Content
Red Glory Peony is a flower that is surprisingly similar to a red rose. It has almost the same color and flower shape, but has two important advantages that the “queen of the garden” does not have: unpretentiousness and winter hardiness. The plant does not leave summer residents, florists, or even professional designers indifferent.
History of appearance
Red Glory was bred in 1937 by the American scientist E. Auten. He also owns many other discoveries.
Description of Red Glory peony with photo
Peony is a low herbaceous shrub. It grows to 80-85 cm in height, usually a little less. The stems are characterized by density, they are massive and can support a mass of large buds. The leaves are densely dispersed over the area of the erect shoots; the green plates are divided into several parts, which gives them an openwork appearance.
Semi-double flowers consist of numerous petals, fragrant and very delicate to the touch.
The diameter of the bud is 20 cm, which is a lot for a medium-sized peony.After opening Red Glory, the golden middle becomes visible; it contrasts with the red background, giving the composition a decorative look.
Features of flowering
In mid-May, the Red Glory peony produces buds that open towards the end of the month. Flowering may be delayed due to climatic conditions (for example, cold, as happens in the Siberian and Ural regions).
Budding is very colorful and long-lasting – it lasts about a month. Therefore, designers recommend planting Red Glory peonies in plain sight, with green bushes as a backdrop. The petals fall from the flowers slowly, while a light aroma remains throughout the entire period.
Peony Red Glory is praised by florists: the plant stays in a vase for a long time and does not stop emitting a sweet smell until it withers.
Winter hardiness
The culture is resistant to cold. It can be grown in the northern regions of the country. Frost resistance zone – 4 (from -28 to -35 degrees).
Growing regions
Red Glory is grown in the Central, Southern and Northern regions of Russia. In cities with cold climates, plantings are covered.
Advantages and disadvantages
This variety of peonies is widely known among professionals and amateur gardeners. This is due to its excellent decorative qualities and unpretentiousness.
Red Glory is grown for cutting, which is what the flower was originally created for.
Pros:
- cold resistance;
- early budding;
- increased immunity;
- dimensions;
- universal purpose.
Minuses:
- vulnerability to waterlogging;
- Sometimes strapping may be required.
Landing rules
For planting peonies, Red Glory recommends using zones along the southern or eastern side. The site should not be too windy, otherwise a fence will be required. Some requirements are also imposed on the quality of the soil: moderately moist soil with good throughput (drainage) and a neutral or slightly acidic reaction is required.
As for planting time, the summer resident can begin work in the spring or autumn. The main condition will be the absence of return frosts. Experts recommend carrying out the procedure at the end of August or at the very beginning of autumn.
In 15-20 days, prepare the soil for the Red Glory peony:
- dig a recess 55 x 55 cm;
- lay any available drainage material on the bottom;
- mix garden soil with humus, peat, wood ash;
- Water so that the fertilizers are properly mixed.
Red Glory peony renewal buds are buried at a distance of 3 cm. If it is lower, the bush will not be able to develop quickly. The seedling is covered with fertile soil and compacted to avoid the formation of air bubbles, after which it is watered abundantly.
When mass planting, keep a distance of at least 90 cm between bushes.
Care instructions
Peony Red Glory is a selective hybrid, and they are known to inherit the best characteristics of their parents. This makes them low maintenance. However, the summer resident should focus on some activities:
- Hydration. Watering is carried out at intervals of 1-1.5 weeks, spending 10 liters of water on each bush.In summer, the volume is increased to 20 liters or even more, depending on the climate. It is important to observe the reaction of the Red Glory peony. The liquid should fall into the tree trunk circle without touching the leaves.
- Loosening. To improve permeability, loosen the soil after each watering. If the Red Glory peony is mulched, skip this step.
- Weeding. Young plants need to gain mass and for this they require nutrients. Weeds are known to compete with flowers, so their presence should not be allowed. As in the previous case, if the variety is covered with a mulch layer, there is no need for the procedure.
- Feeding. In spring, Red Glory peony is fertilized with ammonium nitrate. It is saturated with nitrogen, which plays an important role in the growth of shoots. By the time of flowering, the application of nitrogen is stopped - wood ash and phosphorus are used. After the buds fall off, the soil is treated with potassium.
Preparing for winter
Despite the high resistance of Red Glory to frost, changes in temperature cause stress in the peony. To prepare the crop, you need to cut off the stems, leaving small stumps 3-5 cm high on the surface.
The sections are sprinkled with wood ash so as not to cause infection, and then the Red Glory peonies are covered with mulch. If the layer was updated a long time ago, it needs to be replaced with a new one. In warm climates, mulching is not necessary.
Red Glory peonies up to 3 years old need to be additionally covered with agrofibre; the cover is removed in the spring
Reproduction methods
Seeds are not suitable for perennial propagation, as they do not transmit hereditary characteristics. Therefore, in practice, the plant is grown by division and cuttings.
Division is the simplest method. It gives quick results, and even a beginner with no gardening experience can easily handle the process. The disadvantage is that propagation requires an adult shrub aged 5 years or more. It is carefully dug up and removed from the ground, transferred to the house, washed and dried for a while.
When the root system dries, you need to find a bunch of healthy roots with renewal buds (at least 3 pieces). It is cut off, the sections are treated with charcoal, and then placed in a fertile substrate.
Stem cuttings are a less effective method in the sense that the development of the Red Glory peony occurs slowly, and the summer resident will have to wait about six years before budding. For propagation, strong shoots located in the center of the bush are used. They are cut with pruning shears, most of the leaves are removed, and the incision site is treated with Kornevin.
A Red Glory peony cutting is planted in a pot with store-bought soil, covered with foil and waiting for roots to appear. If the plant begins to grow, cuttings are considered successful - in this case, the greenhouse is removed and care continues. Next year the gardener will be able to transplant into open ground.
Diseases and pests
The plant has excellent immunity, but it does not completely guarantee that Red Glory will not become infected. Conditions suitable for the development of diseases are high humidity and lack of planting care.
In practice, gardeners face the following problems:
- powdery mildew;
- rust;
- phyllosticosis.
The diseases are united by a common symptom - the formation of spots on leaf blades. They can be red or blond.
If leaf spots appear, treat the soil with Bordeaux mixture.
Fungicides also help well - Baktofit, Fitosporin.
Pests pose no less of a threat to Red Glory peonies. Aphids, thrips, golden bronze are the main enemies of the plant. Young seedlings are especially vulnerable: their succulent shoots attract insects, while the crop itself still has very weak immunity.
Large beetles can be collected by hand. It is also recommended to install traps - adhesive tapes. For prevention purposes, you can plant strong-smelling plants, such as mint, next to the crop. They repel pests. If the defeat has already occurred, Red Glory peonies are treated with Fitoverm and Decis.
Application in landscape design
Peonies often become the main decoration of a flower bed. They are easier to grow than roses, so novice gardeners prefer less demanding plants.
The garden can be decorated with contrasting varieties
Peony Red Glory looks good in a single planting
A flowering plant can be used to make a bright accent in a green flower bed.
Conclusion
Peony Red Glory is a prominent representative of hybrid plants. It was developed almost a century ago and during this time has not lost its relevance. The culture is used by florists, summer residents, and landscape designers. The reason is unpretentiousness, volume of buds, colorful flowering and good immunity that protects the plantings.
Reviews from gardeners about the Red Glory peony
