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Peony Joker is one of the best hybrid specimens. It was bred in 2004 by breeders from the USA. The extraordinary beauty of delicate petals, subtle exquisite aroma and unique coloring of the chameleon made this variety a favorite all over the world.
The Joker has an exquisite fragrance that spreads throughout the garden
Description of peony Joker
Peony rightfully bears the title of the king of flowers. Its lush buds, woven from a mass of delicate fragrant petals, are a serious competitor to many garden plants. Incredibly beautiful bushes with a noble pedigree can outshine even roses. In ancient China, only noble nobles grew them, and the Greeks actively used the healing properties of flowers.
The Latin name of the flower comes from the name of the ancient Greek physician Pean, who healed the Olympic gods. Since ancient times, peonies have had a special status among garden plants, and today their varietal diversity makes the heart skip a beat with delight. Peony Joker appeared on flower beds relatively recently.
The bushes of this variety are compact, neat, slightly elongated upwards, they are characterized by rapid growth. The maximum height of the stems is 75-80 cm. They have openwork pinnately divided leaves of an unusual brown-green hue. An adult Joker peony is not too sprawling, so it does not need additional support. However, with strong gusts of wind, it makes sense to tie the stems to pegs.
The Joker belongs to the frost-resistant varieties, but many gardeners still prefer to build a shelter for the bushes from spruce branches. This variety can be grown in almost any region, except for areas with too high levels of humidity.
Features of flowering
The flowers of the herbaceous Joker peony deserve special attention. Their uniqueness lies in the pink form of inflorescences, the flowers themselves are terry bomb-shaped. About 5 buds are usually formed on one stem. They bloom in the last days of June, and the real magic begins.
The color of the chameleon is revealed gradually: at first, all the petals have a rich pink hue, then the middle begins to slowly lighten, and a clear pink border goes along the edge of the petals.
The flowering period of the Joker peony takes 20 days, while it not only does not lose its decorative effect, but also reveals new facets of beauty
The variety belongs to the early-middle group and is distinguished by rather large flowers (diameter from 10 to 20 cm). The splendor of flowering of the Joker peony depends on proper care, balanced top dressing and the condition of the roots (plants should not be transplanted in the spring so as not to injure the delicate roots).
Application in design
Joker peonies are natural-born soloists in the flowerbeds. These flowers always attract attention anywhere in the garden. Also peonies of the Joker variety are planted in groups. You can choose two varieties of plants that will complement each other in color or flowering time. Joker peonies are used to decorate round or tiered flower beds, oblong flower beds.
Do not plant these plants near water, as they do not tolerate excess moisture in the air and soil.
The best neighbors for the Joker will be tulips, lilies, petunias, phloxes, chrysanthemums, asters, silver iris and nasturtium
It is not recommended to combine peonies with plants that quickly deplete the soil or create a dense shade.
Methods of reproduction
You can breed the Joker peony in several ways:
- By dividing the roots. The best time is the end of summer, when the temperature of the soil and air drops significantly. It is necessary to select only those Joker peony bushes that grow on the site for about 3-4 years. Their stems are completely cut off, and a layer of earth is carefully removed near the bush. After that, the roots are carefully removed, cut off (leaving about 10-12 cm), washed from soil particles, if necessary, cleaned from rot. Next, the Joker peony delenki are dried and placed in nutritious garden soil.
Most often, peonies are propagated by dividing the roots.
- Root cuttings. This procedure is carried out in the spring. A healthy Joker peony bush is dug up on one side and the adventitious roots are cut off from it. Roots with a minimum thickness of 1 cm are suitable for further growth. They are cut into separate fragments 5 cm long and planted in the soil, deepening 3 cm into the substrate without fertilizers. During the summer, plantings are watered abundantly. New kidneys will appear in 3-4 years. This method is only suitable for some hybrids.
- Seeds. Success will depend on the quality of the planting material. Even under all growing conditions, young peonies of the Joker variety do not always have the necessary varietal qualities.
Rules of landing
For the Joker peony, it is necessary to choose a bright area, which, at the same time, will be protected from the scorching midday rays of the sun. The soil is cleared of weeds and dug up. Joker peonies grow best on loose loam, which has a neutral alkaline reaction. If there is too much clay in the substrate, humus or peat is added to it, sandy soils are supplemented with clay or the same peat. Excess peat is smoothed out by adding ash or organic matter. The most optimal time is the period from mid-August to the end of September.
The Joker peony planting scheme is extremely simple:
- A hole is dug on the site, the bottom of which is filled with high-quality drainage (crushed brick or rubble).
- It is followed by a layer of compost and humus with other fertilizers (wood ash + lime + superphosphate + potassium sulfate). On top again comes a pillow of compost. Now you need to wait 7 days for all layers to settle and compact naturally.
- In the center of the pit, a mound is made of earth, on which the rhizome of the Joker peony is placed. The roots are carefully straightened, pointing down, and sprinkled with earth. It is important to ensure that the buds of the bush are at a depth of 3 to 5 cm. Larger or smaller indicators will not allow the plant to bloom in the future.
- After planting, the soil is compacted and watered well.
Aftercare
Joker peonies are among the perennials that are able to grow and bloom for a long time in one place.
The key to success will be the observance of the main rules of care:
- Watering. It should be infrequent, but plentiful. The frequency can be determined by the rate of drying of the earth: it should not be dry or too wet. About 2-3 buckets of water go to one adult peony bush Joker. But it all depends on the weather and the period of development of the plant itself. Joker peonies experience the greatest need for moisture at the very beginning of spring, during the period of active growth, at the stage of bud formation and during flowering. A stream of water should be poured purposefully under the root, avoiding drops on the leaf blades.
Plants at first need especially plentiful watering.
- Feeding. The first time fertilizers are applied in early spring with potassium permanganate. As soon as shoots begin to grow, ammonium nitrate is used. From mid-May, Joker peonies are fed every month with mineral complexes (leaves are treated with a ready-made solution). Do this after sunset to prevent burns.
- Loosening and mulching. It is carried out after each watering, so that moisture is retained in the soil longer, and there is no dense crust on its surface. It is also important to get rid of weeds in time, which will take away nutrients and water from the Joker.
Preparation for winter
Variety Joker tolerates low temperatures well. In regions with mild winters, shelter is not needed at all. If the temperature drops significantly, coniferous branches can be used as a covering material. Young Joker peony bushes under the age of 3 years need mandatory protection from the cold. The stems covered with the first frosts are cut off, and the roots are slightly spudded with earth.
Pests and diseases
Most of all, it is worth fearing diseases of a fungal nature. These include rust, powdery mildew, gray rot. To avoid problems, you need to be careful about watering, avoiding moisture stagnation. Among the infectious diseases of the Joker peony, mosaic and verticillium wilt are especially worth highlighting. They contribute to the death of the plant.
Peonies are often affected by rust and powdery mildew, inaction can lead to the death of the plant.
Conclusion
Peony Joker is one of the most beautiful herbaceous hybrids. Its delicate chameleon-colored pink petals will always amaze and delight gardeners. The plant is unpretentious and does not require complex care. In gratitude for the care, the peony will reward its owners with abundant and long flowering. A bouquet of such majestic flowers will be a luxurious gift for a wedding or anniversary. They can also decorate a banquet hall or a summer gazebo.
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