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It’s not for nothing that the herbaceous peony Celebrity is called the “emperor of the flowerbed.” This bright perennial will be an excellent dominant feature of any flower garden, pleasing the eye with the watercolor tints of its petals and giving an unforgettable subtle aroma.
Breeding history
There are two opinions about the origin of the Celebrity variety. In some sources it is positioned as the creation of Chinese breeders, in others - Dutch. It is not known for certain who the author belongs to. The first mention of the variety dates back to 1985.
Description of the milky-flowering peony Celebrity with photo
Peony Celebrity (Paeonia lactiflora Celebrity) is an intraspecific hybrid that belongs to the milky-flowering group. The plant is spreading, with powerful, strong stems. The bush reaches a height of 1 m. The foliage is openwork, slightly dissected. Throughout the entire growing season, the peony does not lose its decorative effect. Closer to autumn, the leaves change color from deep dark green to a noble crimson.
The flowers of the Celebrity variety are double and semi-double, dense
Numerous thin petals are located in the central part of the inflorescence; they are colored in rich pink and whitish-cream tones. This lush cap is framed by large crimson petals, reminiscent of an anemone in shape. This combination creates the effect of a whimsical mosaic that attracts admiring glances.
Celebrity will not go unnoticed due to the size of the flowers. With proper care, the buds turn into lush multi-colored caps 15-17 cm in diameter. The flowers have a rich, but not cloying peony aroma, which gives the June garden its own unique flavor and charm.
The greatest decorative effect of the Celebrity peony can be achieved when planted in a well-lit, sunny area of the garden. It is also permissible to plant in light partial shade. In this case, the flowering will not be as lush as possible, but will last longer.
Timing and duration of flowering
Peony Celebrity is a mid-early variety. It blooms at the end of May or in the first ten days of June - it all depends on the growing region. Flowering lasts about three weeks. Celebrity can be safely used for cutting. With regular water changes, flowers retain their freshness and wonderful aroma for at least 10 days.
Advantages and disadvantages
Peony Celebrity is characterized by high decorative value throughout the summer season. The ease of cultivation combined with gorgeous flowering made it the star of the garden plot.
The ancient Greeks considered peony a symbol of longevity
Pros:
- abundant and long flowering;
- versatility in application;
- good adaptation and unpretentiousness;
- excellent winter hardiness and drought resistance (from -40°C to +37°C)
- grows in one place for up to 20 years.
Minuses:
- the need to install support for adult bushes;
- small buds when planted in the shade;
- flowers can fade in the sun.
Planting Peony Celebrity
The preferred time for planting Celebrity is early autumn. You need to choose a place that is well lit, preferably protected from the wind. Close proximity to groundwater and flooding are unacceptable for peony.
To plant a plant, a hole of 60x60x60 cm is required. The soil removed from the hole should be fertilized with compost or rotted manure, wood ash, superphosphate and dolomite flour should be added (if soil deoxidation is required). It is better to prepare the place in advance so that the soil has time to settle and, when planting, does not pull the rhizome deeper than necessary.
The prepared soil is poured into the hole to 2/3 depth, watered abundantly, and then the seedling is placed there. The peony buds should be located at a depth of about 5 cm. Next, carefully sprinkle with the remaining soil, water again and mulch.
Peony care Celebrity
Peony Celebrity will delight you with lush flowering if you feed it properly and regularly, remove weeds and water it during the dry season
After flowering, it is necessary to cut off the flower stalks with seed pods so that the plant does not waste energy on ripening the seeds.
Preparing for winter
1-2 weeks before frost, the above-ground part of the plant is cut off at the root. If this is not done, pathogenic bacteria and fungi will begin to multiply in wilted stems and leaves.
The root zone must be carefully hilled up and treated with Karbofos or Iskra, then covered with a layer of mulch about 20 cm thick. Peat, sawdust or compost are perfect for these purposes. It would be a good idea to cover the peony with spruce branches - this will repel small rodents.
How does it reproduce
Peony Celebrity is a hybrid, so the seed propagation method is not suitable for it.Bushes grown from seeds will not have the characteristics of the mother plant.
To propagate this peony, rhizome division is used. In the fall, the bush is dug up, cleared of excess soil, dead or weak shoots are removed and, using a shovel, cut into sections, each of which should have 3-5 renewal buds. They are treated with a fungicide, the cut site is sprinkled with crushed coal and dried in a shady, well-ventilated place, after which they are planted in prepared holes with fertile soil.
Another way to propagate Celebrity is by cutting stems. After flowering ends, a shoot with an undeveloped bud is selected in the thick of the bush. It is cut with a clean blade at an angle of 45° and the tip is treated with a root growth stimulator. Leaves are shortened by 2/3. The resulting cutting is deepened into the nutrient substrate slightly at an angle and placed in a greenhouse until roots appear. You can understand that rooting was successful when the cutting starts to grow. Such a seedling can only be transferred to open ground for the next season.
Disease and pest control
The peony begins to get sick if the rules of agricultural technology are grossly violated. The plant can be affected by rust and powdery mildew. In case of diseases of fungal origin, the affected parts of the plant are cut off and the bush is treated with a fungicide solution. It happens that peonies are affected by the ring mosaic virus. In this case, the plant is dug up and disposed of, after which the soil is disinfected.
Celebrity may arouse the interest of pests such as aphids, ants, and thrips. To combat them, insecticides are used, for example Aktaru.
Application in landscape
Peony Celebrity is used both in single and group plantings.
Rows of peonies look good along paths and as a frame for terraces
Powerful, beautifully flowering bushes will be an excellent tapeworm on the lawn or against the background of ground cover plants.
Peony neighbors can include irises, daylilies, decorative onions, and hosts. They are often located near conifers, in particular thujas.
Due to its size and relatively short flowering period, growing Celebrity in flowerpots and decorating the balcony space with them is impractical
Conclusion
Peony Celebrity fully justifies its name, which is translated from English as “celebrity”. Even a single bush will bring solemnity to the dacha plot and give a feeling of celebration; it is not for nothing that the variety is so loved by many gardeners and gardeners.
Reviews from gardeners about the Celebrity peony
