Paeonia peonies are one of the most popular garden plants.Sumptuous, fragrant flowers on tall, leafy stems forming solid clumps are the most beautiful heralds of summer.Most species of peonies are perennials, while others are short shrubs. All species have leaves that die for winter and thickened roots.
Among the perennial species, the following deserve attention: delicate peony Paeonia tenuifolia with thin threadlike leaves and magnificent red flowers, Peony Młokosiewicza Paeonia mlokosewitschii with blue-green leaves and cup-shaped lemon-yellow flowers, Wittmann peony with glossy yellowish peony flowers and yellowish peony Balkan Paeonia peregrina with shiny, cup-shaped, intensely red flowers, Veitcha Paeonia veitchii peony with soft delicate leaves and single amaranth flowers and Brotera Paeonia broteri peony with shiny leaves and cup-shaped pink flowers.
In Poland, the most popular peony is Paeonia officinalis and Chinese peony Paeonia lactiflora. The first one has natural positions in central and southern Europe. It flowers early, usually in May. Its flowers are placed singly on the tops of the shoots. The most common are varieties with full dark pink, white or dark red flowers.
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Chinese peony - occurrence and origin
Chinese peony is found in Japan, Korea and China.Its decorative qualities were first appreciated by the Chinese, who introduced it to gardens over 2500 years ago.It is still considered a symbol of good luck and happiness in this country. It appeared in Europe at the end of the 18th century, but the intensive development of breeding of the species took place only in the years 1825-1910 and 1925-1930.
And although several thousand varieties have been obtained so far, the oldest ones, from over a hundred years ago, such as'Sarah Bernhardt' (1906) with large, very full dark pink flowers, 'Festiva Maxima' (1851) with large white flowers with purple veins on some petals, 'Monsieur Jules Elie' (1888) with very large and full flowers, dark pink with a silvery sheen, 'Karl Rosenfield' (1908) with sumptuous dark red flowers and jagged petals.
Peonies are second to none in terms of longevity. In the same place, they can grow 10 to 15, and some even to 50 years.But in order for them to grow well and bloom profusely for so long, we need to choose a suitable place for them and carefully prepare the soil. So what do peonies like? A warm, sunny or partially shaded place where the sun reaches 6-8 hours a day, and a lime-free, humus, sandy loam soil that should be moist, slightly acidic and fertile.
The richer the soil in nutrients, the less annual feeding the plants require. The stand for peonies should not be located close to trees (due to competition for food and water), or where there is water, especially in winter, because it is very harmful to the roots.
We reproduce peonies by dividing older carp (when transplanting), preferably from mid-August to the end of September (possibly until mid-October). To do this, dig up the entire carp and, after cleaning it from the soil and rinsing it with water, cut with a sharp, long knife into parts with at least two developed buds and a few thick undamaged roots.
Perennial peonies shall be planted shallowly, so that the buds (eyes) are covered with a 3-5 cm layer of soil. Peonies that are planted too deeply do not bloom or bloom very poorly - for several years.The soil should be deeply dug (two spades deep) and mixed with compost or well-decomposed manure (fresh manure is harmful).We can also mix the soil in the holes with peat or bark with the addition of slow-release fertilizers .Plant the peonies at a distance of 80x40 cm or 90x50 cm.
Beauty treatments
In order for peonies to create a lot of magnificent flowers every year, they require several care treatments:
- Water the plants in the event of long-term drought.
- In spring, we mulch the soil surface between the plants with garden compost or well-distributed manure, and if we do not have such mulches, we use mineral fertilization, but carefully. Compound fertilizers with a low nitrogen content, and higher phosphorus and potassium, at a dose of 50 g per plant are recommended.
- For flowers of impressive size, you can remove the side buds (leave only one on the stem).
- We remove faded flowers not only for aesthetic reasons, but also to prevent fruit from forming that impede growth.
- In autumn, evenly spread compost or well-composted manure at a dose of 8-10 kg per 1 m2 and dig shallowly.
- Before winter, cut and remove the above-ground part close to the ground for sanitary reasons.
- We fight fungal diseases: gray mold and peony rust. We use prophylaxis and, if necessary, we fight the northern nematode (nematode) and goldfish (beetle).
- Freshly planted peonies are protected against frost by covering them with a layer of dry leaves, peat or straw manure.
- We replant the plants when they die (after 10-12 years).
Colorful varieties of Chinese peony
- Chinese peony 'Prairie Moon' has single white or cream flowers with a yellow center. From the cultivar 'Krinkled White' it differs in the shape of the leaves.
- Chinese peony 'Ewelina' has flowers of a Japanese type, with often jagged petals.
- Chinese peony 'Red Charm' has anemone, carmine flowers with a convex center.
- Edulis Superba has full, pink and fragrant flowers.
- 'Krinkled White' has white flowers with a golden yellow center.
- 'Festiva Maxima' has full flowers, very large, white with purple streaks here and there, fragrant.
Application of peonies
Peonies, due to their very attractive flowers and nice foliage (turning golden shades in autumn), are widely used.They are planted individually, e.g. on the lawn, in rows, e.g. hedge, along fences and paths, as well as in flower beds.They are also grown as cut flowers.
Flowers cut in a bud stay in a vase for 5-6 days. Some varieties, especially Japanese ones, dry well.Peony leaves are a valuable addition to bouquets, and petals are a component of fragrance mixtures.
Four groups of Chinese peony
The varieties of Chinese peony differ, among others, in plant height (60-100 cm), flowering time (May-June), flower color (white, pink in various shades - from light pink to carmine red), fragrance and flower structure.Depending on the structure of the flower, they are divided into 4 groups:
- Single peonies - have 5-8 petals surrounding numerous stamens and pistils. Single-flowered varieties retain their nice appearance longer and do not sag after rain.
- Japanese peonies - 1 or 2 petal whorls outside, with contrasting stamen petals inside. Polish varieties include: 'Ewelina' - creamy pink, 'Ursyn Niemcewicz' - cherry, 'Władysława' - pink.
- Anemone peonies - with 2-4 petal whorls and a spherical center filled with wide stamen petals. Representatives of Polish varieties are: 'Barbara' - pearl-like, 'Jadwiga' - jasnowiśniowa 'and' Profesor Wóycicki '- cherry-magenta.
- Full peonies whose flowers look like pompoms. The Polish varieties are: 'Krystyna' - amaranth, 'Hania' - pink and magenta, and 'Ursynów' - cherry blossom.
