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Many people like large peony flowers. Blooming in late spring, they become the most noticeable in the garden. Peony Pastelegans attracts with the unusual color of its petals, which many gardeners call unique. This is a new variety for Russia and is still quite rare, but it is already in considerable demand.
Description of the herbaceous peony Pastel Elegance
Pastel Elegance is an interspecific hybrid, bred in 1989 by American breeder Bill Seidle and is his best achievement. Belongs to herbaceous peonies, an adult plant reaches a height of 70-80 cm. Its leaves are blue-green, dark, with a semi-glossy surface, the stems are strong, and the bush is not spreading.
Peony can grow both in the sun and in the shade; it loves moisture, fertile, loose soil. Grows well at temperatures from -40 to 34 °C, cold-resistant, does not need shelter for the winter.
Features of flowering
Medium flowering plant. The flower of the hybrid is double, large, 20-23 cm in diameter. The petals are painted in pink-peach tones, the aroma is pleasant, unexpressed.The plants acquire the typical color, size and shape of flowers for a hybrid in the 3rd-4th season. Suitable for cutting.
Peonies of the Pastelegans variety look delicate and very noble
Application in design
For a variety with flowers of such an original color, you need to choose a place in the garden in which the plant will be clearly visible. Many gardeners place peonies near residential buildings, garages, summer kitchens and other outbuildings. You can plant them in flower beds in the center of the composition or along paths.
As for the neighbors with whom the peony will look harmonious, these are flowering plants of the same height as it or less. Next to the bushes of the Pastelegans variety, you can plant both perennials and annuals with flowers of any color and decorative leaves. If you want to create the effect of continuous flowering, you need to choose plants so that they bloom gradually - from spring to autumn. It is not advisable to plant tall or bulky plants near peonies or between them, which will easily cover them.
Peony Pastelegans is not grown indoors; it is too large for that. A group of low-growing varieties that are well adapted to this particular growing method have been specially bred for planting in pots.
Reproduction methods
Despite the fact that peonies are long-lived and can grow in one place for many years without harm, they also need to be replanted (to rejuvenate the bush or simply to increase the number of plants).
The vegetative method of propagating peonies is the fastest and most reliable. Like many varieties, Pastelegans can be propagated by rooted green or root cuttings, or by dividing the bush.
Root cuttings are dug up in the fall (a month and a half before the onset of cold weather) or early spring (before the stems begin to grow) and transplanted into a garden bed where they take root. The following year they are moved to a permanent place. At the same time, the bush is divided. When dividing, you need to make sure that there are several growth buds in each separate part. Green cuttings are cut from stems with a part of the root collar at least 10-15 cm long. They are rooted in a moist and warm greenhouse. Transplanted to a permanent place after a year.
Peony seedlings should be rooted before planting in the ground.
Landing rules
The recommended time for planting peony seedlings is September-October - after they finish the growing season. In spring, they are planted in March or early April - before young stems appear from the ground. Seedlings grown in pots can be replanted in the summer along with a lump of earth. They are settling in well.
In any case, you first need to select and prepare a place on the site. Most peonies, including the Pastelegans variety, love the sun; flowers grow much worse in the shade, so you should not place them too close to the house, other buildings, or any high fences or trees. Damp areas where water often stagnates are also not suitable.
They prefer fertile, loose soil with good moisture absorption and air passage. They do not like acidic environments; if the soil on the site is acidic, it needs to be limed.
Seedlings of Pastelegans peonies suitable for planting must have well-developed roots and buds, completely healthy.Preparation consists of soaking the roots in a solution of a root formation stimulator, for example, Kornevin. The processing time is indicated in the instructions for the drug.
Aftercare
Peonies are partial to moisture, especially during the period of rooting and forcing new stems. Mature bushes do not need to be watered so often; their roots penetrate quite deeply, so they have enough rainwater in the non-hot season. But if the summer is too hot or the drought lasts for a long time, then you need to water the bushes, spending at least 2 buckets of water for each. After watering, the soil around the bushes needs to be loosened. You can protect the soil from rapid drying out with mulch; this will reduce the number of waterings and loosening and make maintenance easier.
Pastelegans peonies are fed 3 times per season:
- In the spring, after the snow has completely melted, nitrogen fertilizers are applied.
- During the budding period, phosphorus and potassium are added to them.
- After flowering, only phosphorus and potassium are used.
On poor sandy soils, you can apply another fertilizing in the fall - after the leaves begin to turn yellow. Both mineral and organic fertilizers are equally effective as additional nutrition, but if both are available, it is better to use organic matter.
During the budding period, you need to inspect the bushes of the Pastelegans variety and tear off the small buds on each stem, leaving the largest ones. The largest flowers will bloom from them. After wilting, be sure to cut everything off to give
Blooming peonies of different varieties in one bed are a real decoration of the garden.
Preparing for winter
Autumn care for Pastelegans peony bushes consists of pruning and covering for the winter. The stems are cut at ground level. They are taken outside the site and burned so as not to spread possible diseases. The bush is covered with a layer of mulch at least 5 cm thick. Despite the cold resistance inherent in peony, insulation will not hurt it.
Pests and diseases
Peonies infect fungal and viral diseases. One of the most common is leaf rust. It is quite simple to see characteristic damage and distinguish it from the symptoms of other diseases - brownish-brown and reddish spots appear on the leaves. They are located separately, and over time they can merge into larger spots of irregular shape. Control measures: pick and burn all diseased leaves, spray the bush with Bordeaux mixture.
Gray rot affects the entire plant, its stems, leaves, buds. It spreads more often in damp weather. The disease manifests itself as causeless wilting, then a gray coating appears on the green parts. The peony gradually fades and may die. Measures to combat rot are the same as for rust.
Pastelegans peonies can develop powdery mildew, although less frequently than rust and rot. It is not difficult to identify it - if the plant is damaged, a white coating will be noticeable on the upper leaf blades. Control measures: spraying with any fungicide against this disease.
Among viral diseases, peonies can develop leaf mosaic. The symptoms are characteristic: yellowish-green spots appear on the leaves, located in a mosaic pattern. Over time, necrosis appears in their place. Viral diseases of peonies cannot be treated, so the affected specimens must be eliminated, burned, and not planted in this place for several years in a row.
The worst pests of peonies are ants. They penetrate buds and flowers that have not yet opened, eat the petals, thereby spoiling their appearance. To combat ants, you need to use repellents or insecticides.
In addition to ants, peony flowers are damaged by bronze flowers. Pests nibble on petals, just like ants. Bronze beetles are large, noticeable beetles, they can be collected by hand, but if there are a lot of them or with a large number of bushes, you will have to use insecticides.
Flowers can be used for cutting or planted in a sitting area in the garden
Conclusion
Peony Pastelegans differs from many other varieties in its large double flowers and unusual coloring. It has not yet become widespread, but is already well known to many flower growers who want to add to their collection. In addition to its attractive appearance, the Pastelegans variety is distinguished by fast growth, good rooting, and ease of care.
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