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Peony Red Charm is a hybrid obtained in 1944 by American breeders. This large-flowered variety is still popular due to its excellent appearance and delicate aroma. The use of the plant is universal - it is used in landscape design and in the design of bouquets. A photo and description of the Red Charm peony, as well as the conditions for its cultivation and methods of combating diseases and pests will allow you to get to know the flower better.
Description of peony Red Charm
This variety is a perennial herbaceous plant with a powerful rhizome. Red Charm Peony has thick and strong stems with a height of 75 to 90 cm. The leaves are light green in color, with depressed veins clearly visible on them. The spreading of the stems is moderate.
The diameter of the Red Charm peony bush can reach up to 2 m
The variety grows well; thanks to its density, the bush is able to shade shorter herbs and plants from the sun. The frost resistance of the crop is high, corresponding to zone 5 (without shelter it can withstand frosts down to -29 °C).
Given its early flowering, Red Charm peony can be grown without problems in temperate climates up to 60° north latitude.Cultivation in colder regions depends on the timing of warm weather. For full flowering and seed formation, the peony needs about 2.5 months with temperatures above + 18 °C.
The plant prefers sunny areas, although it can be grown in partial shade. The large size of Red Charm peony flowers requires the use of support for the stems.
Features of flowering
The plant belongs to large-flowered terry interspecific hybrids. The diameter of the flowers is from 20 to 22 cm. The color of the petals is crimson or dark red, shiny. Flowering is long-lasting, beginning in late May or early June, lasting about 1.5 months. Its intensity depends on the degree of illumination. The more the Red Charm peony stays in the Sun, the more buds are formed and the larger the flowers.
The number of large external sepals in a variety rarely exceeds two dozen
The pistils are slightly pubescent and their stigmas are yellow. The stamens are elongated, dark green. The aroma of the plant is subtle, pleasant, without cloying.
Application in design
The variety is mainly used to decorate paths, sidewalks and gazebos. In flowerbeds and mixborders it is used to create beautiful compositions or dilute other flowers. Any area where the Red Charm peony appears immediately begins to attract attention.
The main purpose of the variety in design is to create bright accents
The use of plants in flowerpots and in general in any container has some limitations: for normal growth and flowering, a peony requires a minimum soil depth of about 60 cm (excluding drainage), which places quite serious requirements on its volume.
The variety goes well with foxglove, geranium, poppy, and iris.
Reproduction methods
Like most ornamental crops, peony can be propagated in several ways:
- seeds;
- root cuttings;
- layering;
- dividing the bush.
Of all the propagation options for the Red Charm peony, dividing the bush is best suited. The effectiveness of other methods is significantly lower. Their main drawback is that it takes too long for young plants to begin flowering (from 3 years by layering to 6-8 years by seed propagation). By dividing the bush, you can get flowering specimens as early as next season.
The rhizome of a five-year-old peony needs to be divided
The process should begin in late summer, after the plant has formed seeds. The seed pods must be cut off so that when transplanted to a new place, the peony can concentrate its energies as much as possible on rooting.
There is nothing difficult about dividing the rhizome. The peony bush should be completely dug out of the ground and, using a knife or shovel, cut the large root into several small ones. Usually the rhizome is divided into two or three parts. Each of them is transplanted to a new place.
Landing rules
The plant prefers partial shade, but can also be planted on the sunny side. The best soils for the crop are loams or fertile heavy soils.
Planting of the Red Charm milky peony is carried out after the rhizome of the mother plant has been divided. This usually happens at the end of summer.
The landing order is as follows:
- dig a hole 60-70 cm deep and 60-80 cm in diameter;
- Compost or humus is placed at the bottom of the pit;
- a drainage layer is laid on top;
- drainage is sprinkled with soil mixed with humus (proportion 1 to 1);
- The rhizome is placed on the top layer of soil so that it is 5 cm below ground level;
- the pit is filled up and lightly compacted;
- carry out watering and mulching.
Aftercare
As such, the Red Charm peony does not require special care. The most important thing is to maintain the required level of humidity. Excessive dryness of the soil leads to drying out and wilting of the plant, too much water leads to the appearance of fungal diseases. Watering in hot weather is reduced to once a week. In normal weather - once every 10-15 days.
It is convenient to water by making a small depression around the bush
It is recommended to either loosen the soil after each application of moisture, or mulch the bush with a layer of pine needles or straw at least 5 cm high.
Plants are fertilized three times per season:
- in early April, use nitrogen fertilizers (urea or potassium nitrate from minerals or rotted manure if organic matter is used) to stimulate the growth of the green part of plants;
- at the beginning of the flowering period (mid or late May), phosphorus-potassium compounds are added; at this stage, the ideal option would be to use superphosphate (up to 50 g per bush);
- at the end of autumn, “pre-winter” fertilizing is used to help the plant survive the cold season; in general, it practically repeats the second (phosphorus-potassium fertilizers), but the application rates are approximately half as low.
Since the plant has large flowers, tying the stems is an integral part of care. It is recommended to allocate a separate peg for each shoot. However, this design does not look aesthetically pleasing, so they use a circular garter of the entire bush using a rope or twine.
Preparing for winter
Peony Red Charm is a frost-resistant crop and can winter without problems in open ground. In order for the plant to more easily endure the cold season, it is necessary to carry out simple preparatory measures, which boil down to pruning and fertilizing.
Pruning the Red Charm peony is sanitary in nature and involves removing dry and damaged shoots.
It is best to prune before the onset of cold weather - in mid or late October.
Unfaded buds and inflorescences remaining after summer are also removed.
Autumn feeding should consist of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. In the case of poor soils, organic substances are used; in fertile soils, mineral substances are used.
It is recommended to use wood ash as organic matter. The following mineral fertilizers are used: Kerima-Combi, superphosphate, potassium-phosphorus mixture.
Pests and diseases
Like most large-flowered double hybrids, Red Charm peony is vulnerable to many fungal and viral diseases. The former most often manifest themselves under excessive humidity and low temperatures. The most common fungal diseases of peony:
- powdery mildew;
- cladosporiosis;
- verticillium.
Powdery mildew is one of the most common fungal diseases in the garden. Almost all plants are affected by it, and Red Charm peonies are no exception. The most vulnerable of them are the large-flowered hybrids.
The white coating of powdery mildew spreads through peonies very quickly; in 1-2 days it covers the entire foliage of the plant
Another name for cladosporiosis is brown spot.Most often, the manifestation of the disease is observed in early summer. In this case, the leaf blades become covered with small brown spots, which subsequently merge into one large one. Over time, they darken and look like burns.
The disease begins to spread with the appearance of spots on the tips of leaves.
Verticillium wilt appears during flowering. For no apparent reason, the leaves, buds and stems of plants begin to deteriorate. Subsequently, the culture may completely die. The most unpleasant thing about this disease is that the fungus can remain dormant for a long time, appearing only a few years after planting.
Verticillium infection begins with peony buds
The fungal diseases considered (various types of rot and spotting) can be prevented by spraying the plants in early spring with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. If, based on the experience of previous years, gardeners more often deal with powdery mildew, this chemical is replaced with sodium carbonate (0.5%). In both cases, spraying is repeated after 7-10 days. Also effective is the use of 0.2% Figon solution.
Viral diseases to which peonies are susceptible are few. Most often, the plant is affected by tobacco rattle or mosaic (caused by ring and filter viruses, respectively). Usually defeat occurs in mid-summer.
Symptoms of any viral infection are a characteristic local yellowing of the foliage, which subsequently spreads to the entire plate
In any case, there is no treatment plan for these diseases. Damaged leaves, shoots and flowers should be removed from the plant and destroyed (it is best to burn).There are no preventive measures against viral diseases; the only thing that can increase the immunity of the Red Charm peony is compliance with growing conditions and proper care.
Pests primarily include aphids and bronze beetles. Their influence is most destructive. Aphids not only suck out the juices from the peony, but also attract ants that bring fungal diseases.
Bronzovka is the most terrible enemy of the Red Charm peony; beetles destroy its flowers and leaves
If a plant can survive with many diseases throughout the entire season, then an invasion of bronze beetles can destroy a peony literally in a matter of days.
Control of aphids involves the use of insecticides or acaricides. Spraying affected Red Charm peonies with Akarin, Fitoverm and Entobacterin will be effective.
Aphids mainly attack crop stems; they are almost never found on buds and leaves.
To rid the Red Charm peony of bronzing, you should use a set of measures:
- loosen the soil at the end of summer during beetle pupation;
- collect bronzes manually;
- During budding, spray the bushes with infusion of tomato tops or insecticides.
Preventive treatment of the soil around the Red Charm peony with a 1% formaldehyde solution will also be effective.
Conclusion
Red Charm Peony is a beautiful plant with large flowers of a dark purple hue. In addition to its excellent appearance, it has a delicate aroma. The plant is widely used in landscape design and bouquets. The Red Charm peony variety tolerates cold weather and frosty winters well. The disadvantage of the culture is its vulnerability to fungal and viral diseases. To reduce risks, it is recommended to follow the rules of plant cultivation.
Reviews of Peony Red Charm
Below are reviews from owners about growing Red Charm peony.
