Content
Choosing ornamental plants for decorating flower beds and plots can be difficult for both beginners and experienced gardeners. Peony Lorelei is an excellent solution to this problem. This flower will delight you with its ease of care and unique decorative properties.
Description of the peony variety Lorelei
The plant was bred through selective breeding in 1996. "Lorelei" is a hybrid of the varieties "Lactiflora" and "Good Cheer".
The flower belongs to the semi-dwarf group. The maximum height of “Lorelei” is 70 cm. The bush has several strong stems. Peony garter is required only during the flowering period to give a neat appearance. One shoot grows 1, less often 2-4 inflorescences. The stems have numerous erect, sharp leaves.
Flowers fade in the sun and become peachy.
Peony grows well in the shade. It is not recommended to plant Lorelei in areas constantly illuminated by the sun. Otherwise, the flowers will lose their brightness and fade. The petals will quickly fade in the sun, losing their characteristic shade for this variety.
Selectively bred peonies are resistant to frost and other adverse factors.Therefore, with proper care, Lorelei can be grown in regions with any climatic conditions.
Features of flowering
"Lorelei" belongs to the group of terry peonies. This is explained by the structure of the flower and the large number of petals of different shapes and sizes. The first buds appear in early May, in warm weather - at the end of April. Flowering of peonies usually begins in the first half of June and lasts 10-14 days, less often up to 3 weeks.
The buds open slowly. During this period, they are folded and twisted in the form of waves. Because of this, the bud resembles a rose. Subsequently, the peony blooms, flowers 14-16 cm in diameter appear on it.
Peony gives off almost no aroma
As you can see in the photo of the Lorelei peony, when opened, the petals have a rich pink-orange, salmon color. Later they acquire a more pronounced orange tint. This occurs at the final stage of flowering.
Peony produces a light aroma. It can only be felt if you bring the plant close to your face.
Application in design
Peonies of the Lorelei variety bloom profusely. A large number of buds appear on one bush. Therefore, such a plant is often used as an independent decorative element. Growing Lorelei next to other flowers should be done with caution.
The plant needs several years to take root in a new location.
In flower beds, Lorelei peonies are often used as a background for other ornamental plants. They make any flower arrangement lush and rich.
Peonies go best with:
- roses;
- asters;
- tulips;
- lilies;
- Godetia;
- zinnias;
- daylily;
- chrysanthemums.
It is not recommended to grow “Lorelei” in the same flowerbed with lumbago, adonis, anemone and hellebore. These plants quickly deplete the soil, limiting the peonies' access to nutrients.
Reproduction methods
The Lorelei peony variety is rare. Seedlings and seeds of such a plant are expensive and not available in every store. Therefore, for many gardeners, the question of how to propagate this peony is relevant.
This procedure is carried out by cuttings or planting seeds. But the main and most effective method is dividing the rhizome. Renewal buds form on the underground shoots of Lorelei. New stems grow from them. In addition, the peony rhizome has powerful appendages in which useful substances accumulate. A correctly carried out division procedure does not harm the plant, and in some cases, on the contrary, it is extremely beneficial.
You should always leave free space between seedlings for air circulation
Division algorithm:
- Choose a healthy Lorelei bush that is at least 3 years old.
- Cut off its stems.
- Remove soil around the flower.
- Remove the root part, being careful not to harm the appendages.
- Remove soil from the roots and rinse them with water.
- Dry the underground shoots for several hours in a dark place.
- Trim the appendages, leaving 10-12 cm of each.
- Separate the roots using pruners, taking into account the presence of buds.
- Rotten areas, if any, should be cut off, and the removal areas should be treated with crushed coal.
Divided shoots must be planted no later than September 15th.Otherwise, the likelihood increases that the plant will not have time to adapt to the new soil and will die.
Landing rules
Selectively bred peonies grow well in a variety of soil types. The main requirement is the availability of sufficient nutrients.
It is recommended to choose shaded areas for planting. The place for peonies must be prepared in advance. 3-4 weeks before planting, dig a shallow hole 60-70 cm wide. It is filled 2/3 with peat with humus, garden soil and river sand. The components are mixed in equal proportions. In addition, 0.5 liters of birch ash and 200 ml of superphosphate are introduced into the soil.
Before planting, the root appendages of the seedling must be dipped in a heteroauxin solution. Add 2 tablets and 50 g of copper sulfate to 10 liters of water. After dipping, the roots need to be dried.
Landing method:
- Dig the prepared holes.
- Place a drainage layer inside (if necessary).
- Place the seedling in the hole and sprinkle it with a loose mixture of peat and humus.
- Root buds should be 3-5 cm from the surface of the earth.
- The top layer of soil is sprinkled with fresh garden soil.
Flowers do not respond well to replanting, so there is no need to replant them unless absolutely necessary.
Bushes are transplanted to a new location in a similar manner. This procedure is required every 5-10 years, depending on the condition of the plant and the composition of the soil.
Aftercare
When planting in autumn, the plant must have time to take root before the onset of frost. Otherwise, Lorelei may die. With proper care, this risk is eliminated.
After planting and before the onset of frost, watering is carried out 2-3 times. Peony does not need additional liquid.After each watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil around the seedling. This will provide oxygen access to the root system and create conditions for the normal development of the bush.
Mature plants need abundant watering. For each bush use 15-20 liters of water. This need is explained by the fact that peony roots grow deep into the soil and may experience a lack of liquid, as it is quickly absorbed on the surface. At the end of spring and summer, in the absence of rain, watering is carried out once every 8-10 days. 6
Peonies are not fertilized more than once a year.
In April, each bush must be treated with a Fitosporin solution. This remedy protects the flower from fungi and bacterial infections.
In August, adult Lorelei peonies are fertilized with complex compounds. Phosphorus-potassium solutions are best suited, as they have a positive effect on the number of buds and the quality of flowering.
Every month you should loosen the soil around the bush. This will prevent liquid from stagnating on the surface, which is especially important in rainy weather.
Preparing for winter
At the end of summer, the leaves and stems of Lorelei peonies begin to turn yellow. During this period, you need to gradually reduce the frequency of watering. Before frost sets in, remove the leaves and stems from the peony. This must be done with pruning shears or a sharp knife.
Pruning for the winter - high-quality prevention of many diseases
To improve the nutritional value of the soil, you can add compost mixed with wood ash. Dry grass is also used to feed Lorelei peonies, as it retains moisture.
Mature bushes do not need shelter. They tolerate low temperatures well.However, you should make sure that the plant is reliably protected from the wind, as it can be detrimental to the flower.
Pests and diseases
Numerous reviews of the Lorelei peony indicate that this flower is resistant to infections and fungi. The only disease that is often found among selectively bred peonies is gray rot. It usually develops in May and is accompanied by rotting of the stems, less often of buds and leaves. Gray mold appears on the surface.
Main reasons:
- excess nitrogen in the soil;
- lack of nutrients;
- stagnation of fluid in the roots;
- the presence of other infected plants nearby;
- weather with high air humidity.
When gray rot appears on a peony, damaged shoots should be removed. For prevention, each bush is sprayed with copper sulfate (50 g per 10 liters of water). The peony itself and the soil around it are treated.
Common pests of peonies include:
- bronze beetle;
- nematodes;
- turf ants.
Treat the plant with fungicides and insecticides
Beetles can be collected by hand. Ants and nematodes require radical methods of control. The soil, the place where insect nests are supposed to be located, is treated with pesticides. The drugs Kinmiks and Aktara are effective against nematodes. They have a detrimental effect on the worms, but do not harm the peony root system.
Conclusion
Peony Lorelei is a rare variety with unique decorative properties. This plant is selectively bred, making it resistant to unfavorable climatic factors, pests and diseases. The flower is easy to care for, so it can be grown by beginners and experienced gardeners.
Reviews of peony Lorelei
