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Blue peonies are still an unrealistic dream for enthusiastic gardeners. Breeders are working on the task, but they have only managed to obtain varieties with lilac petals in cool shades. Therefore, hobbyists should soberly evaluate the offers of online gardening stores.
Blue peonies are often just a wonderful result of Photoshop
Are there blue peonies?
Peonies come in a variety of colors - from snow-white to dark red and deep burgundy. The only color that is not in the palette of this culture is blue or light blue. Although recently, online stores often offer offers to buy exotic peonies the color of a cloudless sky. Unfortunately, in reality it is now almost impossible to purchase a variety of this shade. Genetically, the peony is not inclined to form flowers with blue petals. The absence of the blue color gene in this crop prevents scientists from achieving a solution to the current problem.As a result of selection, only various shades of lilac-pink or dark burgundy flowers have always been obtained, which does not at all correspond to the definition of “blue” in Russian.
Varieties of peonies with flowers of blue and light blue shades
Most of the new varieties, with varying shades of purple, belong to the tree peony species. Almost all bushes are winter-hardy, covered with lush greenery, which can boast a special decorative effect and decorate the garden throughout the warm season. Many varieties with lilac-burgundy petal shades can grow in semi-shaded areas.
Blue sapphire
On the powerful tree-like shoots of the Blue Sapphire variety, up to 1.2 m high, inflorescences with a diameter of 16-17 cm with light pink petals open. Strong peduncles bear large crowns, the petals of which at the base are painted with stripes of a dark purple hue and raspberry-burgundy splashes. The flowers are soft watercolor and very attractive.
Blue sapphire pleases with flowering for 10-15 days
Blue bird
Plants are tall, up to 1.5 m and higher. On the strong branched shoots of an adult bush, many double flower caps of a cool pink-lilac tone are formed. During flowering, which lasts up to 2 weeks, the shoots under the lush flowers bend towards the ground.
The Blue Bird variety bush is distinguished by its powerful growth
Blue chrysanthemum
The dwarf variety, growing up to 50-60 cm, with a flower crown with a diameter of 16-17 cm, is placed in a spacious place, away from trees and large bushes.It blooms at the end of June, spreading an amazing aroma and attracting attention with shiny pink petals with soft tints of purple tones.
Blue chrysanthemum - low-growing bush
Blue ball
The tree-like variety is known for its tall bushes with spreading branches and fluffy flower caps of a cool lilac hue with a bluish tint. The crowns are large, 15-17 cm. Flowering is long-lasting. The shoots rise over 1.5 m. The variety is winter-hardy and undemanding to care.
The blue ball pleases with abundant flowering
Blue lotus
The bush of the Chinese tree variety is winter-hardy, vigorous branches rise to 1.2-1.6 m. The leaf blades are rich green. During the flowering period, the bush is covered with intense pink inflorescences, in the petals of which bluish shades are captured when the light plays. Prefers to grow in an open, illuminated area.
With good nutrition, Blue Lotus flowers reach more than 20 cm in diameter
Blue Doe
The vigorous-growing variety Blue Doe rises up to 2 m. A magnificent crown with a diameter of 15 cm is formed by vertically standing petals of a lilac hue with bluish nuances under a certain play of light.
On strong shoots, abundant flowering begins in mid-June
Heavenly Brocade
The bushes are low, 70-80 cm. In June they are strewn with lush crowns consisting of glossy pink-purple petals. Flowers sometimes turn into a bluish tint under special, indirect illumination from oblique sunlight.
Sky brocade is a representative of the herbaceous species
Rain Song
The tree peony has luxurious, densely double flowers with a diameter of 17-19 cm. The bush is vigorous, powerful, 1.7-1.9 m high. It blooms magnificently, but for a relatively short time, up to 7-10 days.The petals are light purple, delicate lavender, with a delicate bluish tint along the edge.
The Rain Song variety is decorative with its oblong leaves with burgundy veins
Deep blue Sea
The winter-hardy tree peony grows up to 1.3-1.6 m. At the tops of strong shoots, amazing caps of dark purple petals sway, which at times surprise with the shimmer of lilac-blue tones. The plant prefers well-drained alkaline soil rich in nutrients.
The variety amazes with the intensity of flower color
Blue and cyan peonies in landscape design
Plants with bluish tints will decorate any garden and give a delightful aroma. Since most of them are powerful, spreading specimens, they are not planted near other plants. The distance between bushes is at least 1.5 m. Also, ground covers are not placed under peonies. The site is thickened only with early spring bulbous plants, which precede the flowering of the main crop.
There are many design solutions:
- creating magnificent curtains in spacious meadows;
- tapeworms in flower beds;
- tall tree peonies are placed as a background for lower flowers;
- low-growing varieties are used in border elements;
- Abundantly flowering bushes and carved leaves look beautiful in rock gardens and rockeries.
Vigorous tree-like peonies are particularly decorative. Partners for species with blue shades of lilac-pink petals are plants that are contrasting or harmonious in color:
- cream and yellow daylilies;
- blue sage;
- various irises;
- bright poppies;
- white, blue and purple bells.
Planting and caring for blue peonies
The culture is unpretentious in terms of growth conditions, prefers brightly lit areas, but tolerates partial shade and even needs it in the southern regions. The soil should be well-drained, fertile, preferably light loam. When planting, humus, 300 ml of wood ash, 100 g of potassium sulfate and superphosphate are placed in the hole. Acidic soils are limed at the rate of 1 kg of lime or dolomite flour per 10 liters of water. Planting is carried out only at the end of August, in September.
A peony grows in one place for a very long time. The bush requires abundant but infrequent watering. For one adult specimen, spend from 2 to 5 buckets of water, watering the plant at the root. In spring, fertilize with nitrogen preparations or organic matter. At the beginning of the creation of buds, they are supported with phosphorus preparations. The third time, at the beginning of flower blooming, fertilizing is carried out with the same composition. Watering does not stop until autumn and be sure to keep the soil loose.
Pests and diseases
Tree peonies are resistant to various fungal diseases. If a focus of infection is found on plants near the bush, it is necessary to carry out prevention with any fungicide. Viral diseases cannot be cured, so plants with mosaic lesions are removed from the site.
Peonies suffer most from neighboring colonies of aphids and ants. To remove ants from an area, either their nests are moved to wild nature, or narrowly targeted drugs are used. Aphids are destroyed using folk remedies by spraying plants with solutions of soda or soap.
During the budding phase, be sure to check peonies every morning for the presence of bronzes.The beetles suck the juice from the buds and thus disfigure the flower, which produces underdeveloped and crippled petals.
If the bush withers, the rhizomes are checked for infection with root-knot nematodes. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the plant is dug up and taken to a centralized waste collection point or burned.
Conclusion
Blue peonies with ultramarine petals are a beautiful fairy tale for gullible gardeners. But lavender-colored varieties have their own special charm. The plant will decorate the garden and give it a unique charm.
