Varieties of pink peonies, their features and care rules

Pink peonies are famous not only for their beauty and delicate aroma. They are able to bring a touch of sophistication and sophistication to any corner of your site, and what is especially important - they do not need specific care and are very unpretentious.

Plants of this variety can be divided into several types.

Depending on the type of stem:

• herbaceous - powerful perennials, the stems of which "cluster" together, flowering occurs in the first year;
• treelike - deciduous shrubs, the stems of which, growing separately from each other, are colored brown; bloom only in the third year after planting.

Depending on the structure of the flower:

• terry subdivided into four subgroups:

• rosaceous - petals of strictly the same shape and size;

• castellated - the semblance of a crown is formed by inner petals;

• spherical - the bud is shaped like a sphere;

• bomb-shaped - the inner petals, surrounded by the large size of the outer ones, form a lush dome;

• non-double differ in the lightness of the buds, having from 5 to 10 petals, usually located in two rows;

• semi-double - the petals, mixing with the stamens, are arranged in several rows;

• japanese have no more than two rows of petals, all the rest of the filling is petal formations;

• anemic do not lend themselves to unambiguous classification, having some similarities with other groups.

Pink petals are the most common classic version of the herbaceous peony. The catalog contains about two thousand names of pink peony, most of which were bred in the early years of selection.

The uniqueness of this type of flowering ornamental plants lies in the fact that each variety of pink peonies has an individual shade that is unlike the others. The appearance of their petals is unusual, the delicate color of the buds, the forms of flowering are varied - these are the main criteria that ensure the immense popularity of flowers that grow in all corners of the globe.

The color scheme of peonies surprises and amazes with its diversity - there are both pastel pale pink tones and fuchsia colors. Flowers deserve special attention - the most delicate color of peonies gives the garden a unique attractiveness. In addition, the flowers differ in shape and size, abundant flowering, turning the bush into a real "pink cloud".

It is believed that the pink peonies of the French collection, bred in huge numbers in the 19th century, are endowed with special beauty. Many varieties obtained by selection in France have survived to this day. Some varieties of the "flower of the emperor" - as the peony was called in China, especially deserve the attention of not only professional gardeners, but also lovers of exquisite beauty.

Such peonies outwardly resemble a rose - large rounded petals, wide, of the same size. The following varieties are prominent representatives of this special variety of peonies.

• Solange. The age of the "retro flower", belonging to the old French selection, is approximately equal to a century. As gorgeous as Chinese porcelain, the peony is striking in its magnificence. In diameter, the inflorescence can be up to 180 mm, the most delicate petals are painted in pastel pink and cream shades, the combination of which adds to its attractiveness.The plant is well adapted to difficult climatic and weather conditions.

• Miss FD Roosevelt. The flowers are large with a diameter of 22 cm of rich pale pink color. Bushes are tall, dense, abundantly flowering.

The main difference between these varieties from the rosy ones is the presence of many stamens in the core of the flower, which give the plant individuality. The structure of the inflorescence is no different. Of the popular varieties, several can be noted.

• "Ballerina". Outwardly, the inflorescence resembles a ballerina's skirt. The splendor of the flower is given by wide double petals that cover the core. The plant pleases with flowering already at the end of May, turning a flower bed or a section of a garden into a "valley of pink dreams".

• "Beev" - a bush 90 centimeters high, strewn with large carmine-pink flowers, on each stem there are only 3 buds.

• Goody - mid-early perennial shrub with calyx-like flowers. The color of the petals is crimson pink, bright. Low-growing bushes - up to 0.7 meters.

• "Pink Cloud". In the middle of summer, the plant literally resembles a light air cloud of pale pink color - the bush is so abundantly strewn with medium-sized, crown-like flowers. The herbaceous peony is unpretentious, grows well, enveloping everything around with a heady aroma. Openwork foliage of a rich dark green color covers strong stems 80-90 centimeters high.

• Pink Giant. A novelty variety, translated from English means "Pink giant". A herbaceous perennial plant, bred in the middle of the last century in the Netherlands, more than justifies its name. Large flowers of pearl-pink color in diameter are 20 cm. The inflorescence consists only of compact double petals, the stamens are absent - they are transformed into petals, giving pomp and fullness.

The bush, which blooms at the very beginning of summer for 6-7 weeks, requires a standard support in the form of a ring - the stems can lean to the ground under the weight of numerous flowers. Pink Giant peonies amaze not only with their beauty, but also with their special unpretentiousness: they tolerate drought and frost well, needing only an abundance of sunlight. During the flowering period, they emit a sweetish aroma.

• "Peach in the Snow" - this is an unusual tree-like peony, the flowers of which have a unique color: the snow-white petals, moving towards the center, gradually turn into pink. During the period of abundant flowering, the plant looks amazing - the rarest color of the inflorescence against the background of greenery of dissected leaves. Perennial blooms in late spring - early summer, flowers are medium-sized, but there are a lot of them.

• Pink Hawaiian Coral. A description of this variety should start with its many advantages:
  • the plant is previously herbaceous, the flowering period occurs in May;
  • for many days it is able to maintain freshness in the bouquet;
  • flowers with the scent of freshly cut grass of a pink-coral hue;
  • the shape of the inflorescences is a bowl with a diameter of 16 cm;
  • petals - semi-double with white veins;
  • the core is filled with stamens of a rich bright yellow color;
  • leaves are glossy rich green;
  • bred in the States at the end of the last century;
  • famous for its frost resistance, suitable for regions with cold climates.

• Pink lemonade... The double flower of the subgroup of bomb-shaped peonies has a delicate lilac-pink color. The core is lush, decorated with numerous stamens of various colors with a predominance of rich yellow. It looks very much like bubbles in a glass of lemonade, which, in fact, gave the name to the whole variety. Perennial is a bush no more than 0.8 meters high with straight stems. The flowering period is the first half of summer.

• Pink vanguard... Perennial. The variety was developed at the beginning of this century in the United States of America. Large semi-double petals of the most delicate pink color look spectacular on green foliage with a bluish tint.The center of the flower is formed by a combination of sunny yellow stamens and red markings. The hybrid variety is characterized by increased frost resistance and abundant flowering. It begins to bloom early, filling everything around with a heady aroma.

• Dresden Pink. A herbaceous variety of peonies with a spherical flower, which is often called the "Dresden carnation". Indeed, the corrugated symmetrical petals, tightly packed into the inflorescence, resemble a giant carnation. The flower, pink with a silvery sheen, looks luxurious against the background of dark greenery. The flowering period is short - only 10-12 days of abundance of colors in June.

A tree-like bush with medium-sized pink flowers. A feature of the variety is its rapid growth - plants in a short period reach a height of 80-90 centimeters. The flowering period falls at the end of the summer season.

Possessing a pleasant smell, the plant will be an excellent decoration for a garden path. Flowers are also suitable for creating rock gardens. A bush planted on the shore of a reservoir will remind the landscapes of famous artists with its reflection on the water surface. In short, flowers can transform any space. Admiring beautiful perennials, an association emerges with harmony and naturalness.

• Pink Delight. A cheerful peony with distinct personality. Charming light pink flowers with a golden core, despite the faint smell, attract an abundance of insects. The inflorescence is loose - this makes the flower seem even more tender. The bushes are neat, they consist of strong stems with lateral buds. A plant with double petals will fit well into any flower garden.

• Pink Double. A unique hybrid that is obtained by crossing a tree peony with a herbaceous one. The hybrid plant has strong stems capable of holding fully blooming flowers above the greenery of the bush. The petals of the opened bud are pink, diluted in the center with golden stamens. The shade of the bud is complex and can change color as it blooms from deep pink to pale. Short perennials with a weak, unexpressed aroma are rapidly gaining popularity.

• Clems Pink Annone. Peony is a masterpiece with a preference for loamy soil. Propagating by a bulb, it likes a high soil moisture content. Sun-loving bushes are crowned with large dense structure flowers of a white-creamy-pink hue. Delicate buds are composed exclusively of double pink petals. Tall bushes bloom in June and July.

• "Pink cotton candy"... The year of selection of the pink hybrid is 2000. Bushes are undersized with strong stems. The bud, devoid of stamens and seeds, exudes a faint aroma. The shape of the inflorescence is spherical. Terry petals of complex texture. Leaves are rich in dark green color. A beautiful compact perennial of early flowering.

Pink peonies are amazing flowers that will delight with long flowering, but with good and careful care. These perennials, like many other plants, need watering, fertilization and protection from diseases and pests. But all these operations must be done in a timely manner and correctly. Below are some tips on how to grow and grow healthy shrubs with lots of large flowers.

• After the snow melts, it is necessary to prevent fungal diseases by shedding a bush that has not yet sprouted with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. In addition, it will help to strengthen the root.

• When the first shoots appear, the soil around the future bush must be well loosened, the delicate greens must be treated with a solution of copper sulfate or another containing copper.

• Watering abundantly once a week with warm water - for each bush at least 10 liters. It is not recommended to water the plants during the flowering period. An exception is hot dry weather.

• Top dressing should be carried out in stages in accordance with the phases of development of the bush, but at least 4-5 times per season. You need to feed by alternating ammonium nitrate with a complex fertilizer: nitrate + superphosphate + potassium salt.

• In the spring, mulching the soil under the bushes is mandatory - for this, humus is introduced.

• When forming buds, the bushes should be tied up so that they do not disintegrate and the stems do not break under the weight of the inflorescences.

• In the fall, after the first frost, complete pruning of the shoots is necessary. At the same time, wood ash and bone meal are introduced.

Following these simple tips, you can grow an excellent harvest of peonies for 20 years without changing location.

Pink peony belongs to ornamental crops that serve for "live" decoration of the garden. There are several ways to propagate beautiful flowers.

Suitable for plants that have reached the age of 5-7 years. Procedure period: second half of August - mid-September. The procedure is recommended to be repeated every 5-7 years.

Stages:

• dig up the bushes, rinse the roots with water and dry;
• cut off shoots, leaving their height at the root of 10-15 cm;
• divide the rhizome into parts, each of which must have at least three buds to resume growth;
• soak the resulting parts in a solution of potassium permanganate for 2-3 hours;
• remove weak and damaged roots by covering the wound with an ointment made from ash and clay;
• plant the divisions prepared in this way to a new place.

Root cuttings are harvested after flowering. A young shoot is selected that has roots with a replacement bud. Cut off the stem, shortening it in height, soak the root part in a growth stimulator. Planting is carried out in the shady zone after half a day of soaking. After the first frost, the shoots are cut off, and the root part is covered.

The green stem cuttings are cut a week before the buds bloom. Only the inner stems are used, cutting them at the root. Cut trunks are cut, soaked and planted under the shady crown of trees, covered with a portable greenhouse. High humidity is maintained in the greenhouse, and after two decades they begin to ventilate. In late autumn, cuttings are cut and the roots are covered.

In the spring, in the first decade of April, a five-year-old peony bush is dug up, opening vegetative buds. Cover with a small container without a bottom measuring 50x50 cm, which is filled with fertile soil. The soil in the container must retain moisture. So that all the nutrition goes to the development of the root system, the buds formed on the shoots are pinched.

This option is more often used by breeders. Seed collection is carried out from August to September. The collected material is immediately sown into the ground, which allows you to get high germination. This technology provides the seeds with a two-stage hardening and acclimatization cycle:

• warm - at positive temperatures, but with sharp drops between their day and night values;
• cold - prolonged exposure to low temperatures.

Pink peonies not only amaze with their versatility and beauty, but also have good resistance to diseases and insect pests. But unfortunately, there are such ailments, from which it is not always possible to protect decorative plantings.So that the bush does not die, the cause of the disease must be recognized and eliminated in a timely manner.

Diseases that can infect and destroy pink peonies.

• Rust. A fungal disease that manifests itself on green foliage as brown-reddish pimples filled with spores. Spores are easily carried by the wind, affecting nearby bushes. Control methods: diseased leaves are removed from the stems and burned. The surviving plantings are sprayed with a solution of a liquid containing copper.

• Gray rot - a bloom of gray mold on various parts of the bush. The most dangerous disease for the peony family, instantly spreading in high humidity and affecting the entire aerial part of the bush. Control method: removal of all affected areas, treatment of the bush with 0.6% Tiram suspension.

• Powdery mildew - a whitish bloom on the greenery of adult bushes. Method of treatment: spray planting flowers with a 0.5% solution of soda ash mixed with laundry soap. The procedure should be carried out twice: repeated - a decade after the first.

• Leaf mosaic –– a virus in which the leaves are covered with spots of different shades, resembling a mosaic. There are no methods of treatment, the affected bushes are subject to immediate destruction.

Hordes of pests are also detrimental to the growth and development of peony bushes. Several pests are especially dangerous.

• Antsattracted by the scent of syrup that the buds emit. Insects feed on leaves and petals in search of treats. To destroy annoying sweet tooth, bushes and soil are sprayed with repellents.

• Aphid - greenish predators that feed on the sap of green spaces, quickly weakening them. They get rid of small pests by treating bushes with Fitoverm.

• Bronzovka Is a golden beetle that devours all visible parts. Period of activity: May-August. To combat it, you need to regularly loosen the soil around the bush, collecting beetles by hand every day.

• Gall nematodes harm the roots, preventing the plant from developing. To exterminate them, you need to dig out a bush and burn it, and treat the soil with a solution of "Formalin".

For the varieties of pink peonies, their features and care rules, see the video below.