Peony Miss America (Paeonia Miss America)
Content:
The Miss America peony is a very attractive flower that is very popular with gardeners. This culture serves as a real decoration of the garden, and therefore is actively used in landscape design. In order to achieve good results in its cultivation, it is necessary to provide the bushes with proper care.
Peony Miss America (Paeonia Miss America) - what is this variety
This is an American hybrid, which was bred by 2 breeders - Mann John R. and van Steen Julius J. The variety was obtained back in 1936. Despite the fact that the crop was bred in the United States, Holland represents it on the flower market, namely, the organization Greenworks.
The peony of this variety is highly decorative.
Brief description and characteristics
Peony America is a herbaceous crop that belongs to the class of milk-flowering plants. It is characterized by strong roots and sturdy stems, which have a weak tendency to branch.
The culture is a compact hemispherical bush. It is covered with dark green glossy leaves. Strong shoots do not need to be tied up, as they do not lean to the ground during flowering.
The plant has beautiful snow-white flowers. At the same time, at the beginning they are distinguished by a pale pink color. The buds are characterized by large size and folded petals. After full blooming, the peonies become snow-white and resemble large bowls with golden yellow stamens and green pistils.
According to the description, the Miss America peony is a medium-flowering perennial that reaches a maximum of 90 cm in height. Buds appear on this plant from May to June. Flowering is profuse and long lasting.
The plant fits well into landscape design
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Key benefits of culture include:
- excellent decorative properties;
- long flowering period;
- the possibility of using in landscape design;
- sophisticated aroma;
- resistance to severe frosts.
At the same time, peony America differs in some disadvantages. Bushes are capable of suffering from attacks of pests or diseases. In such a situation, it is impossible to do without the use of chemicals.
Use in landscape design
Paeonia of this cultivar is suitable for planting alone or in groups. The plant can be planted to create classic flower beds, or used to decorate flower beds and mixborders.
Plants of suitable shades should be used as additions. White inflorescences go well with scarlet and dark red tones, so peonies can be combined with carnations. To emphasize their freshness, you can use irises, bells, honeysuckle as companions. Also, flowers can be planted next to conifers.
Growing a flower: how to plant it in open ground
In order for the plant to develop normally, when carrying out planting work, it is necessary to adhere to certain recommendations.
Planting by root cuttings
The culture is most often propagated by root cuttings. They can be obtained by dividing the bush or buy ready-made planting material. In the second case, you should carefully study its quality. It is important that there are no traces of rot or mold on the root cuttings. Small roots should have a white tint.
Seat selection
For the cultivation of the Miss America peony, it is recommended to choose a sunny site. A slightly shaded area is also acceptable. With a lack of lighting, the buds will turn out to be too small. Full air circulation is also important. It helps to avoid the development of diseases.
Experienced gardeners plant peonies away from buildings. The heat that emanates from the walls has a negative effect on the state of culture. The optimum spacing should be 2 m.
Peonies bloom well in a sunny area
How to prepare the soil and flower for planting
This culture develops best in cultivated soil. Loam is perfect. Do not plant peonies in areas with high groundwater. It is recommended to mix clay and humus into sandy soil. When planting in clay soil, it is worth adding compost, sand and peat.
A soil with low pH parameters is excellent for this variety. If this figure is increased, growers advise adding a small amount of lime. Peat soil is not suitable for peonies.
In order for the plant to adapt well to new conditions, the deepening needs to be filled 2/3 with garden soil, peat, sand and humus. It is also worth adding 1 kg of wood ash and 300 g of superphosphate.
Planting procedure step by step
To plant a Miss America peony, you need to follow these steps:
- Dig a 60 cm hole.
- Loosen the bottom.
- Place a drain on the bottom.
- Fill the well with an earth and humus based compound.
- Cover with a small layer of earth.
- Plant a bush.
- Cover the hole with soil.
- Slightly compact the soil around the plant.
- Water the peony abundantly.
Seed planting
The seed method of reproduction of peonies is rarely used. Since the crop belongs to hybrid varieties, this method does not allow preserving the varietal characteristics of the plant. It is usually used by breeders to develop new crops.
Plant care
To succeed in growing a crop, it is worth following a number of recommendations. Peony care should be comprehensive.
Watering and feeding
The plant needs to be watered 1-2 times a week. It is recommended to do this with soft water. To moisten the soil under the bush, it is worth adding 2-3 buckets of water. It is important to avoid stagnant liquid to prevent root rot.
It is necessary to fertilize peonies several times during the season:
- in spring, after the snow melts, it is worth using urea with a small amount of potassium and phosphorus;
- during the formation of buds, a whole complex of macronutrients is introduced, and the amount of nitrogen is reduced, and the volume of potassium and phosphorus is increased;
- 2 weeks after the end of flowering, superphosphate is used.
The plant needs to be watered with soft water.
Mulching and loosening
In the spring after planting, the soil should definitely be covered with a mulch layer. For this, sawdust, straw, compost are used. It is also permissible to use inorganic agents.
Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to reduce the number of irrigations, reduce the number of weeds, and keep the soil loose. Winter mulch should be removed in spring, after which the soil around the bush should be loosened.
Preventive treatment
To prevent the development of diseases in the spring, peonies should be sprinkled with Bordeaux liquid. The substance helps protect against fungi. In order to prevent the development of diseases, it is recommended to cut off the entire aboveground part of the culture to the surface of the earth in autumn. Periodically, it is worth using insecticides that provide protection against pests.
Peony Blossom Miss America
Peonies of this variety are characterized by lush and abundant flowering. For it to last as long as possible, quality care is required.
A period of activity and rest
Flowering lasts from May to June. Even after the end of this period, which lasts 20 days, the bush retains its decorative properties. With the arrival of cold weather, a period of rest begins.
Care during and after flowering
When buds appear, the plant needs a whole range of macronutrients. In this case, it is recommended to reduce the amount of nitrogen, while the amount of potassium and phosphorus, on the contrary, is increased. Fertika or nitroammophoska is used for this purpose. Other flower preparations are also suitable.
If you care for peonies correctly, they will bloom profusely.
What to do if it does not bloom
The lack of flowering is the basis for correcting crop care. Most often this is due to the following factors:
- insufficient lighting;
- wrong watering regime;
- violation of the rules for fertilizing;
- neglect of pruning bushes.
Peonies after flowering
During this period, you should take care of the care of the bushes. A couple of weeks after the end of flowering, superphosphate must be added.
Transfer
Peonies can hardly transfer moving to a new place. They have a branched root system that can be easily damaged. Usually, the transplant is performed every 5 years for anti-aging purposes. It is recommended to combine it with dividing the bush.
Pruning
After flowering is complete, the buds should be cut off so that the plant does not expend energy on the formation of seeds. In late autumn, the bushes are cut to the ground.
Preparing for winter
In order for the peonies to winter well, bone meal and wood ash are added to the trunk circle. Top it up with garden soil. Covering flowers is not recommended.
Diseases, pests and ways to control them
To avoid the development of fungal infections, gray rot and rust, it is worth using fungicides. Removing old leaves and stems, as well as weeds, is important. Thick bushes must be ventilated.
The peony of this variety has excellent decorative properties. These plants are often used in landscaping because they blend well with other crops.
