At the end of spring, numerous varieties of peonies, especially the Chinese peony Paeonia lactiflora, also known as garden, perennial or large-flowered peony, are real stars in garden beds.As early as in the 13th century in China, forty of the most beautiful varieties with full and spherical flowers were admired.
In Japan, on the other hand, where the plant quickly found its way to, growers valued above all the beauty of the more modest flowers: single and semi-double, additionally decorated with, for example, spectacular pollen stamens.
Today we can freely use the richness of peony forms.However, here comes a big problem.It is very difficult to choose varieties for your own garden.There are not only peonies with flowers in various forms, but also variously colored: from snow-white, through light and dark pink, to bright red and maroon.
Therefore, it is worth specifying additional essential features that will facilitate the selection. For example, we can start our search with varieties with fragrant flowers or with particularly strong and stiff stems. In these two groups we will surely find something suitable for ourselves.
Densely filled with petals, the flower balls of numerous varieties are beautiful in themselves, but their beauty can be additionally emphasized by the delicate flowers of the neighbors' bedding.The combination of full pink peonies with purple Geranium x magnificum, ornamental garlic or Alchemilla mollis has long been known.
A beautifying addition to peonies with full or single white flowers are the dark purple varieties of mossy Salvia nemorosa, for example 'Caradonna' or 'Tänzerin', Nepeta's violet-blue catnip, Magnaire Astrantia major with purple flowers and also slender The pinkish-purple digitalis digitalis.
Peonies will bloom profusely if we give them the best possible conditions. They feel excellently in highly sunlit positions with a kind, permeable soil. Plants planted in September or October are best taken.Peonies will be beautiful and he althy for a long time - they can grow in one place for several dozen years - if they receive a portion of organic fertilizer every year in March and AprilThe roots of transplanted older plants should be divided into parts with two or three eyes .
Wonderful group of peonies - Itoh
Itoh peonies, also called intersectional hybrids, are still not very popular with us. Their name comes from the Japanese breeder Toichi Itoh, who crossed a yellow tree peony with a white Chinese peony.These are perennial varieties with flowers most often semi-double in yellow and orange colors, but there are also purple, pink, red and white, two-colored, often in several shades. They bloom longer than Chinese peonies, even for 4 weeks in May and June.
Stems with large flowers (diameter up to 25 cm) do not need support as they are stiff and strong. In winter, only short, 5-10 cm, woody sections of shoots remain in the bed. Itoh hybrids are frost-resistant and low-maintenance plants. In the spring, they should be supplemented with a solid portion of compost or organic fertilizer.
Varieties with fragrant flowers and strong stems
Intensely fragrant
1. 'Raspberry Sundae' smells raspberry. The aroma resembles roses in intensity. It blooms from mid-May. Height: 90 cm.
2. 'Pecher' has a compact habit. Since June, it has been spreading a strong, sweet fragrance. Height: 1 m.
3. 'Miss Eckhardt' charms with a bouquet of rose fragrances since mid-May. Height: 90 cm.
4. 'Königswinter' in mid-May develops white flowers with a rose scent from light pink buds. Height: 90 cm.
5. 'Monsieur Jules Elie' opens large flowers from the beginning of May. Height: 1 m.
Strong shoots
1. 'Laura Dessert' blooms in early May. The pale pink flowers eventually turn white. Height: 90 cm.
2. 'Sweet Harmony' blooms profusely from the end of April. Height: 90 cm.
3. 'Henry Bockstoce' has straight, stiff shoots. It blooms at the end of May. Perfect for a vase. Height: 80 cm.
4. 'Do Tell' has unique flowers with oriental charm. It blooms from mid-May and reaches a height of 80-90 cm.
5. 'Carina' flaunts bright red flowers in May. Height: up to 70 cm.
