Content
Peonies amaze with their variety of shapes and colors. They get along well in the Russian climate and do not force the gardener to spend a lot of time on care. Peony Cytheria is one of the representatives of this group of plants. It has beautiful flowers and exudes a pleasant aroma.
History of appearance
The Cytheria variety has been known since the middle of the last century. It belongs to the American scientist Sanders, who breeds garden crops. The hybrid appeared in 1953, and received wide publicity in 1980, when it was awarded an official award.
Description of the Cytheria peony with photo
Cytheria is a low bush, growing from 60 to 75 cm. The leaves are held by massive stems. They have a lighter shade and are able to hold a lot of buds without a garter. Green plates are medium in size and resistant to diseases and insects.
Peony Cytheria is a perennial flower with large buds. The calyxes consist of 4-5 rows of petals and reach about 15 cm in diameter.
The color has different intensities, depending on the location of the plant: in the depths of the forest Cytheria is darker, while in open glades it is very bright
In the middle part of the flower there are several golden stamens and a pistil. The outer petals have an even structure, unlike the inner ones.
Peony Citheria flowering time
The plant is an early flowering plant. Cytheria forms buds in the second year after planting. Flowering begins in the first ten days of June. The average duration is 30-35 days. Each flower lasts up to 10 days, then the bush is renewed.
Advantages and disadvantages
Peony Cytheria is an attractive crop that is resistant to insect attacks. It is also distinguished by high frost resistance.
The Cytheria variety can grow quietly in light and partial shade.
Pros:
- large buds;
- long flowering;
- strong aroma;
- drought resistance;
- immunity to disease;
- decorativeness;
- undemanding to soil.
Minuses:
- flowers appear in the second year - a feature of all peonies.
When and how to plant
Peony Cytheria can be found throughout Russia; it is not afraid of negative temperatures. In the far north, the flower is grown in a greenhouse or at home.
Lighting can be intense or weak. The main thing is not to plant the Citheria peony in deep shade. The site is protected from draft winds. The best time for planting is mid or late spring, when the soil is warm enough.
The bottom of the planting hole must be drained. A distance of 80 cm is maintained between seedlings. As a rule, this is enough for normal growth.
Care instructions
The procedure for growing Citheria peonies is not complicated. A shaping haircut is not necessary, but a sanitary and preventive haircut is encouraged. Fallen leaves must be removed in a timely manner, since such an environment is favorable for fungal spores and parasite larvae.
After planting, the root zone should be covered with humus. It will serve as an organic fertilizer and warm the roots in the cold. You can mulch with both leaf soil and sawdust: they retain water well, increasing the periods between waterings. Experts recommend using foliage as an additional layer.
Peony Cytheria is watered twice a season, starting from June 20 and ending on August 20. Since moisture is rare, it is made abundant.
Summer watering helps to form renewing buds, autumn watering accelerates the development of adventitious roots, which make it easier to survive frosts
As for fertilizing, application is allowed during the following periods:
- in March – nitrogen;
- in the last ten days of May - a complex of minerals;
- in August - potassium and phosphorus;
- in October - humus.
Additional procedures that can be carried out at will include summer spraying with development stimulants. They improve the splendor of flowers, which is noticeable in photographs in landscape design.
Preparing for winter
Freezing temperatures can damage the Cytheria peony. To prevent this from happening, the plant is pruned and mulched with peat or spruce branches. No additional shelter is required.
Reproduction methods
Since the Cytheria peony is a hybrid plant, it is propagated by vegetative methods. These include cuttings and division of the root system.
After reaching the age of five, the Cytheria peony can be propagated by division. By that time, the crop has formed strong shoots. To obtain daughter specimens, at the beginning of autumn, all stems are cut to ground level and the peony is removed.
The roots are cleaned of soil with warm water and then dried for a long time. This allows you to separate part of the root system without much difficulty. After disinfecting the knife, cut off the root bundle, which contains three healthy buds. With less or more quantity, Cytheria peony may not adapt.
The cut areas are covered with coal. The cuttings are planted in pre-prepared holes, and the mother bush is placed in the same area.
Propagation by cuttings involves the use of stems. They are cut from adult Cytherium peonies in mid-summer. Preference is given to samples with unopened buds.
To easily determine the top and bottom of the cutting, the cut is made oblique from below and straight from above.
The top must be covered with garden pitch or coal. The lower end is powdered and immersed in the Kornevin preparation.
After treatment, the shoots are buried in a nutrient substrate and planted at an angle. The cuttings are covered with plastic containers. After rooting, the Citheria peony will begin to actively develop. After two leaves appear, the shelter is removed, and the soil begins to be watered as it dries.
Diseases and pests
Peony Cytheria inherited strong immunity. Hybrid plants are always resistant to external factors, as breeders try to reward crops with the best qualities.
Dangerous for the Cytheria peony are aphids and ants. Both insects feed on sweet juice, only the aphid looks for it in the leaves, and the ant in the buds. Other pests do not bother the crop. The affected plant is treated with insecticides.
Application in landscape
Peony Cytheria is used in the design of parks and private areas. Its main use is tapeworm. Less commonly, the variety is combined with other peonies.
Cytheria is suitable for landscaping borders, paths, verandas; the variety looks great near a fence
Advice! To emphasize the presence of Cytheria peonies, designers advise planting flowers on a green background. These could be coniferous plants, a painted fence or a young lawn.
Conclusion
Peony Cytheria is a winter-hardy flower that grows in different regions of the country. The temperature limit is -40 degrees. Like other peonies, the bright bush does not need frequent care. It is enough to water it several times a season, fertilize it and cut off the withered shoots. Early and long flowering made the variety popular among designers and gardeners.
Reviews from gardeners about the Cytheria peony
