Content
Peony Lemon Dream is an original flower with yellow and pink colors that can appear unexpectedly and be combined in different ways with the main background. This is an unpretentious shrub that produces up to 50 inflorescences, subject to regular feeding. How to achieve this result is described in detail in the presented article.
History of appearance
Peony Lemon Dream (Itoh Lemon Dream) was bred in the USA, registered in 1999. This is a hybrid that belongs to the ITO group. This is the name given to peonies that are obtained by crossing tree and herbaceous varieties. They are particularly resistant to frost, drought, disease and other adverse factors.
Since the shrub can withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees, it overwinters without shelter. Its high resistance allows it to be grown in the climatic conditions of different countries, including in most regions of Russia, even in the Urals and Siberia.
Description of peony Lemon Dream with photo
Peony Lemon Dream, whose name can be literally translated as “lemon dream,” is a perennial shrub reaching a height of 80-90 cm.The peduncles are straight and very strong, they do not spread out or bend, despite the fact that the inflorescences are very large.
Lemon Dream peony flowers often have double colors
The leaves of the Lemon Dream peony have a typical shape, densely cover the stems, and are light green in color. They are arranged alternately, the petioles are quite thin. They create a pleasant background against which flowers look beautiful. The edges of the leaf blades are unusual, dissected or jagged.
Features of flowering
Peony Lemon Dream produces double flowers, which consist of numerous petals growing in several rows. Although they are often classified as semi-double, since the splendor is not so pronounced. The shape is spherical, strongly flattened on top.
The coloring is very original - mostly lemon yellow, often monochromatic. Interspersed with rich pink petals are often noticeable. There are even flowers in which one half is yellow and the other is lilac-pink. The coloring is unstable, changing from year to year, which only adds charm and unpredictability. Largely depends on weather conditions, soil composition and frequency of fertilizing.
The Lemon Dream peony blooms in May and June and is very long, lasting 3-4 weeks. A characteristic feature is that the inflorescences give off a subtle citrus aroma that really resembles lemon. Therefore, the name of the culture is associated both with color and with this property.
Advantages and disadvantages
Lemon Dream is an original peony with a very interesting and truly unpredictable color. Particularly beautiful are the flowers, which consist of two identical halves - yellow and deep pink.In addition, the inflorescences give a pleasant aroma, they look beautiful both in the garden and as a cut flower.
Peony Lemon Dream produces large flowers with a citrus aroma
Pros:
- original, unpredictable coloring;
- nice smell;
- large flowers;
- good for cutting;
- high winter hardiness;
- unpretentiousness;
- very long flowering;
- the bush does not spread.
Minuses:
- may suffer from diseases;
- requires regular feeding.
Landing rules
In almost all Russian regions, planting of the Lemon Dream peony should be planned for the period from late April to mid-May. You can start working only when the soil has warmed up well. They begin to prepare the planting site in advance - they dig up the soil, add fertilizer and sand (if the soil is clayey).
When choosing a place for a flower bed with Lemon Dream peony, take into account the following points:
- good lighting;
- loose and fertile soil;
- low elevation, no stagnant water.
The main stages of planting are:
- First, several holes are marked with a depth and width of 60-70 cm with an interval of at least 1 m.
- Place pebbles on the bottom.
- The seedlings are rooted in the center.
- Then sprinkle with soil so that the buds go to a shallow depth.
- Water with settled water and mulch after a few days.
Care instructions
Caring for the Lemon Dream peony is simple and includes several rules:
- Water the shrubs weekly, especially in the first two years after planting. If there is a drought - every three days. Adult bushes should be given water 2-3 times a month, but at the same time make sure that the soil does not dry out.
- Fertilizing is applied at least three times per season.At the beginning of April, they give ammonium nitrate or urea, during the formation of buds - superphosphate with potassium salt or complex mineral fertilizer. A similar composition is applied two weeks later, at the peak of flowering. At the beginning of autumn, it is recommended to water it with an infusion of wood ash.
- After rains and heavy watering, the soil should be loosened. Weed and change the mulch as necessary.
With proper care, up to 50 flowers appear on each Lemon Dream peony bush
Preparing for winter
Peony Lemon Dream is winter-hardy, so it does not need special preparation for frost. At the end of October, the bush is completely trimmed almost flush with the ground. Next, they are covered with peat, dry leaf litter or hay. In early spring, the mulch must be removed, otherwise the buds will start growing late.
How does it reproduce
Lemon Dream peony, like other varieties, can be grown using vegetative methods:
- cuttings;
- receiving layerings;
- dividing the bush.
Cuttings are taken from young green shoots in early summer. Their leaves are removed, an oblique lower cut is made and a straight upper cut is made, and they are placed overnight in a solution of a growth stimulator, for example, Epin. Then they are planted in a fertile soil mixture, covered with a transparent bottle, regularly ventilated and watered. In early autumn they are transplanted to a permanent place.
A simpler method of propagating the Lemon Dream peony is to obtain cuttings. In spring, the lower shoots are bent to the ground, placed in pre-dug grooves and sprinkled, leaving only the top. They actively water and feed, and in the fall, cut off all the fragments that have formed roots and transfer them to a permanent place.
Another way to propagate the Lemon Dream peony is by dividing the bush.The procedure begins at the end of September: the plants are dug up, cut into several parts and transplanted to a permanent place. This allows you not only to get several new shrubs, but also to rejuvenate the mother plant, preserving its decorative properties.
Diseases and pests
Peony Lemon Dream can suffer from diseases mainly due to overwatering. Then the seedling is affected by rot, powdery mildew and other infections. For treatment, spray with fungicides, for example:
- "Tattu";
- "Profit";
- "Ordan";
- "Maksim".
Aphids and other insects pose a certain danger. To cope with the invasion, spray with insecticide solutions:
- "Fufanon";
- "Karbofos";
- "Inta-Vir";
- "Aktara".
Application in landscape design
Peony Lemon Dream is beautiful in itself thanks to its original coloring. It can be planted next to a gazebo, lawn, near the entrance or on the shore of a country pond. It combines well with other flowers, such as phlox, as well as thuja and other decorative conifers. The main options for using the variety in garden design are:
- Single landing.
- Placement on the border of the garden.
- Planting next to the lawn.
Conclusion
Peony Lemon Dream can be called an unpredictable flower, since its color changes from year to year from monochromatic to two-colored. The culture is winter-hardy and can withstand drought and other adverse events. For lush flowering it needs regular watering and fertilizing.
Reviews from gardeners about the Lemon Dream peony
