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Peony tulips are one of the popular hybrids of this crop. Their main difference is lush and dense flowers with a large number of petals. The external similarity with peonies gave this culture its name.
Varieties of peony tulips
Currently, there are a large number of varieties of these tulips, bred by breeders in different parts of the world. They are distinguished by the richness of shades and shapes of the inflorescence. Most peony tulips are double. Most often they are classified according to flowering time.
Exotic Emperor
A late-flowering variety with a large bud (up to 7 cm in height and 10-12 cm in diameter). The length of the stem of the Exotic Emperor (Tulipa Exotic Emperor) is 35 cm. The outer petals of the bud are stronger and more durable. This ensures long-term preservation of the appearance of the cut flower.
The peony tulip variety Exotic Emperor has one of the most original colors: the soft white bud on the outside is covered with many green and yellow streaks
The species is resistant to unfavorable conditions: wind and rain, even in cloudy weather the plant forms buds and flowers at the usual rate. The main use is planting around the perimeter of large flower beds, border design, cutting.
Double Red Reading Hood
A late variety belonging to Greig's red peony tulips (Tulipa greigii Double Red Riding Hood). The height of the stems is 35 cm.
The peony-shaped tulip of the Double Red Reading Hood variety has lush and large buds of bright red color.
The foliage is covered with small spots. The main requirement for cultivation is a sunny area, since the crop does not bloom in the shade. Used to create flower beds and mixborders.
Monte Carlo
Representative of yellow peony tulips. The early variety Monte Carlo has a stem height of about 40 cm.
The shape of the petals of the Monte Carlo tulip is more reminiscent of irises than peonies
In sunny areas the color can be bright lemon, in partial shade it can be rich yellow. Due to its compact root system, it is often used when growing in small containers - flowerpots and pots.
Royal Acres
This variety is a representative of early tulips that bloom in early May. Royal Acres was obtained at the end of the 19th century from the Murillo variety in Holland. Stem height – up to 35 cm.
Peony tulip Royal Acres - a double variety of light pink color, with flowers 11 cm in diameter
Unpretentious to weather conditions. It can grow in a wide range of climates, from deserts to humid forests. Use as a border plant, flowerbed filler or cut flower.
Peach Blossom
The early variety Peach Blossom has a stem 30-35 cm high. The height of the bud is 7 cm, the diameter is up to 12 cm. The petals have a white-pink tint and are large in size.
Due to the characteristic white and pink color and shape of the bush, Peach Blossom tulips are often confused with peonies
Flowering is long-lasting, starting in mid-May and lasting up to 1 month. Used in flower beds, mixborders and cutting. Can overwinter in the ground.
Mount Tacoma
Refers to white peony tulips. The length of the stem reaches 40 cm. The large buds of Mount Tacoma look ideal when cut. Their height is 6 cm and diameter is 11-12 cm.
Mount Tacoma peony tulips have white, slightly double leaves with yellow stamens.
It has a long (up to 20 days) but relatively late flowering, beginning in June. Pairs well with daffodils.
Sensual Touch
The stem of Sensual Touch is quite high - up to 55 cm. The shape and structure of the petals allows us to classify the variety as double peony tulips. Their color is deep orange, yellowish around the perimeter.
Peony-shaped tulip Sensual Touch has an interesting shape of petals - they have not smooth, but slightly disheveled edges
Most often used in the design of flower beds or as a border plant. Not bad for cutting as it retains its fresh appearance for more than a week.
Cartouche
The late double variety Cartouche has two-color petals. They are white, but have pink elements in the center and perimeter. The height of the stem is up to 40 cm. The root system is small, which allows, in addition to flower beds, to use the crop in pots.
The blossoming buds of the peony-shaped tulip of the Cartouche variety have a slightly flattened shape, with the outer row of petals separated from the total mass
Flowering begins in June and lasts up to 3 weeks. The main use is as a border plant.
La Belle Epoque
La Belle Epoque is a relatively young variety, obtained no more than 10 years ago in Holland. The height of the stems reaches 40 cm, the diameter of the flower is 10 cm. There are few petals (no more than 20 pieces), but they are quite large. There is no aroma.
Peony tulip La Belle Epoque has large and heavy inflorescences that require support
Recommended for use in group plantings, but also good for cutting. For good growth next season, removal of faded buds is required.
Planting and caring for peony tulips
As such, there are no differences in growing ordinary and peony tulips. All rules of agricultural technology for this ornamental crop are similar to the standard ones. Planting dates, care and disease control are also no different.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
The planting location for peony tulips should be chosen on the sunny side (in partial shade for some crops). The site needs drainage and protection from strong winds. It is recommended to plant on the south side of large buildings or trees. Drainage is made from a layer of sand or small crushed stone 3 to 5 cm high. It is placed at the bottom of the holes or in the furrows where planting is carried out.
Soil acidity – neutral or alkaline. Peony tulips grow best on sandy loams. Heavy soils should be loosened by adding sand or compost. It is advisable to add wood ash in an amount of up to 200 g per 1 square meter before planting peony tulips. m.
Landing rules
Planting can be done both in spring and autumn. It is better to plant the children at the end of the season. Adult bulbs tolerate planting equally well at any time of the year.Immediately before this, it is recommended to keep the seed overnight in a refrigerator at a temperature of + 8 ° C, and then treat it with a 0.2% solution of potassium permanganate.
Large peony tulip bulbs are planted to a depth of no more than 15 cm. Children are planted at a depth of 5-7 cm.
When planting, the bulbs are lightly pressed into the ground.
Next, you just need to sprinkle them with earth, compacting it slightly. It is recommended to cover the top layer with a small rake. Watering is carried out in an amount of 500 ml per well. To avoid cracking the soil and drying it out, place a layer of mulch 3-5 cm thick on top. It is best to use peat for this purpose, but compost will also work.
Watering and fertilizing
Timely watering of peony tulips guarantees their rapid growth and abundant flowering. They are usually produced as the topsoil dries out. The approximate frequency is 3-4 days. Irrigation rates are from 10 to 40 liters of water per 1 sq. m.
Feeding peony tulips is carried out three times per season:
- The first application of fertilizers is made in early spring, immediately after the sprouts appear. In this case, use a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in a ratio of 2:2:1. Application rates – no more than 50 g per 1 sq. m.
- The second feeding of peony tulips is done during budding. The same mixture is used, but in a ratio of 1:2:2. The application rates are similar to the first one.
- The last fertilizer of the season is done after flowering. Here only potassium and phosphate fertilizers are used in a ratio of 1 to 1. The norm is no more than 30 g per 1 sq. m. m.
Application is always combined with watering peony tulips and loosening the soil.
Sometimes, instead of mineral fertilizers, wood ash is used as the last fertilizing.
Reproduction
Reproduction of peony tulips is common for all bulbous tulips; seed can be obtained from children or seeds. In the first case, offspring are formed from the main bulb. It is separated from the mother plant and planted in a prepared place at the end of the season. The peculiarity of the culture is that for the next season it forms only the vegetative part. Flowering may occur in a year or two.
Propagation by seeds is more complex and labor-intensive. It is rarely used, but in the case of obtaining new varieties it is the only possible method. The seeds of peony tulips ripen approximately two months after flowering, but they are collected at the end of summer.
Planting is carried out in the fall. Over the next 2-4 years, the plant develops a weak vegetative part, and the bulb forms and strengthens. Only in the 5th year is flowering and the formation of children possible.
Diseases and pests
Like any decorative crop, peony tulips are susceptible to a large number of diseases and pests. Almost all of them are transmitted from one plant to another quite quickly, since the planting density is usually high.
Gray rot is one of the most common fungal diseases affecting peony tulips. The spores that cause it are located in the upper layer of soil and easily fall on the stems, leaves and buds of the plant.
Parts of the plant affected by gray rot begin to wither and curl
The fight against this disease involves removing and destroying the affected parts of peony tulips. Sometimes the bulbs are dug up and sent to a kind of “quarantine”, they are planted in a separate container and, if there is no relapse, they are transferred back to the garden the next year.
In general, although fungal diseases pose a danger to peony tulips, their treatment and prevention are simple and effective. You can use Bordeaux or Burgundy mixtures, copper sulfate, Abiga-pik, Oksikhom, etc. It is much worse if peony tulips are affected by viral diseases. As a rule, there is no treatment for them, and the specimen has to be completely destroyed along with the bulb. Sometimes, to guarantee disinfection of the area, the top layer of soil should also be changed.
An example of such a disease is August disease. It affects many crops of the Liliaceae family, and peony tulips are no exception.
Brown stripes appear on stems and bulbs affected by August disease and quickly spread throughout the plant.
Another viral disease is variegation. In fact, almost all types of lilies are affected by this disease, but the plant’s immune system copes well with it, but when it gets on tulips, it can lead to the most unpleasant consequences.
Tulip petals, affected by variegation, narrow and lengthen
Viral diseases can have very different symptoms. Sometimes their manifestations are very difficult to notice, which can lead to the most unpleasant consequences. In particular, the spread of the disease to the entire plant population. Vein necrosis is often found in peony tulips. Its external manifestations look very natural and, as a rule, do not cause alarm to the gardener.
With necrosis, light areas appear on the leaves, elongated along
As noted earlier, there is no treatment for viral diseases. They should be recognized as soon as possible and the destruction of affected crops should begin. It is advisable to transplant those specimens that are not affected by the disease to another location.
There are few animals that parasitize on the stems, leaves and flowers of peony tulips. This is due to the high content of alkaloids in the green part of the plant. But the bulbs of peony tulips can be of interest to a large number of pests. The most common of them is the onion mite, which also infects other plants - lilies, onions, garlic, etc. It is difficult to notice, but by external signs (unreasonable wilting of leaves and flowers), diseased specimens are detected quite quickly.
Onion mite is a small white pest with a diameter of up to 1 mm that lives on the surface of the bulb.
If peony tulips are damaged, they cannot be saved. Therefore, infected specimens should be destroyed, and the rest of the planting should be treated with some effective acaricide. You can use Actellik or Aktara. In this case, you need to spray both the plants and the top layer of soil. Next year, before planting the bulbs, it is also recommended to apply the drug to them and let them dry.
Photo of peony tulips
Below are photographs and descriptions of various varieties of peony tulips.
Most often, peony tulips are used as a border plant.
Peony tulips go well with low ground cover perennials
Terry peony-shaped tulips of bright colors are especially impressive as a monoculture.
Bouquets made from peony tulips always attract attention
Landscape designers love to use peony tulips to create spectacular mixborders
Peony tulips go well with low ground cover perennials
Peony tulips are one of the most interesting varieties of ornamental plants. They have lush blooms that last from two to three weeks. Its spectacular appearance makes it possible to use the crop as a decoration for borders, flower beds and mixborders. Many varieties can be grown in pots and flowerpots. The efficiency of vegetative propagation of plants is quite high. But, like all ornamental crops, peony tulips have their drawbacks, in particular, they are vulnerable to viral infections.
Terry peony-shaped tulips of bright colors are especially impressive as a monoculture.
Bouquets made from peony tulips always attract attention
Landscape designers love to use peony tulips to create spectacular mixborders
Conclusion
Peony tulips are one of the most interesting varieties of ornamental plants. They have lush blooms that last from two to three weeks. Its spectacular appearance makes it possible to use the crop as a decoration for borders, flower beds and mixborders.Many varieties can be grown in pots and flowerpots. The efficiency of vegetative propagation of plants is quite high. But, like all ornamental crops, peony tulips have their drawbacks, in particular, they are vulnerable to viral infections.
