Content
Peony Green Halo is a unique greenish variety with an interesting shape of flower and petals. It is distinguished by long-lasting flowering and unusual coloring. Gives a strong aroma, looks beautiful in the garden and lasts a long time when cut. The main pros and cons of this variety, the rules for planting and caring for it are described in the presented article.
How the variety appeared
Peony Green Halo appeared not so long ago - it was bred in the USA in 2000 at the Khelm nursery. After passing successful tests, the culture went on sale and quickly spread throughout Europe. Gardeners note the lush flowers of a delicate shade, as well as resistance to frost, rapid recovery after dividing the bush and good immunity to diseases.
Peony Green Halo belongs to the group of lactiflowers, as it belongs to the species of the same name. It got its name because of the characteristic color of the flowers. Moreover, pure white varieties are classified as wild. Based on them, many cultivated varieties and hybrids with yellow, orange, pink and burgundy colors have been bred.
Description of the herbaceous peony Green Halo
Green Halo is a perennial herbaceous peony, a low shrub, reaching only 80-90 cm. The peduncles are straight, do not bend, do not spread to the sides, so they take up very little space. The leaves are dark green, with a carved edge, small in size, densely covering the shoots.
The flowers are semi-double (other sources indicate that they are double), medium in size (diameter up to 14 cm). Quite lush, the petals are graceful, arranged in several rows, and have different sizes. The shape is spherical, slightly flattened. The outer petals of the Green Halo peony are a pale light green hue, and the core is bright yellow, closer to orange. This creates an attractive contrast, so the flowers look original, especially in comparison with the usual pink and red peonies.
The name of the variety “Green Halo” can be translated as “green halo”. By halo we mean an atmospheric phenomenon - the appearance of a secondary glow around the moon or sun, like a kind of halo (ring, circle). It is this visual effect that is created by the combination of light, large outer petals and a bright core.
Flowers have original colors
It’s also nice that the inflorescences give off a strong aroma that can be felt even from a distance. They look good in bouquets due to their original color and unusual shape. They fit well into different compositions in the garden; they are often used in single plantings.
Another advantage of the plant is associated with its high winter hardiness. The shrub tolerates frosts down to -40 degrees, which corresponds to the third zone. Thanks to this, it can be grown everywhere, and special shelter for the winter is not required.
Green Halo peony flowering time
In terms of flowering time, Green Halo peony is classified as a medium variety. The first buds begin to form in mid-June, then the bush is covered with flowers that bloom until the beginning of July. The total flowering time is 2-3 weeks. If the spring was cold, the timing may shift slightly, for example, by 5-7 days. Much also depends on the composition of the soil and care features.
Advantages and disadvantages
Peony Green Halo is one of the most original among the milk-flowering group. Its flowers are not very large, but spectacular and fragrant. And thanks to the “disheveled” petals they look quite large and voluminous. The culture has good winter hardiness, is immune to major diseases and is undemanding in care.
Green Halo peonies are medium in size, but have an original shape and attractive coloring
Pros:
- unusual colors;
- graceful petals;
- strong, rich aroma;
- high winter hardiness;
- good immunity;
- unpretentiousness;
- compact, takes up little space.
Minuses:
- medium sized flowers;
- in partial shade it blooms later.
How to plant
Planting of peonies is usually planned for the middle - second half of April, and Green Halo is no exception. Since the crop is winter-hardy, autumn planting is also allowed from August to September. This must be done at least a month before the first frost so that the root system has time to adapt to the new location.
The location for planting the Green Halo peony must meet several requirements:
- Good lighting (in partial shade they bloom 7-10 days later).
- No stagnation of water (the root system does not tolerate waterlogging).
- Fertile and loose soil - loam is optimal.
- Aesthetic point - it is better to plant the Green Halo peony in a visible place, for example, in the center of a flower garden, next to the entrance to the house, or a recreation area.
The process of planting a peony looks like this:
- 1-2 months before the start, prepare the soil - dig it up and fertilize it with organic matter, for example, a bucket of compost per 2 m2. If the soil is very dense, clayey, add sawdust and sand - 3-4 kg for the same area.
- Several holes are formed, 80 cm deep and 60 cm wide, at a distance of at least 1 m (in this case, the planting will be quite dense).
- Add a layer of small stones for drainage.
- Fill the fertile soil and root the Green Halo peony seedlings.
- They are buried and the soil is compacted so that the root collar goes to a shallow depth of 3-4 cm.
- Water with a bucket of pre-settled water.
- Mulch with straw, sawdust or other material.
How to care
Caring for the Green Halo peony is easy. One of the basic rules is to observe the frequency and rate of watering:
- Young seedlings are watered twice a week.
- A month after rooting, water is given weekly, depending on the weather.
- For mature bushes, it is enough to water abundantly 3-4 times a month, but twice as often during drought, so that the soil remains moderately moist and does not dry out completely.
Peony Green Halo needs regular watering
In this case, the water for the culture is always pre-settled so that it is not too cold. It is equally important to regularly feed the bushes:
- In early spring, after the snow melts, give urea or ammonium nitrate (15-20 g per 10 liters per plant).
- During the formation of buds, a complex mineral supplement is applied, for example, Agricola.
- Two weeks later, when the flowers have already started to appear, give the same composition or organic matter (mullein infusion 1:10 or liquid potassium humate).
- At the very end of summer, it is recommended to water the bush with wood ash 150-200 g per 10 liters.
After watering and rain, the soil must be periodically loosened so that it does not compact. Otherwise, the root system will receive little oxygen, which will have a bad effect on the growth and health of the shrub. Weeds are removed as necessary, and to ensure that there are as few of them as possible, Green Halo peony plantings are mulched. It is also necessary to remove faded flower stalks in a timely manner so that they do not take away the strength of the plant.
Preparing for winter
Peony Green Halo is quite winter-hardy; it can be grown even in Siberia and the Far East. Preparation for frost is minimal - at the end of October, all shoots should be trimmed so that the stumps remain flush with the ground, and then covered with dry leaves, hay, sawdust, and peat. In early spring, the material is removed to prevent overheating.
Reproduction methods
Peony Green Halo reproduces well by vegetative methods:
- dividing the bush;
- cuttings;
- receiving layerings.
The division of the bush is carried out in September, and this procedure is repeated every 4-5 years so that the plant does not lose its attractiveness. They dig up the bush, cut the rhizome, treat the cuts with a pink solution of potassium permanganate and transplant them to a new location.
Peony Green Halo can also be propagated by cuttings. To do this, at the beginning of summer, green shoots 10-15 cm long are cut, the leaves are removed and the lower cut is made obliquely. They are placed in the Epin solution for several hours and planted in a fertile mixture of peat and sand 1:1. They put in a transparent jar, water and ventilate often, and in the fall they transplant to a new place, trim and mulch.
Green Halo peony is also propagated by layering; the procedure begins in May. Several lower shoots are pinned to the soil and covered, leaving only the top outside. Then they water it abundantly and often feed it, and in the fall they cut it off from the mother bush and transplant it to a permanent place. Prune and mulch for the winter.
Disease and pest control
Peony Green Halo has fairly good disease resistance. However, due to improper watering and too rainy summers, it can suffer from powdery mildew, bacterial and fungal infections. To combat them, fungicide treatments are carried out:
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Tattu";
- "Profit";
- "Maksim".
There may also be an invasion of pests - aphids, thrips, spider mites and others. To destroy, Green Halo peony bushes are treated with insecticides:
- "Colorado";
- "Inta-Vir";
- "Vertimek";
- "Fufanon."
Application in landscape
Peony Green Halo looks beautiful on its own, so the bushes can be used in single plantings near the house, gazebo, bench, or country pond. Monoflower beds (dense planting) and compositions with other flowers look beautiful. Some options for using Green Halo in garden design are shown below:
- Flower composition.
- Single landing.
- Solitaire placement.
Conclusion
Peony Green Halo is suitable as an original garden decoration, since it has an unusual color and shape. Despite its somewhat exotic appearance, the culture is unpretentious and does not require special care. If desired, any gardener can grow a healthy shrub.
Reviews from flower growers about peony Green Halo
