The color scheme of different peonies is varied. Peonies with a coral tint have become very popular. Gardeners owe the appearance of peonies with an unusual shade to scientists L. Cousins, S. Wissing, A. Sanders. Now peonies with a coral tint have spread throughout the world and are popular with gardeners. The name “coral” means the shimmer of the stone; it is a mixture of bright pink, light orange, and fawn, shades in different combinations.
Description and features
Peonies are perennial plants of shrubby, semi-shrubby, herbaceous species, always with several dense stems no higher than a meter. The achievements of scientists in selection give summer residents more than 5 thousand species of peonies.
The peculiarity of all varieties is that they must be planted in the ground from the beginning of autumn, no later than mid-September. By this time, the plant buds have time to fully form. All types of peonies take root well in the middle zone, tolerate winter frosts, summer showers and droughts. It is important to plant the bushes correctly and properly care for them.
What they look like
Their root system is well developed to support a powerful bush. The foliage is trifoliate or pinnately divided, arranged alternately along the stem. The color of the leaves is distinguished by a dark green, dark purple, and bluish color. In autumn the foliage turns yellow and red. The buds vary in diameter from 17 to 25 centimeters. The inflorescences are multi-leaved, in some varieties they have a star shape. When they bloom, they produce a box with rounded seeds.
Note! Gardeners value all varieties of peonies for their easy care, different shapes, and unique aroma.
What varieties are there?
Peony flowering period determined by the formation of large buds, all plant varieties bloom at approximately the same time, and then an amazing aroma spreads throughout the entire holiday village. Gardeners note that each variety of peonies has its own aroma, but, in general, it is a single smell that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Pink
Most of all, gardeners value peonies of the Pink variety. This is an intraspecific variety bred by American breeders. Its inflorescences are anemoid-shaped and its leaves are terry. The flowers are light, coral pink. A fully opened bud reaches an average diameter of up to 12 centimeters. The bush grows up to 70 centimeters.
The main significance of this species is that it has strong stems that do not break in the wind or when cut into bouquets. The leaf color is light green. This is a mid-late variety, its aroma is weakly expressed.
Hawaiian
Peonies of the Hawaiian variety have only positive reviews from gardeners. It is classified as a universally herbaceous plant; it blooms once, but profusely. It is an intraspecific variety of Pink Hawaiian; its bush reaches a meter in height. The opened bud has a diameter of 20 centimeters. The petals are semi-double, the main color is milky, apricot-colored. In the center the inflorescence is decorated with stamens of a bright creamy hue. Hawaiian peonies smell like fresh hay. Gardeners highly value this variety, noting its good resistance to winter cold and early flowering.
Beach
Characteristics of the Beach variety are delicate coral tones. The variety is also milky-flowering. The height of the bush is at least 90 centimeters. The leaves along the entire stem are dark green in color. The open flower reaches 17 centimeters.
This variety is distinguished by a flower in the shape of a water lotus. It begins to bloom early and blooms for a long time. The petals of the flower are semi-double, decorated with a core of bright yellow tset. Valued by gardeners for its frost resistance and drought resistance.
Fey
The Fairy peony variety is a hybrid of several species. Brought out by US breeders in 1972. It is a low shrub plant, growing only up to 75 centimeters. The flowers are round in shape and have semi-double petals. The main color of Fay is pink, with a pronounced coral tone. The petals are darker in color towards the center of the flower. The opened bud grows to only 16 centimeters in diameter.
Fey has a delicate aroma that gives the bouquet real elegance. The leaves are light green, carved, similar to decorative ones.Fairies begin to bloom very early, which attracts all gardeners.
Coral Sunset
Beginning gardeners love the Coral Sunset variety. The plant is perennial, the stems are tall, straight, the bush is compact, up to 90 centimeters high. Cup-shaped flower, semi-double petals. The diameter of the flowers is up to 20 centimeters. The color of the flower is unusual - peach, interspersed with pink and red tones. As the petals fade, they turn yellow.
All shades of Sunset harmonize perfectly with bright green foliage. The leaves retain their color throughout the season and look decorative. The flowers have a pleasant aroma. This type of peony is a participant in many exhibitions, competitions, and winner of various awards.
Supreme
Gardeners were pleased with the appearance of the Supreme peony variety. This is a rare hybrid variety that is distinguished by its spectacular appearance. The shrub variety is distinguished by powerful stems with rich green leaves.
The height of the bush reaches 90 centimeters.
Supreme flowers are cup-shaped, semi-double petals of an interesting salmon color produce a coral-pink inflorescence. When ripe, the petals lighten to a pearlescent beige hue. The diameter of the flowers is up to 20 centimeters. Flowering period is mid-early.
Coral Charm
The herbaceous bush Coral Charm decorates the dacha. Its difference is in the original coloring of the flowers. As it begins to bloom, the flower turns dark pink. As the petals bloom, they change color to light coral, with a light border appearing along their edges. Flowering ends with another transformation: the petals acquire a yellow color. Throughout the flowering period, the petals are semi-double and large.
The size of the blooming flower reaches 20 centimeters in diameter. The structure of the bud is interesting: it consists of 8 rows of petals. This makes the flower incredibly lush. Dark green foliage and reddish stems add luxury to the bouquet.At the same time, strong stems do not break in bouquets. The bush grows no less than a meter. Peony Coral Charm is an early blooming variety. Its beauty has delighted gardeners since the beginning of summer.
En Gold
The En Gold peony delights, it has an interesting color and large flowers, decorated with fluffy stamens of a delicate coral shade. This variety blooms early - from March. The inflorescences are cup-shaped and reach 20 centimeters when fully expanded. They are distinguished by a rich, sweet aroma. The peony blooms for a long time, densely; the inflorescences remain in their structure for about two weeks. The height of the bush is up to 90 centimeters. There are many leaves, they are distinguished by narrow lobes and dark green color.
Magic
The variety was recently bred and amazes with its colorful flowers. Its flowers are three-rowed, with semi-double petals of bright color. Their circumference reaches 15 centimeters, the middle is decorated with bright yellow stamens. A compact and low bush grows up to 70 centimeters. The stems are strong, stand straight, covered with leaves of a soft green tone. This is an early flowering variety - the first buds appear in April.
Cora Louise
The amazing variety Cora Louise is an intersectional hybrid, it is a bush that grows up to a meter, its stems are strong, densely covered with decorative leaves of a dark green hue. The color of the leaves lasts until the autumn cold. The flowers are large, up to 25 centimeters in diameter, the petals are semi-double.
The color of the flower is interesting - it varies from white-pink, white-cream, to pale lilac. At the base, the petals are colored with a lavender-violet tint, which gives an expressive color to the middle of the flower. The bright yellow stamens add to the charm. Their aroma is light and sweet. Cora Louise is a medium flowering variety.
Topeka Coral
A hybrid shrub that grows up to 70 centimeters, its stems are strong and covered with large green foliage. The inflorescences are beautifully spherical in shape, with double coral-pink petals. The maximum color saturation of the flower is achieved at full bloom, then it brightens and takes on a peach hue. In terms of flowering, the hybrid variety is early and medium. The aroma has a soft musky aftertaste. Topeka Coral flowers are large, perfectly composed, and fully packed with petals.
Cora Louis
The flowering of the hybrid variety Cora Louis, similar to mountain peonies, is delightful. It blooms early - from April, with large white-pink flowers, with purple and burgundy stains at the base of the petals. The middle of the flower is decorated with bright yellow stamens. The opened flower reaches a diameter of 25 centimeters. The bush blooms for 2-4 weeks and reaches a height of 90 centimeters. The lacy foliage retains a rich green color until the autumn cold, then the color turns crimson.
Queen
A herbaceous variety with a closed root system grows up to 90 centimeters.
The flower is filled with double petals of interesting multi-colored colors - they are white-cream on the outside, yellow on the inside, and pale and pinkish in the middle. The buds are located on top of strong stems and bloom early.
Gardeners know! The variety of varieties allows you to choose any according to your taste, but each variety requires its own care.
How to plant
Coral varieties of peonies are planted in shaded areas where there is protection from direct sunlight. However, in the shade, the stems of peonies tend to stretch, weaken, and fall under the weight of the blooming flowers.
Planting rules are the same as for all hybrid peonies.When planting, you need to pay attention to the distance between the shoots in order to leave them room to develop in breadth. In this case, in the 2nd year the plants will begin to bloom, and by the 4th year they will become a decorative decoration of the summer cottage. Without replanting, the bushes grow up to 10 years, then the rhizome must be divided and replanted.
Selecting a location
Young shoots should be planted in a shady place, with access to sunlight, and protection from winds. It is better to do this around tall bushes, under spreading trees. When planting close to home, you must maintain the distance necessary for the growth and development of roots. This space is at least 1.5-2 meters.
Need to know! The growth and development of peonies will depend on the correct choice of planting site.
Land preparation
Peonies require fertile soil. To improve it, nutrition is introduced. Peonies grow well in loamy soils. If the soil consists of heavy clay, its composition must be improved by adding humus and peat. The soil should drain well and be loose.
If the soil at the dacha is heavy, the owner builds a special flowerbed, partially replacing the soil cover. To do this, dig a hole up to half a meter deep, remove unsuitable soil, and pour a mixture of sand, turf, and organic fertilizers into the hole in a ratio of 1: 2: 2. Young peony bushes are planted in such pits.
Fertilizer
Fertilizers are applied directly with the planting of young shoots. A mixture of ash, potassium sulfate and superphosphate in equal quantities is poured into the hole, with a total volume of no more than ½ bucket. Then the planted plant is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Fertilizers must be applied to the bushes of adult plants. To do this, use purchased complexes in a volume of 80 grams for one season.
Peonies are fed three times a season. The first time is in early spring, fertilizers are poured into a ditch dug in advance around the bushes. The second feeding with fertilizers is carried out during the formation of buds, the third time - 2 weeks after flowering. A single dose of fertilizer is 1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water.
How to plant
New shoots of peonies are transplanted and planted from late August to mid-October. At this time, the air cools to +12 degrees - the most suitable temperature for the formation of suction roots; their growth is important for the good survival of young shoots. Bushes are also planted in the spring, but in this case the seedlings have difficulty withstanding the summer heat and do not produce flowers.
Planting is done in the following order:
- first prepare holes no more than 60 centimeters deep, with a distance between them of at least 1 meter;
- if the soil is very wet, deepen the holes a little more to pour drainage mixture and gravel onto the bottom;
- the root is positioned so that the first buds are 5 centimeters below the edge of the hole. The deep or high position of the buds does not allow the bush to bloom in the first season;
- the root part is carefully covered with soil, eliminating the formation of voids, this is important for feeding the roots;
- the soil is trampled down, uncompacted soil is poured around the bush to a height of up to 5 centimeters.
The earthen edging of the bush retains water when watering. Humidity must be constantly maintained under young peonies, without allowing water to overflow.
Irrigation
It is important to keep the soil moist, especially in spring, during the formation of buds and their flowering. Proper irrigation of the land under peonies is necessary in the fall, when the buds of future flowers are laid.Watering is carried out at the rate of 2 buckets of water per bush, so that it sufficiently irrigates the soil in depth, to the very roots. In dry summers, adult peonies require watering once a week.
Attention! Young bushes need to be watered rarely, but abundantly. The main thing is that the soil does not dry out.
Mulching
The soil under peony bushes should be mulched during the dormant period. For this, dried grass, straw, and sawdust are used. The mixture is poured onto the soil in the autumn flower bed when the peonies finish flowering. In spring, the mulch layer must be removed to make room for the growth of new shoots.
How and when to replant
In the first year, it is important for the plant to form a strong root system, so young buds are cut off. The bush matures, and after 4 years of active flowering it can be dug up and divided. Division is carried out from mid-August to the end of September. The separated shoot should have 2-3 well-formed buds and a rhizome of at least 15 centimeters. Before planting, separated shoots are disinfected with a solution of saturated manganese, and the cut site is treated with charcoal.
Now the shoots can be planted in a new place. They need to be watered abundantly, and the ground should be mulched with compost for the winter. In spring, the mulch layer is removed and the freed soil is carefully loosened..
