Content
Peony Moning Lilac is a hybrid flower, relatively recently bred by botanists. It has several advantages: bright color, a large number of buds and long flowering. Gardeners from different regions do not have problems growing bushes, which indicates the unpretentiousness of the plant.
History of appearance
The variety was bred in America in 1999. Authorship belongs to scientist Roger Anderson. The botanist has developed several unique varieties of peonies, most of which are actively used by designers.
Description of peony Moning Lilac with photo
The perennial shrub has large flowers that grow up to 20 cm in diameter - which is a lot even for peonies. The buds are semi-double and resemble a bowl shape in appearance.
The bright center contrasts with the petals thanks to the large number of golden stamens
The height of the bushes is only 70 cm, so Moning Lilac can be called a compact flower. The peony looks lush not only thanks to its buds - the long leaves are extremely densely located on the area of the stems, which gives volume to the composition. The plates have a matte surface and are divided into several parts, which is typical for plants of this group.
Moning Lilac has strong immunity and can grow in almost any soil. Although the flower is light-loving, it can also be planted in partial shade. This will reduce the diameter of the buds, but the variety will still grow. Resistance to pests and diseases is assessed as high.
Features of flowering
Peony is a medium flowering plant. The flowers open in mid-June; in warm climates they can be seen as early as late spring. Moning Lilac remains decorative for about 1.5 months, after which the buds dry out and fall off.
Frost resistance
Like many hybrids, Moning Lilac is highly resistant to cold. Botanists recommend growing the plant in areas with temperatures up to -34 degrees. When the indicator decreases, the crop is additionally covered.
Growing regions
Based on reviews from gardeners, you can see the following regions in which peonies have found a home:
- Moscow;
- Irkutsk;
- Kirovsky;
- Permian;
- Novosibirsk;
- Ural;
- Chelyabinsk.
Usually Moning Lilak is covered with a dense layer of mulch. This is enough for adult plantings.
Advantages and disadvantages
Peonies have large buds that fill the area with a pleasant smell in summer. Summer residents also highlight the excellent winter hardiness of the variety.
The crop is easy to propagate by dividing the rhizomes
Pros:
- easy care;
- brightness;
- flowers do not fade in the sun or fall off after rains;
- strong immunity;
- stand for a long time when cut;
- growing quickly.
Minuses:
- painful reaction to excess moisture;
- The decorative potential of peony can only be revealed on neutral substrates.
Landing rules
The originator shared information about what conditions are necessary for high-quality cultivation of the Moning Lilac peony. Seedlings require a lighted area, preferably with a fence, to protect from draft winds. The depth of groundwater should be 100 cm or more. There are several preferences for the soil:
- average humidity;
- looseness;
- permeability;
- neutral acidity.
Planting is carried out in early spring or late autumn. In the latter case, there should be no risk of return frosts; the recommended time is 20-30 days before the arrival of cold weather, otherwise Moning Lilac will not be able to adapt.
It will also be useful to prepare the seat in advance. If the soil is acidified, add dolomite flour. To improve permeability, the soil is mixed with coarse sand. Two weeks before planting, dig a hole (60 x 60 cm) in the place where the peony will be located. If there are several flowers, a step of 50 cm is taken between the holes.
After digging, inspect the bottom; there should be no moisture there, indicating the close occurrence of groundwater. Lay drainage material - crushed stone, fragments of brick or small stones. Then add humus, 1 tbsp. ash and 250 g of superphosphate. Peony fertilizer Moning Lilac must be mixed with water and the area watered.
Seedlings should be inspected for damage and strange formations (rot, mold).
Avoid using deformed or contaminated material.
Peony Moning Lilac is placed in a hole so that the renewal bud is at a distance of 35 mm from the soil surface. The seedling is buried, watered abundantly and covered with a layer of mulch (chips, bark, dry leaves, peat).
Care instructions
To make Moning Lilac feel comfortable, you need to give him a little attention. Immediately after planting, the bushes should be inspected to check the plant’s reaction.
General measures for caring for the Moning Lilac peony include:
- Hydration. Carry out every 7 days, in summer – twice a week. Watering water should not get on the green parts of the plant, as well as on the flowers. Under the influence of sunlight, water droplets evaporate intensely, which leads to burns. The same applies to watering time: irrigate either in the morning or in the evening. Recommended consumption – 10-12 l. Cold water is not used.
- Loosening and weeding. This stage is skipped if the Moning Lilac peony is covered with mulch. In other cases, the soil is loosened by 5 cm, while at the same time weeds are removed.
- Fertilizer. Since the first feeding is applied before planting, the next one is used when the Moning Lilac peonies are three years old. In the spring, peonies are fed with urea, and during the flowering period and two weeks later - with potassium-phosphorus mixtures.
It is also worth considering the procedure for preparing for winter.
Preparing for winter
Moning Lilac is a winter-hardy variety that requires little shelter. It is a dense (15 cm) layer of mulch. The bushes also need to be pruned before frost: the stems are shortened, leaving no more than 30 mm above the surface.
Young seedlings and peonies growing in the northern regions are covered with agrofibre
When the cold weather has passed, the material is removed to prevent damping off.
Reproduction methods
Since peony is an ITO hybrid, propagation by seeds will not give the desired result. Low germination and lack of hereditary traits make the sown seeds weak and unlike Moning Lilac.
Therefore, peony is propagated by dividing the rhizome. The gardener needs to find a five-year-old Moning Lilac bush, dig it up and bring it into the house, then wash it well, dry it and cut off the part with three renewal buds.
There is another method available to the average summer resident - cuttings. In this case, you will need a strong peony shoot with an unopened bud. Almost all the leaves are removed, and the cutting itself is cut to 10 cm. Its lower part is treated with Kornevin, planted in a container and covered with film. Instead of film, you can use half a plastic bottle. The shelter with Moning Lilak is removed after the leaves appear.
Diseases and pests
It is known that Moning Lilac has resistance to most infectious diseases, but the situation can change with improper care. Dangerous diseases include:
- Rust - appears on the leaves in the form of orange spots, reminiscent of metal corrosion. Treat with the drug Abiga-Pik, sprayed with an interval of 7-14 days.
- Gray rot - leads to rotting of the underground part, as a result of which the stems suffer. They become covered with plaque and begin to fade. Rot spreads throughout the root zone. Restoration is carried out using Discor.
- Powdery mildew is a white coating that can cover both foliage and stems. Peony Moning Lilac is treated with Topaz fungicide.
Broad-spectrum insecticides are used against insects (aphids, bronze beetles and ants).
Application in landscape design
Peonies are frequent guests in gardens. This is not surprising, because they are adjacent to other colors.
Designers recommend planting bushes against the backdrop of deciduous and coniferous trees, but at a great distance so that the crown does not shade the plantings
The plant looks good alone, for example, on a green lawn
Most often, Moning Lilac is used in rock gardens.
Conclusion
Peony Moning Lilac is a perennial herbaceous shrub. Despite its compactness, it boasts large buds that reach 20 cm. The plant is very beautiful and has a universal purpose.
Reviews from gardeners about peony Moning Lilac
