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Peony Moon Over Barrington is a beautiful plant with an unusual name, which translates as “moon over Barrington”. Its origins are in the state of Illinois, where the variety was bred and first bloomed in 1986 in the nursery of originator Roy Clem.
A distinctive feature of peonies bred in the US Midwest are large white buds.
Peony Description Moon Over Barrington
The variety of American selection is quite rare and belongs to the “Collector” series. It is considered the largest among milk-flowered peonies. The stable stem of the herbaceous perennial grows in size every year and can reach 1,5 m.
The shrub grows compactly. The growth of shoots in length occurs quickly, in 40-45 days. The stems are covered with glossy dark green foliage. The large leaves of the Moon Over Barrington peony have a dissected shape with incisions reaching the midrib.
The heat-loving variety grows in places with a moderately warm climate, in the subtropics of Eurasia and North America. Peony Moon Over Barrington prefers well-lit and sun-warmed areas. In shady conditions, the bushes are strongly drawn out and bloom poorly.
The plant is characterized by relative frost resistance. For the winter, only new plantings should be covered. They are sprinkled with peat with a layer of 10-12 cm.
Under the weight of large buds, the stems often lie on the ground. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to install supporting supports. It can be either an ordinary stick or a more complex structure in the form of a lattice or ring-shaped fence. Additional props will also protect peony flower plantings from strong winds.
Features of flowering
The main advantage of the terry rose variety Moon Over Barrington are large white buds that reach a diameter of 20 cm and have a moderately spicy aroma. The flowers resemble a rose in shape and consist of many compactly collected, wide petals. When opened, they acquire a pink, creamy hue. Pistils and stamens are practically invisible, pollen is sterile. Double flowers do not form seeds.
The large-flowered herbaceous peony of the Moon Over Barrington variety is characterized by a mid-late flowering period, which falls on June 24-29 and lasts 15-18 days. Terry buds are very well suited for the formation of bouquets.
Moon Over Barrington flowers are beautifully shaped and stand in water for a long time.
Timely removal of crumbling buds will create conditions for abundant flowering from season to season. Do not leave the petals under the bushes, so as not to provoke the emergence and spread of infection.
In order for the Moon Over Barrington peony to please flowers of maximum size, it is recommended to remove the side buds
Application in design
Peonies Moon Over Barrington are beautiful in both single and mixed plantings. They can be used for decorative design of the site, placed in groups among the lawn.
Flowerbeds with terry buds will become a bright accent of any site
You can not plant peonies under the crowns of trees, as well as next to lilacs, hydrangeas and other bushes characterized by a powerful root system. In the struggle for water and nutrients, the Moon Over Barrington variety will give way to stronger competitors. Beautiful fragrant peonies do not tolerate crowding, so they are not recommended to be planted in flowerpots, on a balcony or loggia.
It is best to arrange peony plantings in open space in the form of flower beds or along paths among similar varieties.
Flowers planted in a flower bed must have the same requirements for growing conditions. The color scheme of plants can be varied. In summer, pelargoniums, lilies and petunias will look beautiful with Moon Over Barrington peonies. In autumn, a combination with dahlias, asters and chrysanthemums is appropriate. During flowering, peonies will stand out from other plants, and then become a green background for them.
Methods of reproduction
The Moon Over Barrington variety is propagated in several ways:
- The division of the bushes is carried out in late summer or early autumn. At this time, peonies are at rest. The growth of the aerial part stops, the renewal buds are already formed. The bush must be dug up from all sides and completely pulled out of the ground, after cutting the stems at a height of 20 cm. The root is shaken off the soil and divided into several parts with 2-5 buds each. Sections should be covered with ash or crushed coal.
Reproduction of peonies by dividing the bush is the most effective
- Propagation by root cuttings is quite long. A part of the root about 10 cm long is buried in a pre-selected place, on which buds and roots will appear over time. The first flowering will come only 3-5 years after planting the cuttings.
- Peony Moon Over Barrington can also be propagated from green cuttings. To do this, separate the stem with part of the root collar. In order not to weaken the mother bush, you should not cut too many cuttings from one plant.
The variety does not form seeds, therefore it is not propagated in this way.
Rules of landing
Considerable attention should be paid to the quality of planting material. The optimal size of the division is 20 cm. Each should have 2-3 buds. You can not plant cuttings with damaged rotten areas. Selected rhizomes are soaked for an hour in a solution of potassium permanganate or a special preparation “Maxim”. After drying, the places of cuts are sprinkled with wood ash.
Planting peonies is carried out in the fall a month before the onset of cold weather, so that they have time to take root. Before spring, it is necessary to dig planting pits 60 * 60 * 60 cm in size. During this time, the nutrient layer of soil at the bottom will shrink seasonally, which will further protect the buds of seedlings from being pulled into the ground to a depth below the permissible level. This is the most important condition for the normal flowering of Moon Over Barrington peonies in the spring.
To prepare the plants for winter, before planting, the bottom is filled 2/3 with a nutrient composition consisting of the following components:
- compost;
- priming;
- peat;
- rotted cow or horse manure.
Delenki are placed in pits and covered with soil, in which ash, superphosphate or bone meal are added to maintain a favorable alkaline or neutral acidity.
Planting pits for peonies should be spacious and well fertilized.
It is necessary to ensure that the kidneys are 2-3 cm below the soil level. The cuttings are covered with soil, compacted well and watered abundantly. If, over time, subsidence of the earth is observed, it should be poured so that the buds are not visible.
Aftercare
For the first couple of years, Moon Over Barrington peonies do not need to be fertilized. They will have enough of those nutrients that were introduced into the planting pits at the time of planting. Plant care at this time should consist of timely watering, weeding and loosening the soil.
It is especially important to maintain the optimal level of soil moisture in early spring, during the period of growth and active flowering, as well as in late summer, when the Moon Over Barrington peonies are laying new buds. Watering should be carried out regularly, once a week, spending 1-25 liters of water on each adult bush. It is better to use a watering can. In dry weather, watering should be daily. It is not recommended to use sprinklers, since water, when it hits peonies, makes the buds heavier, they get wet and tend to the ground. Spots can appear on them and fungal diseases develop.
After watering or rain, weeds are removed and the soil is loosened, this will create an oxygen-enriched mulch layer around the flowers. Care must be taken not to damage the roots of the Moon Over Barrington peonies. The depth of the grooves should not exceed 7 cm, and the distance from the bush – 20 cm.
When the peony reaches the age of 2 years, regular feeding begins. In autumn or early spring, each bush is sprinkled with a bucket of compost. During the period of flowering and bud formation, the soil is fertilized with a composition prepared from 10 liters of water and the following components:
- 7,5 g of ammonium nitrate;
- 10 g superphosphate;
- 5 g of potassium salt.
Preparation for winter
Before the onset of cold weather, damaged stems are cut from the bushes, dry leaves are collected and burned to prevent the spread of pests and viruses. The remaining stems on the bushes are sprinkled with ash.
2 weeks after flowering, peonies should be fed. Fertilization in the fall is necessary as the development of the root system continues. During this period, gardeners prefer complex compositions, including phosphorus and potassium.
In late autumn, a complete pruning of the stems is carried out, leaving several leaves on each. If the cut is made too close to the root, this will adversely affect the formation of future buds.
Peonies Moon Over Barrington are not afraid of winter cold. Young bushes can be covered with spruce branches, spruce branches or dry foliage.
Pests and diseases
The most common peony diseases:
- Gray mold (botrytis) affects plants during the growth period. The stem at the base of the Moon Over Barrington peonies is covered with a gray coating, darkens and breaks. Gardeners call this phenomenon “black leg”.
The disease is activated in cold, damp spring conditions.
- Rust. On the reverse side of the leaves, yellow pads with spores appear. On the front surface, gray spots and tubercles with a purple tint are formed.
A dangerous fungal disease affects peonies after flowering
- Ring mosaic. Manifested in the formation of yellow-green stripes and rings on the leaves between the veins.
When cutting flowers with one knife without treatment, the mosaic virus is transferred from healthy bushes to diseased ones.
- Cladosporiosis (brown spot). When damaged, the leaves appear
Leaves covered with brown spots take on a burnt appearance
Moon Over Barrington peonies are also susceptible to powdery mildew. Fungal disease covers the foliage with a white coating.
Powdery mildew appears only on adult peonies
There are not so many pests in peonies. These include:
- Ants. These insects love the sweet syrup and nectar filled with Moon Over Barrington buds. They gnaw on the petals and sepals, preventing the flowers from blooming.
Ants can infect Moon Over Barrington peony with fungal diseases
- aphid. Large colonies of small insects weaken the plants, sucking all the juices out of them.
Sweet nectar released when the buds ripen attracts pests
- Nematodes. As a result of damage by dangerous worms, the roots of peonies are covered with knotty swellings, and the leaves with yellow spots.
Frequent spraying promotes the spread of leaf nematodes
Timely treatment of pions with protective preparations will prevent their death.
Conclusion
Peony Moon Over Barrington is a collection variety, characterized by large double buds of white color. During the flowering period, a plant planted in the form of flower beds or along paths will decorate any garden plot. And cut buds are great for making festive bouquets. Unpretentiousness in care makes this variety even more attractive to gardeners.
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