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Peony Bowl of Beauty is a herbaceous perennial with large, dense foliage and Japanese-type flowers. Bright lilac-yellow petals surround pale lemon staminodes. This variety is characterized by long flowering and a delicate aroma.
Description of Peony Bowl of Beauty
Milky-flowered peony Bowl of Beauty is an unpretentious plant that tolerates winter and drought well. The frost resistance of this variety allows it to be kept in most regions of Russia without additional shelter for the winter. Being in winter hardiness zone 3, the plant can withstand frosts down to -30 °C.
Peony has abundant and long-lasting flowering
"Bowl of Beauty" has erect stems up to 80 cm high. They branch weakly, but this does not prevent the bushes from being lush. There is no need to install supports when growing; the stems can handle the load on their own.
The leaves of "Bowl of Beauty" are large, according to the classification - alternate and trifoliate. They have a rich dark green color. In the sun the leaves sparkle.
This variety of peonies has a powerful root system with fleshy roots. Therefore, the plant tolerates drought well and loves bright places. Bowl of Beauty does not bloom in the shade.
Features of flowering
This variety belongs to the group of Japanese herbaceous peonies. The flowering period is mid-early. From 15 flowers with a diameter of 15-17 cm appear on the bush. Flowering lasts a long time: from June to July.
Single fuchsias of the Japanese type captivate with their delicate aroma and bright color. At first, bright lemon staminodes are located in the center, and then, over time, they turn pale and become terry, soft yellowish.
The color of the “Bowl of Beauty” petals is bright throughout the entire flowering period. Its shade is in the range between pink and lilac.
Application in design
The herbaceous peony Bowl of Beauty is equally good in any landscape composition. All possible combinations of this variety are based on flowering characteristics and color.
The most popular combinations are with other types of peonies. By selecting varieties with different flowering periods, you can create a flower garden that retains its decorative effect for a long time. And if the plants bloom at the same time, the result will be a vibrant composition of flowers of different shapes and colors.
The flowers are solitary and large, capable of reaching 25 cm in diameter.
From a huge number of varieties of peonies - tree-like, herbaceous, as well as hybrids, you can choose the most spectacular and create a beautiful landscape based on the contrast of shades of foliage and inflorescences. For example, the Primavera variety is often used to combine with Bowl of Beauty.
It is worth noting that it is not easy to create compositions from Japanese and double types of flowers, so peonies with Japanese type flowers are better suited for the “Bowl of Beauty”. “Jan Van Leeuwen”, “Heath Parade” and “Gold Standard” are good options.
In addition to flower beds, peonies can be used to frame terraces, alpine slides or clearings. Single plantings of “Bowl of Beauty” also look good.
Reproduction methods
Peonies are rarely propagated by seeds: this is a long, labor-intensive process that does not always end in success. But the vegetative method, with the right approach, guarantees the success of reproduction. Most often, dividing the bush is used.
Depending on the purpose, division is carried out with partial or complete excavation of the bush. Young peonies are removed completely to divide the plant into two or three bushes. The old large “Bowl of Beauty” is partially dug up, mainly to rejuvenate and improve the health of the plant.
There should be several growth buds on the “section” of the plant
Division begins with cutting the stems. Their height should be no more than 10 cm. Young bushes are dug up entirely, then the dirt is removed with a stream of water. Dig a “delenka” with several stems. Old bushes are dug only on the side where you can take a “division”. The soil is carefully removed from the roots and part of the root is cut out.
After receiving the “division”, you need to help the plant recover. First, the original root is given a couple of days to dry out, then it can be covered with a mixture of soil and compost.
The process ends with the “division” itself being put in order. Old rotten root shoots must be removed. Healthy ones need to be shortened to 15-18 cm.
Landing rules
The first step is to choose a suitable place, taking into account the requirements of the peony. In the shade and even partial shade, "Bowl of Beauty" will not bloom. A well-lit place, not shaded by large plants or buildings, is suitable for planting.
Homemade cuttings should be planted in early autumn. Purchased peonies in bags are planted in May, but those purchased in containers are important to plant before mid-summer.
In the chosen location, dig a planting hole 60 cm deep. If planting in groups, then maintain a distance of a meter between the holes; this will be enough for the “Bowl of Beauty” when it grows.
The proximity of peony to shrubs and trees is undesirable
Now you need to prepare a mixture that includes humus, black soil and fine clay in equal proportions. Adding wood ash and superphosphate will maximize the chances of successful planting. The mixture is poured into the hole, leaving 12 cm to the top.
In the center of the pit, a mound is prepared into which the “division” is installed. Now the roots need to be sprinkled with earth, calculating so that the distance from the buds to the surface of the earth is 3-6 cm. If this distance is not maintained, the peony may not bloom in the future.
The new bush just needs to be watered well, add a little soil and mulch. For the latter, sawdust, dry moss or non-acidic peat will do.
If the young “Bowl of Beauty” starts to have flowers in the first two years, they need to be removed. You can leave a few, but the bulk will have to be cut off. Thanks to this, the root system will be better formed. The result will be more lush and vibrant blooms in the future.
Aftercare
Even though peonies are not demanding flowers, without proper care, Bowl of Beauty peonies will not look like the photo. The flowers turn out to be inexpressive, dull and smaller in size, the bushes are less spreading, the stems are weak. Creating the right agrotechnical background will help avoid this.
Peony care involves timely watering, fertilizing and mulching.
Peonies are moisture-loving plants and require weekly watering. During drought, you can moisturize them even more often.The most important thing is to provide flowers with moisture during budding and after flowering, when buds are being laid for the next year. With each watering, you need to pour a couple of buckets onto the bush. It is not advisable to wet the flowers, stems and leaves, otherwise there will be a risk of disease. The petals will also begin to fall off and turn black.
Fertilizers with a high content of substances such as phosphorus and potassium are mineral supplements that will help the development of Bowl of Beauty. It is better to carry them out in the spring. Half a glass per bush will be enough.
Spring mulching is a favorite procedure for peonies. Cut grass is perfect for this. It quickly rots and vermicompost is formed. Moss and sawdust would also be appropriate. If the plant is sick, they will be the preferred option.
Loosening the soil must be done carefully - do not touch the growth buds. You can start deep loosening only at a distance of 15 cm from the stems. Loosening will help retain moisture and improve aeration. It is better to carry out this procedure after rains or waterings.
Preparing for winter
You need to start by trimming the bushes. The best time for this is considered to be the end of September. If the leaves and stems begin to wither, you can do this earlier.
In order for the plant to better tolerate pruning, it needs to be fertilized. Bone meal, potassium, phosphorus and wood ash are used for autumn feeding. Nitrogen fertilizers alone are not suitable for feeding in the fall, because they are needed to stimulate the growth of foliage and stems.
Shelter for the plant is not necessary - it overwinters well even under snow cover
For the winter, the peony is cut to the very root, but you can leave a couple of centimeters from the stems. Cut tops can become a haven for parasites that can harm peonies in the new year, so they need to be burned or removed from the site.
Additional shelter is only necessary in very cold regions. First, the bushes are mulched with sawdust, the layer height is 5-10 cm. Spruce branches are laid on top of the mulch for insulation. If snow accumulates lightly in the place where the peony grows, you need to rake it over the plant with a shovel.
Pests and diseases
Botrytis is the only parasite dangerous to peonies. It is also called gray mold. Prerequisites for the disease can be cold, rainy summers, poor soil aeration, especially acidic soil, as well as mulching the plant with its own tops.
The disease manifests itself in that the buds become brown, and the stems and leaves become covered with brown spots. The plant dries out and dies.
If symptoms are noticed on time, treatment will not be difficult. The preparations "Hom" and "Abiga-Pik" will help cope with gray rot. If the condition is advanced, all that remains is to cut the bush and burn it with brilliant green. The worst outcome would be damage to the root, in which case the plant cannot be saved.
Conclusion
Peony Bowl of Beauty is an excellent solution for flower beds and gardens. The decorative nature of this variety opens up wide possibilities for constructing beautiful landscape compositions. The unpretentiousness of peony allows it to be grown everywhere, even in cold regions of the country.
Reviews of Peony Bowl of Beauty
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