Charlotte
Premium French waxy variety. Holds shape, prized for salads and Niçoise-style dishes.
At a glance
Best uses
About this variety
Premium French waxy variety. Holds shape, prized for salads and Niçoise-style dishes.
Charlotte is classified as a western europe variety released in 1981, primarily used for boiling / salad. For agronomic specs, breeder details, and trial data not yet captured here, refer to the source registries linked at the bottom of this page.
Charlotte — French waxy salad classic
Charlotte was developed by French breeder Grocep (now part of HZPC) with commercial release in 1981 (HZPC variety register; Europatat). The cross combined Hansa with Danava — both Northern European breeding lines targeting waxy salad-grade quality with elongated tuber shape and yellow flesh.
Charlotte rapidly became the European standard waxy salad potato, particularly in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The variety's distinctive elongated 'finger' shape and waxy yellow flesh made it the preferred choice for boil-and-serve presentations in restaurant and retail markets across Western Europe.
Charlotte's culinary positioning
Charlotte is a classic waxy variety with low specific gravity (1.060–1.075), making it suitable for boiling and salads where intact tuber shape is required. The variety is unsuitable for frying, mashing, or baking — its low starch content and high moisture content produce poor results in those applications.
Retail positioning emphasises the 'salad potato' use case, often packaged in 500g–1kg net bags with cooking guidance specifically discouraging mashing/baking. Charlotte commands a 30–60% premium over generic all-purpose varieties at European supermarkets.
Agronomic profile of Charlotte
Charlotte matures in 90–110 days and yields 30–45 t/ha — moderate but consistent. The variety has good resistance to common scab and Y-virus but is moderately susceptible to late blight. Storage life is good at 6–8 months. Tubers maintain firm texture even after long storage, supporting the waxy salad-grade positioning.
Production is concentrated in France, Belgium, Netherlands, and the UK; the variety's premium retail price supports continued planting despite lower yields than processing varieties. For broader variety context see our complete potato varieties guide.
Frequently asked questions about Charlotte
What is Charlotte potato?+
Charlotte is a western europe potato variety released in 1981 originating from France. Premium French waxy variety. Holds shape, prized for salads and Niçoise-style dishes.
What is Charlotte potato best used for?+
Charlotte is best suited to boiling / salad. Premium French waxy variety. Holds shape, prized for salads and Niçoise-style dishes.
When was Charlotte released?+
Charlotte was released in 1981. The variety is classified as western europe (Iconic).
Where is Charlotte grown?+
Charlotte is most commonly grown in Western Europe, with original release from France. Cross-reference our country profiles for production data.
Variety profiles aggregate data from CIP Lima genebank, ICAR-CPRI variety catalogue, EU Common Catalogue, USDA PVPO, AHDB Potato Variety Database, NIAB, NAK Netherlands, the Potato Pedigree Database, national breeding programmes (CAAS, EARO, BARI, INTA, EMBRAPA, INIFAP, IHAR-PIB, VNIIKKH), and peer-reviewed literature in Potato Research and the American Journal of Potato Research.
Updated May 2026 · Reviewed by Potatopedia editorial team · Linked to Wikidata for cross-reference.