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In the view of most people, peony flowers should be large and double. Many of these varieties grow on the plots. But some gardeners choose varieties with a Japanese type of flower, one of them is the Nippon Beauty peony. Although it does not look quite familiar, it deserves no less attention from flower growers.
Description of peony Nippon Beauty
Herbaceous peony of the Nippon Beauty variety is a perennial with a strong rhizome. Forms a compact but vigorous shrub of dark red stems with dark green foliage. Plant height – 80-90 cm. The stems are strong, do not fall apart under the weight of flowers.
It does not need special care, it is cold-resistant, it can withstand quite severe frosts, so it can be planted in almost all regions of Our Country, except for the northernmost ones. Grows well in full sun or semi-shade. The soil prefers moderately dry, but saturated with nutrients. Does not like to grow in dense soil.
Features of flowering
The flowers of the peony lactiflora Nippon Beauty consist of large, dense petals, the tops of which are bent inward. Japanese-type flowers, 15-16 cm in diameter. Petals are evenly colored, in a rich purple-red color. In the center are yellow staminodes. The flowers of this variety have no aroma. They bloom late – in June-July, for a long time, plentifully. How the Nippon Beauty peony blooms can be seen in the photo.
The flowers of the Nippon Beauty variety are more delicate and light, with a dense core.
Application in design
Peonies can be beautiful in single plantings and in small mixed groups with other plants. They can be combined with low flowers that will not cover them with themselves. The timing of flowering should be chosen so that they begin to open before the peony, and pumped later. So you can extend the period during which the flower bed will remain decorative.
It is important to pay attention not only to how and when the plants will bloom, but also to the attractiveness of their leaves and stems: when flowering is over, they should still decorate the flower bed.
As for the color scheme of plants surrounding peonies, it can be varied. Nippon Beauty is quite bright, they will not be lost against the background of other colors.
In pots, peonies will be cramped, they will not be able to develop and bloom normally. If you want to decorate your house inside, you need to choose undersized varieties that were bred specifically for growing in pots.
Methods of reproduction
Although peonies sometimes form seeds, this propagation method is not suitable for varietal flowers. Such plants do not inherit the traits characteristic of the variety, and besides, growing them from seeds is long and laborious.
It is much easier to propagate Nippon Beauty peonies vegetatively – by cuttings or dividing the bush. If the latter method is chosen, then transplantation should be started at the end of August or in September. By this time, the vegetative processes occurring in the plant slow down, it tolerates the transplant normally. By dividing the bush, peonies can also be propagated in the spring, but you need to have time to do this before the stems begin to grow. Each delenka must have growth buds. The divided bush is transplanted immediately into the planting holes, which are prepared immediately before planting. It is possible not to replant the entire bush, but only dig a rhizome on one side, separate a piece of the root with buds, transplant it, and cover the cut with soil.
The method of propagation by cuttings is also suitable for this variety of peony. Cuttings 10 cm long are cut from the roots, then planted in a warm, fertile, moist substrate. Gradually, new young roots and growth buds form on them. When this happens, they are transplanted to a permanent place. Plants will bloom in about 3-5 years.
Green cuttings are cut from the bottom of the stems, capturing the root collar.
Young stems of peonies are first rooted, and then planted in a permanent place.
Rules of landing
The best time to plant Nippon Beauty peonies is early autumn. You can transplant in October, but not less than a month before the onset of a steady cooling. In the spring, you need to plant plants as early as possible, do not wait until it gets warmer, as they wake up early, and if you do not have time to transplant before the start of sap flow, peonies will not take root well.
Special attention should be paid to the quality of planting material. Only healthy, properly developed specimens take root and grow well. They should have strong, not dried out roots, stems and leaves without traces of disease or pest damage. The day before planting, the roots are soaked in a growth stimulant solution, this helps the seedlings take root faster.
A plot in the garden that is optimal for growing peonies should be on the sunny side or in partial shade, protected from strong winds. In completely shaded areas, they will not grow well, the stems will begin to stretch, the flowers will be small and few. They prefer loamy soils, they bloom earlier on sandy loams, but the flowers are less decorative. The acidity of the soil is neutral or slightly alkaline, acidic soils must be limed before planting.
For each bush, dig a hole 50-60 cm in diameter. A distance of 90-100 cm is left between them. First, a drainage layer is poured into the pits, then fertilizers (humus, compost and ash) are mixed with part of the excavated earth.
The process of planting a peony seedling looks like this:
- Distribute peony roots evenly.
- Lower it to the middle of the hole.
- Water when the water is absorbed, sprinkle with earth.
- Compact it a little at the roots.
- Cover with a thin layer of mulch.
Aftercare
In the first season after planting, the Nippon Beauty peony will not bloom, at this time it is growing vigorously and gaining green mass. If, nevertheless, the buds will form, then you need to cut them all off so as not to deplete the plant. It is not necessary to feed it in the first year, it is enough those batteries that came with fertilizers introduced into the planting hole.
Lush flowering begins only a few years after transplantation
Watering immediately after transplanting should be thorough until the bush is fully rooted. An adult plant is not watered often, as it has deeply penetrating roots that can extract moisture from the soil. But if there is a long or intense heat, you need to take care of additional moisture and adult peonies. To reduce the number of irrigations, it is desirable to mulch the soil surface with a layer of straw, hay, leaves, or lay agrofibre. If there is no mulch, the soil should be loosened after each watering.
Top dressing of adult Nippon Beauty bushes is carried out 3 times per season:
- Early in the spring (nitrogen fertilizers are applied, watered with slurry, saltpeter or urea).
- Before flowering (nitrogen, phosphorus and potash fertilizers).
- After flowering or at the end of summer (only fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium are used).
On poor soils, you can feed peonies again in the fall before preparing for winter.
Preparation for winter
After the first frost, Nippon Beauty pion bushes are pruned – all stems are removed under the root. They do not need to be covered, they tolerate the cold well, but if the winter is forecast to be frosty, shelter from mulch will not hurt. The next year, as soon as it gets warmer, it needs to be removed and replaced with a new layer.
Pests and diseases
The most common pests of peonies are ants, they climb on buds and blooming flowers and spoil them. If there are a lot of insects, they may not open up. You can drive away ants with the help of folk remedies – infusions of tansy, mint, cloves, mustard, anise, laurel, garlic or other herbs with a pungent odor that can scare away pests. If the infusions do not cope with their task, you will have to use synthetic insecticides.
The same applies to another pest of peonies – bronzes, who also like to visit flowering bushes. To combat them, it is necessary to use folk remedies and only then agrochemicals.
The variety is resistant to diseases, but in damp cool weather it can be affected by gray rot. Sick buds are to be destroyed.
With proper care, the bush blooms profusely and gets sick less.
Conclusion
The Nippon Beauty Peony does not belong to the widespread type with double flowers, but this does not make it less interesting. It can be combined with other varieties of culture, if you harmoniously choose shades. This variety, like all peonies, is durable, can grow in one place for decades.
Peony Reviews Nippon Beauty
