Content
One of the most beautiful flowers that can become the hallmark of the garden is the Candy Stripe peony. It is a hybrid winter-hardy variety that can withstand even the harsh Russian winters. It is undemanding to care, although it needs regular watering and timely feeding. Peony gives very beautiful and fragrant flowers as early as 3-4 years after planting.
Description of Peony Candy Stripe
Candy Stripe is a hybrid peony cultivar obtained in the USA in 1992. The bush is small, compact: the peduncle reaches 80 cm in height. Refers to herbaceous - the shoots do not lignify, while the stems are quite strong, therefore they do not need a garter and support. The leaves are bright green, with a glossy surface, very narrow and elongated. Refers to light-loving varieties - prefers brightly lit areas. Shading, even weak, is undesirable.
Peony Candy Stripe decorates the garden with its vibrant flowers and dainty green leaves
The winter hardiness of the variety is quite high - there is evidence that Candy Stripe can withstand up to -35 degrees. This allows you to confidently grow it not only in Central Russia, but also in the Urals, Southern Siberia and the Far East.
Flowering features
The flower of the Candy Stripe peony is terry, European in shape, and large in size (16-18 cm in diameter). The color is white with deep pink crimson petals. Stamens are orange, rather thin, long, red buds. After blooming, the flower gives off a faint but pleasant aroma. In terms of flowering time, Candy Stripe belongs to the medium-late: peonies appear in the second half of summer. The first varietal qualities appear 2-3 years after planting.
Not many flowers appear on one bush, but they are all large and bright. The splendor of flowering primarily depends on the planting site, type of soil and care:
- light, well-drained soils are preferred;
- the area is open, sunny, without any shade;
- watering as needed;
- top dressing 3 times per season - in early spring, during budding and after flowering.
Application in design
Peony Candy Stripe is often used in single plantings. The bushes look especially beautiful when planted in rows on a manicured lawn. They attract attention due to their large and very bright colors with an unusual coloration.
Along with this, they can be planted:
- next to the entrance;
- on the coast of the reservoir;
- in composition with smaller flowers;
- to the composition with undersized hosts (it is necessary that they do not give shadow to the peony bushes).
Candy Stripe can be planted with different flowers and plants, for example:
- blue forget-me-not;
- petunias;
- daisies;
- lilies;
- astilbe;
- hydrangeas;
- pelargonium;
- dwarf spruces and other conifers.
This bright flower is used in flower beds, mixborders, rock gardens. It will look beautiful even near a bench or a gazebo.
Candy Stripe peonies are used both in single plantings and in compositions with other flowers.
Since Candy Stripe peony needs good lighting throughout the day, growing it on balconies and loggias seems unlikely.
Reproduction methods
This flower can be propagated in various ways:
- dividing the bush;
- layering;
- cuttings.
In reviews of the herbaceous peony Candy Stripe, gardeners often say that the simplest of them is breeding by dividing the bush. It is desirable to propagate adult plants at the age of 4-5 years. It is better to divide the peony in the second half of summer or autumn, 1-1.5 months before the onset of the first frost.
They act like this:
- Take a secateurs and shorten the lower stems by 1/3 so that they do not break with the buds.
- Sharpen the shovel and cut the ground from all sides so that the bush with the lump becomes free.
- The peony is raised by the lower, most massive shoots, trying to preserve the roots.
- Rinse the roots with water to remove soil.
- With a knife, cut the rhizome into several parts, so that each has 3 to 5 buds and 2 fleshy, healthy roots.
- Delenki are planted in pre-prepared pits in the same soil and at the same depth as the mother bush.
- Water abundantly.
- Mulch for the winter with humus, peat. In late autumn, you can cover it with a layer of straw, hay or spruce branches.
Adult Candy Stripe peonies can be propagated at home
Landing rules
Candy Stripe seedlings are purchased in trusted stores. It is better to plant them immediately in a permanent place, in most cases the optimal time is the end of August (in the south it is possible in mid-September). There are no special requirements for the place - it must:
- match the design intent;
- be open and sunny;
- if possible, be located on a hill.
The soil should be fertile, with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction (pH 5.5 to 7.0). It is advisable to prepare the site in a month - it is cleaned and dug onto a shovel bayonet. Then several planting pits are formed with a depth and diameter of 40-50 cm, an interval of 50-60 cm.In each hole, put the following mixture:
- 1 part of garden or vegetable garden land;
- 2 parts compost or humus;
- 200 g superphosphate;
- 60 g of potassium sulfate.
A layer of drainage of 5-7 cm from stones (broken brick, crushed stone) is laid on the bottom, then the mixture is poured and the peony is rooted. It is abundantly watered and mulched with peat, humus. Mulch not only serves as an additional fertilizer, but also protects the soil from drying out too quickly on hot days.
Follow-up care
Candy Stripe does not need particularly difficult care, but certain rules must be followed. For example, already in the first year after planting, seedlings require regular watering, especially on hot days. In dry weather, you can pour 1 bucket per bush, and if it rains, no additional moisture is needed. The day after watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil to provide air access to the peony roots.
In the first year, Candy Stripe does not need fertilizing, since fertilizers are necessarily laid in the planting hole. Starting from the second season, fertilizing should be applied regularly - at least 3 times:
- In early April, any nitrogen fertilizer is applied - for example, ammonium nitrate. It stimulates the growth of leaves and shoots, which contributes to the rapid recovery of the peony after the winter period.
- During bud formation (end of June), a standard mineral fertilizer is added.
- After the first flowers bloom, add superphosphates and potassium salt - for example, potassium sulfate. A similar composition can be fed after flowering, around the end of August.
Thanks to simple maintenance, you can achieve stable flowering of the Candy Stripe peony.
Preparing for winter
In autumn, it is advisable to cut off all the shoots practically under the base - this stimulates the growth of new branches and abundant flowering for the next year. The land around the bush can be treated with any fungicide to prevent the occurrence of fungal diseases.
It is not necessary to specially feed for the winter - the last time fertilizers (superphosphate and potassium salt) are applied in the second half of August.It is also not necessary to cover the Candy Stripe peony for the winter, but it is advisable to cover young seedlings with hay, straw and other mulch. In regions with cold winters, it is advisable to repeat this procedure annually.
Pests and diseases
Candy Stripe is quite resistant to various diseases and pests. But gray rot is often found on the bush:
- leaves at ground level suddenly wither;
- the stems also wither, become weak;
- large buds stop growing;
- flowering is rare, not abundant.
In this case, urgent measures must be taken:
- Remove all damaged parts of the Candy Stripe peony, carry them away and burn.
- Treat the plant with any fungicide - Bordeaux liquid, "Topaz".
- Put supports to make it easier for the peony to recover.
Sometimes Candy Stripe peony can be affected by an invasion of pests - for example, ants, aphids, thrips, nematodes. Control measures are standard - spraying with insecticides (Biotlin, Confidor, Karate).
To exclude the defeat of fungal infections, prophylactic treatment with fungicides is recommended in autumn or early spring.
Conclusion
Peony Candy Stripe is one of the most luxurious flowers that can decorate a flower garden even in simple single plantings. The bush is resistant to frost, pests, temperature extremes and other unfavorable factors. Therefore, it will be easy for most gardeners to dilute it on the site.
Peony Candy Stripe reviews
