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Peony Buckeye Bell, bred back in the 1950s, has become quite famous in Our Country in recent years. It is valued by gardeners for its lush, beautiful flowers of bright red, pink, and rarely yellow. The variety has a high resistance to winter frosts, which allows it to be grown even in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East.
Peony description Buckeye Belle
Peony Buckeye Bell – a hybrid variety bred in the USA in 1956. It is distinguished by exceptionally beautiful, lush flowers of bright red color. The bush turns out to be small, the height of the peduncles is about 80 cm. At the same time, all the shoots are straight and strong – the plant does not need to install supporting supports. The leaves are dissected, grassy-green in color, with a smooth surface, rather large.
In width, it does not grow, remaining compact throughout life. Due to the abundance of graceful leaves, red flowers contrast well against the general green background. It belongs to light-loving plants, but it also feels good in the presence of a small shade for 2-3 hours a day.
In terms of winter hardiness, Buckeye Bell belongs to zones 3 and 4. The bush withstands severe frosts down to -39 degrees. This allows you to grow it in Our Country almost everywhere:
- in the European part;
- in the Urals;
- in Southern Siberia;
- in the Far East.
Features of flowering
Peony Buckeye Bell gives rather large semi-double and double flowers with a diameter of 16-18 cm. The main color is red, there are also white and pink, less often yellow. Large yellow stamens form in the center, which, as it were, illuminate the center and make it even more attractive. Flowering begins in mid-June, lasts for 2-3 weeks. Peony is herbaceous because its shoots do not become woody.
In order for the herbaceous peony Buckeye Bell to regularly give lush flowers, experienced flower growers recommend following simple care rules:
- Plant in an open area with light shade.
- Follow the planting technology (it is very important to leave the buds above the ground – otherwise Buckeye Bell will not bloom).
- It is desirable to grow on fertile and light soil.
- Water moderately, keeping a constant level of moisture in the soil.
- Cover young seedlings for the winter (especially in the regions of the Urals, Siberia and the Far East).
Application in design
With luxurious bright flowers and a graceful, compact bush, Buckeye Bell peonies look good in single and group plantings of their kind. They are placed on lawns, lawns, on hills.
In garden design, peony goes well with various flowers and perennial herbaceous plants:
- juniper;
- dwarf spruce;
- honeysuckle;
- astilba;
- daisy;
- tulip;
- delphinium;
- chrysanthemum;
- daylily yellow;
- poppies
Peony Buckeye Bell looks good in:
- rock gardens;
- slaves;
- mixborders.
It is also appropriate to plant a peony near the house or from the gazebo, on the shore of a small pond. It looks great in the very center of the flower garden – bright red flowers attract attention and will become a real hallmark of the garden.
The bush needs open spaces and stable lighting. Therefore, this peony is usually not grown on balconies and loggias. It is also not recommended to plant Buckeye Bell next to buttercups, shrubs and trees that give a constant shade. In this case, the peony will not be able to bloom.
Methods of reproduction
This peony variety can only be propagated vegetatively:
- division of the bush;
- using kidney renewal;
- cuttings (root and stem).
According to the recommendations and reviews of flower growers, the Buckeye Belle peony is easiest to breed with cuttings. For this, stem cuttings are harvested from an adult plant (age from 4-5 years) in early summer. They are cut from the middle part of the shoot so that 2-3 internodes remain. The further sequence of actions is as follows:
- Cut from above 2 cm above the last sheet.
- Make a lower cut under the leaf cushion (the place where the leaf flows into the stem).
- Keep the cutting in the stimulant solution for several hours.
- They acquire soil or make up a mixture of equal amounts of soddy land and humus – they are laid in a pre-prepared pit (in open ground).
- 5-7 cm of moistened sand are poured on top and the cuttings are rooted at an angle of 45 degrees.
- Then covered with a film to create greenhouse conditions.
- Water abundantly for a month, and then begin to open the film for ventilation.
- At the end of summer, the greenhouse is removed and continues to be watered.
- A few weeks before the onset of frost, the Buckeye Bell peony cuttings are covered with a layer of needles, peat, hay or straw.
Rules of landing
Like many other peonies, Buckeye Bell is most often planted in early autumn, approximately 3-4 weeks before the first frost. When choosing a place, pay attention to several points:
- the site is open, possibly with a slight shadow;
- the place is protected from drafts;
- a hill is preferable, since meltwater and precipitation accumulate in the lowland.
The composition of the soil mixture can be prepared independently based on the following components:
- compost – 2 parts;
- garden soil – 1 part;
- superphosphate – 200 g;
- potassium sulfate – 60 g.
Buckeye Bell peony seedlings are purchased at a trusted store. They must be inspected for damage, and then landed in a permanent place:
- The site is cleaned and dug up on a shovel bayonet.
- A hole is formed with a depth and a diameter of 60 cm.
- Drain it with expanded clay or other small stones.
- Fall asleep a layer of soil.
- Peonies are rooted so that the buds remain 3-5 cm above the ground.
- Sprinkle with earth and water with 1-2 buckets of water.
Aftercare
Caring for a Buckeye Bell peony is quite simple. He needs moderate heat, watering, moderate lighting and fertilizer. Water regularly, but not too often. To keep the soil moderately moist, the roots can be mulched with hay, needles, sawdust, or peat. Usually, 1-1 buckets of water are given for 2 young bush, a little more for an adult. But don’t overfill either.
Be sure to feed 2 times – at the beginning of the season (nitrogen fertilizer) and in the bud formation phase (potassium and superphosphates). The full application cycle looks like this:
- In March or April, after the snow melts, it is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate – 4 g per 10 liters of water (this amount is enough for 2 Buckeye Bell peony bushes).
- In April, nitrogen fertilization is introduced – for example, ammonium nitrate.
- A month later, complex fertilizer is added.
- At the stage of bud formation, they are again fed with saltpeter, as well as potassium sulfate and superphosphate.
- In early August, the last top dressing is made – this is potassium sulfate and superphosphate. It is no longer possible to give nitrogen during this period.
Preparation for winter
Peony pruning is mandatory, as this allows you to remove diseased shoots (if any) and remove all leaves on which pests could settle. The haircut can be carried out completely, leaving stumps no more than 5 cm high.
Then young seedlings are covered for the winter with mulch from hay, straw and other materials at hand. In the south, shelter is optional. The last top dressing is applied at the end of August – in the fall it is not required to fertilize the Buckeye Bell peony. However, a few weeks before frost, you need to water abundantly, giving 2-3 buckets of water.
Pests and diseases
Like other peonies, Buckeye Bell can sometimes be affected by infectious diseases caused by fungi or viruses:
- gray rot;
- septoria;
- cladosporiosis;
- rust;
- mosaic leaf disease.
Pests can also settle on the leaves:
- aphid;
- ants;
- thrips;
- nematodes.
If the lesion is small, you can simply remove the leaves, and collect the pests by hand or rinse with water pressure. However, this does not always help, so you have to use special tools – fungicides:
- Bordeaux liquid;
- “Toksin-M”;
- “Zineb”;
- Topaz.
Insecticides are also used for treatment:
- “Decis”;
- “Ultor”;
- “Agravertin”;
- “Tanrek”;
- “Storm”.
Preventive treatment is desirable to carry out in April. Subsequently, the Buckeye Bell peony is sprayed as needed. Spraying is best done in dry, calm weather in the evening.
Conclusion
You can grow a Buckeye Bell peony in most regions of Our Country. This is an unpretentious variety that feels good even with minimal care. The main requirement is to ensure regular watering, fertilizing and loosening the soil. If you follow these rules, the first flowers can be obtained within 2 years after planting.