Content
One of the most beautiful flowers that can become the hallmark of the garden is the Candy Stripe peony. This is a hybrid winter-hardy variety that can withstand even harsh Russian winters. It is undemanding to care, although it needs regular watering and timely feeding. Peony produces very beautiful and fragrant flowers already 3-4 years after planting.
Description of peony Candy Stripe
Candy Stripe is a hybrid peony variety obtained in the USA in 1992. The bush is small and compact: the peduncle reaches 80 cm in height. It is classified as herbaceous - the shoots do not become woody, and the stems are quite strong, so they do not need garter or supports. The leaves are bright green, with a glossy surface, very narrow and elongated. Belongs to light-loving varieties - prefers brightly lit areas. Shading, even slight, is undesirable.
Peony Candy Stripe brightens up the garden with its vibrant flowers and graceful green leaves.
The winter hardiness of the variety is quite high - there is evidence that Candy Stripe can withstand up to -35 degrees. This allows you to confidently grow it not only in Central Russia, but also in the Urals, Southern Siberia and the Far East.
Features of flowering
The flower of the Candy Stripe peony is double European in shape and large in size (16-18 cm in diameter). The color is white with petals of crimson, rich pink. The stamens are orange, rather thin, long, the buds are red. After blooming, the flower gives off a faint but pleasant aroma. In terms of flowering time, Candy Stripe is classified as mid-late: peonies appear in the second half of summer. The first varietal qualities appear 2-3 years after planting.
Not many flowers appear on one bush, but they are all large and bright. The splendor of flowering primarily depends on the planting location, soil type and care:
- Light, well-drained soils are preferred;
- the area is open, sunny, without any shadow;
- watering as needed;
- fertilizing 3 times per season - in early spring, during budding and after flowering.
Application in design
Peony Candy Stripe is often used in single plantings. Bushes look especially beautiful if they are planted in rows on a well-kept lawn. They attract attention thanks to their large and very bright flowers with unusual colors.
Along with this, they can be planted:
- next to the entrance;
- on the coast of a reservoir;
- in a composition with smaller flowers;
- to a composition with low-growing hostas (it is necessary that they do not cast shadows on the peony bushes).
Candy Stripe can be planted with different flowers and plants, for example:
- blue forget-me-not;
- petunias;
- daisies;
- lilies;
- astilbe;
- hydrangeas;
- pelargoniums;
- dwarf spruce and other conifers.
This bright flower is used in flower beds, mixborders, and rock gardens. It will look beautiful also near a bench or gazebo.
Candy Stripe peonies are used both in single plantings and in compositions with other flowers
Since the Candy Stripe peony needs good lighting throughout the day, growing it on balconies and loggias seems unlikely.
Reproduction methods
This flower can be propagated in various ways:
- dividing the bush;
- layering;
- cuttings.
In reviews of the herbaceous peony Candy Stripe, gardeners often say that the simplest of them is propagation by dividing the bush. It is advisable to propagate adult plants at the age of 4-5 years. It is better to divide the peony in the second half of summer or autumn, 1-1.5 months before the onset of the first frost.
They work like this:
- Take pruning shears and shorten the lower stems by 1/3 so that they do not break along with the buds.
- Sharpen the shovel and cut the soil on all sides so that the bush and the lump become free.
- Lift the peony by the lower, most massive shoots, trying to preserve the roots.
- Rinse the roots with water to remove soil.
- Using a knife, cut the rhizome into several parts so that each remains from 3 to 5 buds and 2 fleshy, healthy roots.
- The divisions are planted in pre-prepared holes in the same soil and at the same depth as the mother bush.
- Water generously.
- Mulch for the winter with humus and peat. In late autumn, you can cover it with a layer of straw, hay or spruce branches.
Adult Candy Stripe peonies can be propagated at home
Landing rules
Candy Stripe seedlings are purchased from trusted stores.It is better to plant them immediately in a permanent place; in most cases, the optimal time is the end of August (in the south it is possible in mid-September). There are no special requirements for the location - it must:
- comply with the design intent;
- be open and sunny;
- If possible, be located on a hill.
The soil must be fertile, with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction (pH from 5.5 to 7.0). It is advisable to prepare the area a month in advance - it is cleaned and dug up using a shovel. Then several planting holes are formed with a depth and diameter of 40-50 cm, an interval of 50-60 cm. The following mixture is placed in each hole:
- 1 part of garden or vegetable land;
- 2 parts compost or humus;
- 200 g superphosphate;
- 60 g potassium sulfate.
A 5-7 cm drainage layer of stones (broken brick, crushed stone) is placed at the bottom, then the mixture is filled in and the peony is rooted. Water abundantly and mulch with peat and humus. Mulch will not only serve as additional fertilizer, but will also protect the soil from drying out too quickly on hot days.
Aftercare
Candy Stripe does not require particularly complex care, but certain rules must be followed. For example, already in the first year after planting, seedlings require regular watering, especially on hot days. In dry weather, you can pour 1 bucket per bush, and if it rains, additional moisture is not needed. The next day after watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil to provide air access to the peony roots.
In the first year, Candy Stripe does not need feeding, since fertilizers must be placed in the planting hole.Starting from the second season, fertilizing should be applied regularly - at least 3 times:
- At the beginning of April, any nitrogen fertilizer is applied - for example, ammonium nitrate. It stimulates the growth of leaves and shoots, which contributes to the rapid recovery of peony after the winter period.
- During the formation of buds (late June), standard mineral fertilizer is added.
- After the first flowers bloom, superphosphates and potassium salt are added - for example, potassium sulfate. A similar composition can be fed after flowering, around the end of August.
Thanks to simple care, you can achieve stable flowering of the Candy Stripe peony
Preparing for winter
In autumn, it is advisable to prune all shoots almost to the base - this stimulates the growth of new branches and abundant flowering next year. The ground around the bush can be treated with any fungicide to prevent the occurrence of fungal diseases.
It is not necessary to feed it specially for the winter - the last time fertilizers (superphosphate and potassium salt) are applied is in the second half of August. There is also no need to cover the Candy Stripe peony for the winter, but it is advisable to cover the young seedlings with hay, straw and other mulch. In regions with cold winters, it is advisable to repeat this procedure annually.
Pests and diseases
Candy Stripe is quite resistant to various diseases and pests. But gray rot is often found on the bush:
- leaves at ground level suddenly wither;
- the stems also wither and become weak;
- large buds stop growing;
- flowering is rare, not abundant.
In this case, it is necessary to take urgent measures:
- Remove all damaged parts of the Candy Stripe peony, take them away and burn them.
- Treat the plant with any fungicide - Bordeaux mixture, Topaz.
- Provide supports to make it easier for the peony to recover.
Sometimes the Candy Stripe peony can be affected by an invasion of pests - for example, ants, aphids, thrips, nematodes. Control measures are standard - spraying with insecticides (Biotlin, Confidor, Karate).
To exclude fungal infections, preventive treatment with fungicides is recommended in the fall or early spring.
Conclusion
Peony Candy Stripe is one of the most luxurious flowers that can decorate a flower garden even in simple single plantings. The bush is resistant to frost, pests, temperature changes and other unfavorable factors. Therefore, most gardeners can easily grow it on their site.
Reviews of Peony Candy Stripe
