otherwise, they will take several years to flower again.