Peony 'Gloire de Charles Gombault'

Paeonia lactiflora 'Gloire de Charles Gombault'. A lovely scented variety, with multiple side buds and a perfect bomb shape. The heart of the flower consists of numerous cream and pink petals creating a perfect dome shape. The guard petals are a deep pink. The dark green foliage is healthy and the long stems are strong. Together they are a floral tribute to Charles Gombault.

The name Gloire de Charles Gombault has always puzzled me, because the records show that Charles Gombault was also the hybridiser. It was introduced by Auguste Dessert in 1896 and officially registered with the "American Peony Society" in 1928. 

Stepping back in time a Charles Gombault stands out. His father was a glazier painter and his mother a seamstress merchant. He was born in the rue de l’Horloge à Dinan, a quaint merchants' street in the town of Dinan in Brittany France. As a young man of 18 he enlisted in the army in 1866 and and rose through the ranks to become a sergeant. In 1870, war was declared against France. After a fierce battle, he was captured and imprisoned. He escaped twice but was caught at the last minute. After a scuffle with his guards in prison, he was sentenced to death at the age of twenty-three, given the chance to write a last letter to his parents.