Tree peony belongs to the group of artificially bred species and varieties. The plant's homeland is China, where it is highly valued for its decorative qualities. Large flowers with a wide range of colors have been growing in Chinese gardens for more than 2000 years. A tall, spreading shrub with strong stems grows well in temperate climates. If you want to decorate your site with a tree peony, then you need to learn how to plant the plant and care for it.
Botanical description and history of breeding
The tree peony belongs to the genus Paeonia of the Peony family; it is a perennial deciduous shrub. Stems are erect, woody, light brown in color. The shoots do not die off and produce annual growth. The bush is hemispherical in shape. The leaves are green, dissected, and turn purple towards the end of the growing season. Flowering dates depend on the variety, usually in May. Flowers with a diameter of 20-22 cm are simple and double. Their range includes many shades of pink, red, lilac, yellow, and white. There are two-color varieties. The photo shows how thickly the flowers cover the bush.
There are 30-80 flowers on one bush. The petals are dense, corrugated, with many yellow stamens. Flowering time is 10-14 days; cool weather and lack of direct rays at midday extend this period. The star-shaped fruit opens at the seam when ripe. Inside are black shiny seeds. It bears fruit from the age of four. With good care in a warm climate, the height of the bush is 1.7-2 m, but in central Russia peonies do not grow higher than 1.5 m.
History of the plant
The history of selection of tree peonies dates back to Ancient China. The first description of the varieties was made in 1034. The largest collections of plants are collected in Luoyang. In Chinese monasteries there are old bushes up to 2.4 m high, with a shoot diameter of 10 cm. Japan creates its own varieties of peony, and in this country flowers are associated with the arrival of spring. Tree peonies came to Russia in the 18th century and were cultivated in greenhouses. Only in the middle of the 20th century did flowers settle in open ground.
Tree peony: care and cultivation
To grow tree peony, proper planting and proper care in open ground are important. The first thing a gardener must do is choose a place for a bush. It should be sheltered from the wind, sunny, and located away from tall trees. A low area where water collects is not suitable. The plant does not tolerate excess moisture. In ideal conditions, midday shading is recommended.
Information. In China and Japan, where the culture of growing tree peonies is developed, canopies are built near the bushes to protect the flowers from fading colors.
Winter hardiness is good if the temperature does not drop to very low levels (-25-30°) and survives the cold season without shelter. But it’s still not worth the risk; the root area is covered with peat. The shoots are covered with non-woven material or a hut is built from spruce branches. Mulching with straw and leaves is not recommended; this is a fertile environment for the development of bacteria.
Information. Uncovered plants freeze, but do not necessarily die. Usually in spring a shoot grows from a vegetative bud at the base.
Landing in the ground
The optimal time to plant a seedling in the ground is the beginning of autumn. It is better to immediately choose a permanent place where the plant will develop for decades. If necessary, it can be replanted, but due to stress, the flower suffers for 1-2 years. A hole measuring 40:40:50 cm is dug under the seedling. A drainage layer must be installed at the bottom. You can use sand, gravel, expanded clay or just broken brick. A layer of 15 cm is required. The prepared soil mixture is poured on top.
Advice. Before planting a tree peony from a box, it is necessary to treat the roots with a fungicide solution. A preventive procedure will prevent the development of harmful microorganisms.
The seedling is lowered into the hole, and the root collar should be located at ground level. The roots are covered with the remaining soil. The planting is well watered. In the fall, the roots will have time to take root and grow suction roots. And with the arrival of cold weather, the growth buds will fall asleep and will not take away nutrients. After winter, the peony will begin to grow properly.
Soil preparation
The best soil for the plant is loamy, neutral or slightly alkaline. The optimal pH level is 6-6.5. If there is an excess of sand, clay is added to the soil; with heavy soils, the opposite is done. The soil for tree peony should be fertile, permeable and loose. Before planting the seedling, prepare a suitable mixture in the hole:
- ash;
- compost or rotted manure;
- peat;
- bone flour;
- superphosphates or complex granular fertilizer.
Types of seedlings
Own-rooted and grafted flowers are available for sale. What does a rooted tree peony look like - it has many roots of the same diameter 5-8 mm, painted light brown. Grafted specimens have a main rhizome 3-5 cm thick and are dark in color. Both types have strengths and weaknesses:
- Self-rooted - characterized by a long life expectancy (about 50 years), strong immunity, and can reproduce by dividing the main bush. The downside is slow growth and a long wait for flowering.
- Vaccinated animals live much shorter lives, do not tolerate transplantation well, and do not reproduce by division. How fast does it grow? After 1-2 years, flowers appear.
Another option for classifying seedlings: with an open and closed root system. The bare roots of plants are wrapped in moss or other substrate and covered with film. Seedlings are packed in boxes. Peonies with closed roots are planted in containers with soil. The optimal planting time depends on the type of packaging. A seedling from a container with soil can be planted in open ground in spring and autumn. The bare-root option is suitable for autumn planting.
If a seedling without soil is purchased in winter or spring, intermediate cultivation in a pot is practiced. A large container with a volume of 5 liters is selected. A layer of expanded clay drainage is poured onto the bottom. A universal soil is suitable for the plant. Before planting, the roots of the seedling are washed and inspected, and damaged areas are removed. The seedling is lowered into a pot and covered with soil on top. which is carefully pressed down. Watered abundantly.
Advice. The growth stimulator "Epin" can be added to the water used for irrigation.
The pot with the seedling is kept in a cool place (2-8°), its buds should not begin to grow. Staying in the ground is necessary for the formation of small suction roots. Without them, the plant lacks nutrition and lags behind in development. Then each gardener decides for himself how to grow a bush from a seedling. some prefer to plant it in the ground in the spring. Others are waiting for autumn. Until September, the peony is in a pot, which is placed in a cool place in the garden.
Problems with growing peony
Planting does not always go well; in some cases, you have to solve the question of why the tree peony does not grow. There are several reasons:
- The planting site was chosen incorrectly; the plant ended up in the shade of buildings or tall trees.
- Increased soil acidity. Peonies need neutral or slightly alkaline soil. The situation will be corrected by adding lime or dolomite flour.
- Excessive deepening, the root collar was below the soil level. The opposite option is insufficient planting depth.
- Perhaps the bush is sick; common ailments are gray rot and rust.
- The flower lacks air. In the absence of loosening, a crust forms on the ground, preventing air exchange.
Knowing how to care for a tree peony, you will avoid many problems.
Transplanting a tree peony
Young plants and bushes aged 10-15 years are painful when transplanted to a new location. Don't be alarmed if many of the shoots dry out. By the end of summer, adventitious buds will appear, and new shoots will emerge from them. Old dried parts of the plant are cut off, and the bush is rejuvenated. The optimal time to transplant a tree peony is the end of August or September. If you delay the procedure until a later date due to the cold, the roots may not have time to take root.
It is better to dig up the plant with a clod of earth. Can be replanted whole or divided. In this case, it is worth inspecting the roots; dry or rotten ones are removed. The sections are treated with activated carbon. There is no need to replant frequently; the bush grows well in one place.
Planting a tree peony in spring
The sale of tree peony seedlings begins in February-March. At this time there is still snow and planting in open ground is impossible. Until the temperature becomes stable, the flower is stored in a cool place. Planting a seedling purchased in spring with closed roots is possible as early as April. If the forecast promises night frosts, the flower is covered with non-woven material.
How to plant a peony in spring
When and how to plant a peony in spring? Typically, seedlings begin to actively grow under any storage conditions, so you should not delay planting. They act similarly to autumn planting. A place is selected - not lowland, sunny, at least 1.5 m between the bushes. A hole is dug 50-70 cm deep. Drainage is arranged at the bottom (up to 25 cm). Garden soil is enriched with compost, humus, ash and phosphates. The seedling is watered abundantly.
After planting in the spring, it is important to provide the peony with good care. The first year it is necessary to carefully monitor the moisture level. If there is no rain, water the bush every week. Don't forget about loosening and weeding. Tree peony grows slowly and needs to be fertilized with nitrogen and potassium.
Advice. Planting a peony from a box in the spring is highly undesirable; the plant will grow leaves to the detriment of the roots.
Spring care
The time to open the bush depends on the region. Focus on the absence of frost. Spring care begins with sanitary pruning of dry shoots. The procedure is performed until the first living kidney. Watering is carried out once every two weeks, 6-7 liters. The soil around the bush is mulched with compost. Shoots often grow around the bush; they are replanted immediately after the soil thaws.
Top dressing
How to feed a tree peony at the beginning of the growing season? When growing greenery, flowers respond well to nitrogen fertilizers. they can be scattered in the tree trunk immediately after the snow melts. In the process of laying buds, the plant is fertilized with a potassium-phosphorus composition. The last feeding occurs at the end of summer. It consists of superphosphates.
Trimming
Bushes are pruned every spring. It is beneficial for the plant and has a rejuvenating effect. Weak shoots are cut to a height of 10-20 cm. This does not prevent them from gaining new strength during the growing season. In spring, not only the shoots are removed, but also some of the flowers. By cutting off a third of the buds, you will achieve larger blooms.
Information. In China, the homeland of tree peonies, rejuvenating pruning is carried out every 20 years. Lignified shoots are cut to the ground. The benefit of the procedure is confirmed by the fact that there are peonies in the country over 200 years old.
Other spring events
Before the bush spreads numerous shoots around the peony, you need to make strong supports from crossbars on pegs. The height of such supports should not exceed half the height of the plant. Many people practice tying peonies, which is not advisable - most of the buds simply will not bloom. If there are no pores, a strong wind will break the shoots.
To get large peony buds, at the end of May you need to remove a third of the entire ovary, as well as the side buds of the flower. Reducing the number of “competitors” allows the flower to grow twice as large.
By paying a little attention to planting peonies in the spring, you will get a luxuriously blooming bush with large buds in the summer.
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Methods for propagating tree peony
There are several options for propagating tree peony:
- cuttings;
- layering;
- dividing the bush;
- seeds.
To divide the bushes, plants older than 5-6 years are taken. The procedure is performed in the fall. The bush is dug out of the ground and cut into sections. Each should have its own roots and renewal buds. The sections are coated with the drug “Maxim”.
Cuttings
Semi-lignified shoots are used for propagation by cuttings. The part with the bud and leaf is cut off. Half of the leaf plate is removed. The cuttings are soaked in Kornevin for 2 hours, then stuck into damp vermiculite or a mixture of sand and peat. Covering with film allows you to ensure constant temperature and humidity at home. The cuttings take root by September. The seedlings are distributed into separate pots and stored until spring.
Advice. This is not the best method of propagation; according to information from Wikipedia, 2-3% of cuttings will take root.
Layering
Reproduction by layering begins in May, before flowering. An incision is made on the shoot, which is treated with a growth stimulator (“Epin”). The layer is pressed to the ground, secured, and 8-10 cm of soil is poured on top. The layer is watered all summer. In the fall, when roots appear, it can be cut off from the main bush.
Grafting for herbaceous peony
One of the common ways to propagate a tree peony is by grafting. The root of the herbaceous peony is used as a rootstock. The procedure is performed in August. The scion is a cutting with buds. At one end it is cut into a wedge shape. In the root (rootstock), the middle of a similar shape is taken out. The cutting is inserted into the root and wrapped tightly with plastic tape. After grafting, the plant is planted in a pot with fertile soil and covered with a jar on top to create greenhouse conditions.
The greenhouse is placed away from direct sunlight. Water for a month. In autumn they are planted in the ground. The grafting site should be at a depth of 6-8 cm. The video will tell you more about grafting a tree peony onto a herbaceous one.
Tying up
Mature spreading bushes of plants should be tied up. This is especially true for peonies with a double flower shape. Heavy buds and flowers can cause lodging of the bush, especially during wind and rain. This exposes the central part of the bush, which dries out or becomes waterlogged depending on weather conditions. This may cause the death of the plant. Many gardeners practice fencing with wooden pegs tied with rope around the bushes, which maintains the shape of the bush and prevents it from falling apart.
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Growing tree peony from seeds
One of the methods of propagation is seed. This option gives good results, but there is a drawback. It will take approximately 4 years for a young plant to bloom. The collection of planting material begins after the pods turn dark brown. The time is the end of August. The box opens easily. Fresh seeds have a germination rate of up to 85%. They are sown in the ground in the fall, buried 3 cm deep. Mark this place; some varieties germinate in 2-3 years.
How to grow a flower at home
Before growing a seedling at home, seed stratification is carried out. They are buried in sand, watered and kept at variable temperatures. Heating is maintained at 30° for 18 hours, then the temperature drops to 18°. Roots appear by January. The container with the sprouts is sent to a dark basement. Planting in the ground in May, when the leaves appear. Propagation by seeds is a long and complex process, usually used by breeders.
How to do foliar feeding?
Peonies are fed for the first time as sprouts appear after winter. To do this, 40 g of urea (carbamide) is dissolved in 10 liters of water. For the second feeding, use the same solution, only 1 additional tablet of microelements is added to it. The third foliar feeding of peonies is carried out only with a solution of microelements tablets. To prevent the solution from rolling off the leaves, add a spoonful of washing powder or a spoonful of grated laundry soap (this is harmless to the plant).
Features of flowering tree peony
The main question that worries gardeners is when will the tree peony bloom after planting? Seedlings with their own roots will produce their first flowering after 4-5 years. If the plant was grafted onto the root of a herbaceous peony, it will bloom in 1-2 years. Flowers are purchased not only as seedlings, but also as seeds. In what year does a plant bloom from a seed? In this case, add 2 more years to the 5 years required for seed germination. The flowering period depends on climatic conditions. In the south it begins at the end of May, in more northern regions - in June-July.
Why doesn't the peony bloom?
If the plant is already mature and spring flowering does not occur, then the main reason for the situation is a violation of the rules of agricultural technology. This means that the plant is missing something or is receiving too much fertilizer and moisture. what to pay attention to:
- Amount of light, is there enough lighting for the bushes? They should be exposed to sunlight most of the day.
- Lack of nutrition. Soil poor in organic matter and microelements does not provide enough nutrients. Flowers are fed before flowering and after the buds open.
- Excess fertilizer, especially nitrogen. An excessive amount of minerals is more harmful than their lack; the peony can get sick.
- Incorrect watering. Excess moisture leads to gray rot. Dry soil is also harmful; the soil should be moderately moist.
Watering
Tree peonies should be watered deeply in the spring, before the plant blooms. After the inflorescences appear, it is better to water the shrubs in moderation, as the soil dries out. By August, when the plant has completely faded, watering should be stopped altogether so that the branches have time to ripen before winter frosts.
The shrub, in principle, like most ornamental plants, does not tolerate ice water coming directly from a well or central water supply. Therefore, many gardeners fill barrels in the morning, from which they water the peonies with warm water in the evening.
