Content
Peony Blushing Princess is a young variety that has gained popularity first among Western gardeners, and then among Russian summer residents. It is a herbaceous shrub with large white flowers that attract pollinators. The culture is characterized by excellent winter hardiness; it can be grown for various purposes: for cutting, landscape decoration or personal use.
Breeding history
The plant was brought from America. The originator of Blushing Princesses is Sanders, a group of botanists who have about a dozen unique varieties of peonies under their belt. Release date: 1991.
Description of Peony Blushing Princesses with photo
The variety represents a group of medium-sized shrubs and is distinguished by high adaptive properties. Blushing Princess is able to grow in unfavorable conditions. In this case, the number of flowers will be minimal.
Like other peonies, the interspecific hybrid Blushing Princess has powerful stems and leaves. During the budding period, the plant does not require garter. The height of adult specimens can exceed 75 cm.
Timing and flowering period
Blushing Princess is an early flowering plant. The first buds appear at the end of spring, and the bush is completely covered with them in June.
The long flowering period (40 days) has made the crop equally in demand among summer residents and landscape designers
Double flowers of Blushing Princesses are up to 18 cm in diameter. The tightly lying petals have wavy outlines; in the middle part there are golden stamens. White tones smoothly turn into pink closer to the center, which is why the flowering bush resembles a delicate airy cloud.
Advantages and disadvantages
The decorative nature of the variety has not escaped the eyes of landscape specialists. Blushing Princesses becomes a frequent guest in gardens, parks, and alleys.
Peony has excellent immunity, providing protection against most diseases.
Pros:
- stands for a long time when cut;
- early flowering period;
- large diameter of buds;
- winter hardiness;
- unpretentiousness.
Minuses:
- Despite a strong immune system, Blushing Princess is vulnerable to powdery mildew and gray mold.
When and how to plant
Peony Blushing Princess is a perennial, so a place for it must be chosen that matches the growing conditions. Experts advise giving priority to eastern or southern sides with long daylight hours. The selected soil should not contain excess moisture (lowlands are immediately excluded).
The best time for planting is the last week of August. Blushing Princess is characterized by high growth rates, therefore, there is a minimum distance of 50 cm between neighboring seedlings.
Soil with neutral and weak acidity will be the best choice for planting. Regardless of the composition, drainage is placed at the bottom of the pit.It can be chipped brick or any small stone. The hole is prepared three weeks before rooting: garden soil must be mixed with complex mineral fertilizer for peonies, watered and leveled.
Care instructions
Blushing Princesses are looked after in the same way as other peonies. The bushes do not like regular moisture - no more than two waterings per season are enough. However, the amount of water added should be plentiful. In summer it is allowed to increase the frequency of moisturizing.
The stream of water is directed strictly at the root, since the foliage can burn if it gets in contact with drops.
The next day after planting, the Blushing Princess peony can be mulched. With this action, the gardener will eliminate two problems at once: it will prevent the development of weeds and reduce the amount of liquid applied during watering (mulch is a kind of sponge).
At the beginning of the growing season, nitrogen fertilizers are applied to the soil. Instead, it is allowed to use organic matter. Even better is to combine both fertilizers. Before adding nutrient mixtures, Blushing Princess peonies are soaked in warm water. To increase the duration of flowering, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are applied in the summer.
Wintering
In autumn, when the leaves lose their viability, the stems are cut off. This is done before the onset of frost, otherwise it will be difficult for Blushing Princesses to adapt. Sections (10 cm) are left on the ground, the root zone is dug up and mulched with ash and conifers.
Reproduction methods
Peony Blushing Princesses are grown using three methods:
- cuttings;
- layering;
- division.
The survival rate of cuttings does not exceed 30%, so this method is rarely practiced by gardeners.Work is carried out after flowering has ended. To do this, find a thick shoot with a small bud, cut off the underdeveloped flower, and remove the lower leaves.
In May, when the seedlings become strong and the shoots begin to branch, peonies are propagated by layering. Dig a small hole next to the bush, trim the stem and bend it towards the hole. The leaves are left on the surface.
For fixation in a given position, staples are used
The branches are sprinkled, then the peonies are watered.
Weeds can grow near the cuttings; the gardener needs to pull them out as they appear. The first shoots on the shoot appear after two months. Experts advise loosening the soil at this time, thereby ensuring air flow to the roots. In August, the cuttings are separated from the bush or left with the mother plant until next spring (if conditions are unfavorable).
The best breeding method for Blushing Princesses is division. The germination rate of planting material is almost 100%. Work is carried out in September: mature peonies older than four years are dug up, dried and part of the rhizome with buds is separated. The cut areas are sprinkled with coal. After this, the divisions are placed in pre-prepared pits.
Diseases and pests
Blushing Princesses have excellent immunity, but botanists note resistance to powdery mildew. The hybrid becomes vulnerable in cloudy weather, since dampness is a favorable environment for the development of the disease. The second disease dangerous for peonies is gray rot. It also forms due to waterlogging.Therefore, in spring and autumn you need to be careful with watering.
Insects (aphids and bronze beetles) also cause trouble for the gardener. They feed on plant sap contained in the shoots of Blushing Princesses. As a result of the damage, peonies wither and the number of flowers decreases.
Aphids are controlled with Actellik. If the insects have not spread, use a soap solution. Bronzovka is sensitive to the drug Medvetox; folk remedies against it are ineffective.
Application in landscape
The variety is best suited for group plantings. Designers recommend making “neighbors” other peonies that contrast with Blushing Princesses.
Some examples of using culture in garden design:
- Planting with contrasting varieties.
- Solitaire placement.
- Planting along the fence.
Conclusion
Peony Blushing Princess is a perennial hybrid grown by Sanders breeders. It has large white flowers. Once the buds open, they fill the garden with a pleasant aroma. The plant is easy to care for, as it does not require frequent moisture.
Reviews from gardeners about the Blushing Princess peony
