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The genus peony includes more than 3 dozen species, including rare ones, for example, the mountain peony, included in the Red Book. It grows in natural conditions, has not been introduced into culture, but if desired, it can be grown in the garden as well - if you follow the rules of agricultural technology.
Full description of mountain peony
This species is endangered. The description of the mountain peony - a plant from the Red Book, was made in 1984. It is a perennial, characterized by cold resistance, in nature it can withstand even the most severe cold.
The rhizome of the plant is located horizontally in the ground, the bush has a straight single stem, 0.3-0.6 m tall, ribbed, with a purple stripe along the ribs, with large red-crimson integumentary scales at the base. The leaves of the peony are green, with red-violet veins, obovate in shape, three times trifoliate, with a solid, not dissected edge. Wide - 18-28 cm in diameter. As you can see, the plant is different from the peonies that usually bloom in gardens, but it is also decorative in its own way.
Mountain peony has delicate flowers, often located among stones
Where mountain peonies grow
Their range is the Far Eastern regions of Russia, Khabarovsk, Primorsky Krai, Sakhalin Oblast. In addition to the Russian Federation, this species grows in Korea, Japan and China. The plant can be seen in mixed forests - both among conifers and larch trees. Likes to grow in the shade, on gentle slopes or in river floodplains.
The peony does not grow in large groups, does not form glades or large clusters, grows mainly in single specimens or in small groups.
How the mountain peony blooms
Plants bloom in May. The flowers are simple, formed from 5-6 medium-sized petals, arranged in 1 row, light cream or yellowish, less often pink or white. The flowers are 6-12 cm in diameter. The corolla rests on a green fleshy sepal. In the center there are up to 6 dozen bright yellow stamens with a purple base. The scent of the flowers is reminiscent of poppy.
After 2 months - in late July or early August, fruits with seeds ripen at the mountain peony. They are greenish-purple single-leaves with 4-8 brown seeds inside.
Why is the mountain peony listed in the Red Book
The mountain peony is included in the Red Book, as its number has greatly decreased and is still at a low level. And so far there is no hope that the plants will independently restore their number to indicators when they will not be threatened with extinction.
The value of mountain peonies for the ecosystem
Since everything in nature is interconnected, the disappearance of a population of any plant species entails a disruption in the entire system. The same applies to the mountain peony. Despite the fact that it does not serve as food for animals, does not form thickets that would noticeably affect the state of the ecosystem, it also has its value as an ornamental plant.
Mountain peonies adorn forest glades, fill spaces in young deciduous plantations
The reasons for the disappearance of the species
The reasons for this state of the species are human activities: deforestation, which destroys the natural habitat of plants, forest fires.
This type of plant is also vulnerable because some people, walking in the forest, dig up rhizomes in order to try to grow flowers in their area.But they do not always succeed, because the plant, if it takes root, grows poorly, since it is not in comfortable conditions. They dig up the roots also because they consider them medicinal, but this is a mistake, only the medicinal and evading peony (Maryin-root) has medicinal properties of many types of peonies.
Reduces the number of peonies and the fact that people pick their flowers for bouquets. In this case, the bush itself is harmed, and the plants cannot set seeds and multiply.
Measures for the protection of mountain peonies
Protected natural areas have been created in the Primorsky Territory and Sakhalin, where scientific, environmental and cultural activities are carried out to protect the mountain peony from destruction. In the regions, it is forbidden to pick flowers and dig out the rhizome of plants. All this should contribute to the fact that gradually the number of a beautiful flower will increase.
Is it possible to grow mountain peonies at home
Vegetatively propagated mountain peonies can theoretically grow in private gardens. But in practice, this happens quite rarely. Basically, to increase their numbers, they are grown in botanical gardens, applying a scientific approach to this work. In suitable conditions, the mountain peony takes root and blooms.
How mountain peonies can be propagated
This species reproduces in the same way as the cultivated forms. Since it is impossible to completely dig up the bush, one option remains - to separate part of the root from it so that the plant does not die.
The piece of root should be such that a growth bud is present on it. After digging, you need to sprinkle the rhizome with earth so that the roots do not remain open. The best time to dig out is late August or early fall.
You can try another way: root a leaf stalk. Cut out a part from the middle of the shoot, it should have an axillary bud. Plant the cuttings in a moist, loose substrate and root in a greenhouse at high humidity for about 1-1.5 months. Then you can land in the garden.
Wild peonies, unlike garden ones, reproduce well by seeds. At the same time, species characteristics are well preserved, therefore, for home breeding, a plant can be grown from seeds. To do this, you need to collect the fruits after they ripen on the bush. Grow seedlings from them, and then transplant them to a permanent place in the garden. The cultivation technology is the same as that of cultivated peonies:
- Seeds are sown in a small garden bed in September-October.
- Before the onset of cold weather, it is covered with a layer of mulch.
- In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, with the onset of sunny weather, the shelter is removed.
Before transplanting, peonies from seeds must grow in the garden for at least 1 year. In the first few years of life, they most likely will not bloom.
The first years after planting, the sprouts need special care.
Planting and leaving
A place for a mountain peony in the garden must be chosen so that it is in the shade or in partial shade, because it is in such conditions that it grows in nature. Dig up the area where the plant will be located and add humus and ash to it, especially if the soil is poor and has not been fertilized for a long time.
Mountain peony is transplanted in early spring or autumn - before or after the end of the growing season. The size of the planting hole should exceed the volume of the roots of the planted seedling. It must be deepened so that the growth buds are covered with earth. Then pour water over the seedling.
Caring for a mountain peony is simple: you need to water it often in the first month, make sure that the ground is always moist. After rooting, watering can only be done in the heat, the rest of the time the plant will have enough moisture from the rains.
It is enough to feed once a season - in early spring or autumn, using mineral or organic fertilizers. You do not need to overfeed, this will not make the flowers larger or more magnificent.
Prepare for winter during autumn work in the garden: cut off the wilted stems, take out and burn them, dig in the bush slightly to give air to the roots, then sprinkle with foliage or any other type of mulch. However, if there is no insulation, the plant should not freeze out, since it is much more resistant to cold weather than varietal peonies.
Pests and diseases
The mountain peony has stronger immunity than the home peony, so usually it does not get sick with anything. But under favorable conditions for pathogens, some plants can be affected by fungal diseases, a little less often by viral ones. After establishing the cause, you need to carry out treatment: treat the bushes with drugs.
The same applies to pests. Most often, ants harm peonies. If insects are found on the buds, folk remedies should be used to combat them, for example, mix sugar or honey with boric acid and scatter near the bush. Attracted by the sweet bait, the ants will die.
You can spray the peony with an infusion of herbs, the smell of which pests do not like: bay leaves, parsley, tansy, wormwood, marigolds, lavender, mint or garlic infusion. If this does not help, you need to use chemical insecticides.
From garden pests, aphids can settle on plants. You can also fight it with folk methods: spray it with ash, soap or tobacco infusion. It is quite possible that one time will not be enough to completely get rid of the pests, so after a while (after about 1.5 weeks), you need to repeat the spraying. As in the case of ants, agrochemistry should only be used in extreme cases.
Conclusion
Mountain peony is a rare plant protected by the state. That is why it is better to admire it in nature, but if you wish, you can grow it in your garden. The general principles of agricultural technology of this type coincide with the technology of growing garden peonies, so there should not be any special difficulties.
