Content
Many people like large peony flowers. Blooming in late spring, they are most visible in the garden. Peony Pastelegance attracts with its unusual color of petals, which many growers call unique. For Russia, this is a new variety and is still quite rare, but it is already in considerable demand.
Description of herbaceous peony Pastel Elegance
Pastel Elegance is an interspecific hybrid, was bred in 1989 by American breeder Bill Seidl and is his best achievement. It belongs to herbaceous peonies, an adult plant reaches a height of 70-80 cm. Its leaves are blue-green, dark, with a semi-glossy surface, the stems are strong, the bush is not spreading.
Peony can grow both in the sun and in the shade, loves moisture, fertile, loose soil. It grows well at temperatures from -40 to 34 ° C, cold-resistant, does not need shelter for the winter.
Flowering features
Medium flowering plant. The flower of the hybrid is double, large, 20-23 cm in diameter. The petals are painted in pink-peach tones, the aroma is pleasant, unexpressed. The flowers of the plant acquire the color, size and shape typical for a hybrid in the 3-4th season. Suitable for cutting.
Pastelegance peonies look gentle and very noble
Application in design
For a variety with flowers of such an original color, you need to find a place in the garden in which the plant will be clearly visible. Many flower growers place peonies near a residential building, garages, summer kitchens and other outbuildings. You can plant them in flower beds in the center of the composition or along the paths.
As for the neighbors with whom the peony will look harmonious, these are flowering plants of the same height or less. Near the bushes of the Pastelegance variety, both perennials and annuals with flowers of any color and decorative leaves can be planted. If you want to create the effect of incessant flowering, you need to choose plants so that they bloom gradually - from spring to autumn. It is undesirable to plant tall or bulky plants near the peonies or between them, which will easily cover them with themselves.
In room culture, the Pastelegance peony is not grown, for this it is too large. For planting in pots, a group of low-growing varieties has been specially bred, which are well adapted to this particular method of growing.
Reproduction methods
Despite the fact that peonies are long-lived and can grow in one place for many years without damage to themselves, they also need to be transplanted (to rejuvenate the bush or simply to increase the number of plants).
The vegetative way of reproduction of peonies is the fastest and most reliable. Like many varieties, Pastelegance can be propagated by rooted green or rooted cuttings, or by dividing the bush.
Root cuttings are dug up in the fall (a month and a half before the onset of cold weather) or early in the spring (before the growth of the stems) and transplanted to the garden bed, where they take root. The next year they are transferred to a permanent place. At the same time, the division of the bush is carried out. When dividing, it is necessary to ensure that in each separate part there are several growth buds. Green cuttings are cut from stems with a part of the root collar at least 10-15 cm long. Root them in a damp and warm greenhouse. Transplanted to a permanent place after a year.
Peony seedlings should be rooted before planting in the ground
Landing rules
The recommended planting time for peony seedlings is September-October - after they finish their growing season. In spring they are planted in March or early April - before young stems appear from the ground. Seedlings grown in pots can be transplanted in summer along with a lump of earth. They take root well.
In any case, you first need to select and prepare a place on the site. Most peonies, including the Pastelegance variety, love the sun, flowers grow much worse in the shade, so you should not place them too tightly to the house, other buildings, any high fences or trees. Damp areas, where water often stagnates, are also not suitable.
The soil is preferred fertile, loose, with good moisture absorption and air passage. They do not like an acidic environment, if there is an acidic soil on the site, it must be calcified.
Seedlings of Pastelegance peonies, suitable for planting, must be with well-developed roots and buds, completely healthy. Preparation consists of soaking the roots in a solution of a root formation stimulant, for example, Kornevin. The processing time is indicated in the instructions for the preparation.
Follow-up care
Peonies are not indifferent to moisture, especially during the period of rooting and forcing new stems. Adult bushes do not need to be watered so often, their roots penetrate quite deeply, so they have enough rainwater in the not hot season. But if it is too hot in summer or the drought lasts for a long time, then you need to water the bushes, spending at least 2 buckets of water for each. After watering, the land around the bushes needs to be loosened. You can protect the soil from rapid drying out with mulch, this will reduce the number of watering and loosening, and facilitate maintenance.
Pastelegance peonies are fed 3 times per season:
- In the spring, after the snow has completely melted, nitrogen fertilizers are applied.
- During the budding period, phosphorus and potassium are added to them.
- After flowering, only phosphorus and potash are used.
On poor sandy soils, you can carry out another top dressing in the fall - after the leaves begin to turn yellow. As additional nutrition, both mineral and organic fertilizers are equally effective, but if both are available, it is better to use organic matter.
During the budding period, you need to inspect the Pastelegance bushes and cut off the small buds on each stem, leaving the largest ones. Of these, the largest flowers will bloom. After wilting, everything must be cut off in order to give
Blooming peonies of different varieties in the same garden are a real decoration of the garden.
Preparing for winter
Autumn care for peony bushes of the Pastelegance variety consists of pruning and shelter for the winter. The stems are cut at ground level. They are taken out of the site and burned so as not to spread possible diseases. The bush is covered with a layer of mulch at least 5 cm thick. Despite the cold resistance inherent in the peony, insulation will not interfere with it.
Pests and diseases
Peonies attack fungal and viral diseases. One of the most common is leaf rust. It is quite simple to see the characteristic lesions and distinguish from the symptoms of other diseases - brown-brown with reddish specks appear on the leaves. They are located separately, over time they can merge into larger spots of irregular shape. Control measures: pluck and burn all diseased leaves, spray the bush with Bordeaux liquid.
Gray rot affects the entire plant, its stems, leaves, buds. It spreads more often in wet weather. The disease is manifested by causeless wilting, then a gray bloom appears on the green parts. The peony gradually fades and may die. Anti-rot measures are the same as for rust.
Pastelegans peonies can get sick with powdery mildew, although less often than rust and rot. It is not difficult to determine it - if the plant is damaged, a white bloom will be noticeable on the upper leaves of the leaves. Control measures: spraying with any fungicide against this disease.
From viral diseases, peonies can get sick with a mosaic of leaves. Symptoms are characteristic: yellowish-green spots appear on the leaves, located in a mosaic pattern. Over time, necrosis appears in their place. Viral diseases of pions are not cured, therefore, the affected specimens must be eliminated, burned, and not planted in this place for several years in a row.
The most malicious pests of peonies are ants. They penetrate the buds and flowers that have not yet opened, eat the petals, thereby spoiling their appearance. In the fight against ants, you need to use repellents or insecticides.
In addition to ants, peony flowers damage bronzes. Pests gnaw petals, like ants. Bronze beetles are large, noticeable, they can be collected by hand, but if there are a lot of them or with a large number of bushes, you will have to use insecticides.
Flowers can be used for cutting, planted in a recreation area in the garden
Conclusion
Peony Pastelegance differs from many other varieties in large double flowers and unusual color. He has not yet received distribution, but is already well known to many flower growers who wish to replenish their collection. In addition to its attractive appearance, the Pastelegans variety is distinguished by fast growth, good rooting, and unpretentious care.
Reviews about peony Pastelegance
