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Peony Red Charm is a hybrid obtained in 1944 by American breeders. This large-flowered variety is still popular today due to its excellent appearance and delicate aroma. The use of the plant is universal – it is used in landscape design and in the design of bouquets. A photo and description of the Red Charm peony, as well as the conditions for its cultivation and methods for combating diseases and pests, will allow you to get to know the flower better.
Description of peony Red Charm
This variety is a perennial herbaceous plant with a powerful rhizome. Peony Red Charm has thick and strong stems with a height of 75 to 90 cm. The leaves are light green in color, depressed veins are clearly visible on them. The spreading of the stems is moderate.
The diameter of the Red Sharm peony bush can reach up to 2 m
The variety grows well, due to the density of the bush is able to obscure from the sun more undersized grasses and plants. The frost resistance of the culture is high, corresponding to the 5th zone (without shelter it can withstand frosts down to -29 ° C).
Given the early flowering, the Red Charm peony can be grown without problems in temperate climates up to 60 ° north latitude. Cultivation in colder regions depends on the timing of warm weather. For full flowering and seed formation, a peony needs about 2,5 months with a temperature above + 18 ° C.
The plant prefers sunny areas, although it can be grown in partial shade. The large size of Red Charm peony flowers requires the use of stem support.
Features of flowering
The plant belongs to large-flowered terry interspecific hybrids. The diameter of the flowers is from 20 to 22 cm. The color of the petals is raspberry or dark red, shiny. Flowering is long, begins in late May or early June, lasts about 1,5 months. Its intensity depends on the degree of illumination. The more the Red Charm peony stays in the Sun, the more buds are formed and the larger the flowers.
The number of large external sepals in a variety rarely exceeds two dozen
The pistils are slightly pubescent, their stigmas are yellow. Stamens elongated, dark green. The aroma of the plant is delicate, pleasant, without cloying.
Application in design
The variety is mainly used to decorate paths, sidewalks and arbors. In flowerbeds and mixborders, it is used to create beautiful compositions or dilute other colors. Any site where the Red Charm peony appears immediately begins to attract attention.
The main purpose of the variety in design is to create bright accents.
The use of a plant in flowerpots and in general in any container has some limitations: for normal growth and flowering, a peony needs a minimum soil depth of about 60 cm (excluding drainage), which places quite serious requirements on its volume.
The variety goes well with foxglove, geranium, poppy, iris.
Methods of reproduction
Like most ornamental crops, peony can be propagated in several ways:
- seeds;
- root cuttings;
- layering;
- division of the bush.
Of all the breeding options for the Red Sharm peony, dividing the bush is best suited. The effectiveness of other methods is much lower. Their main drawback is the too long time for the beginning of flowering of young plants (from 3 years by layering to 6-8 years with seed propagation). By dividing the bush, you can get flowering specimens in the next season.
The rhizome of a five-year-old peony needs to be divided
The process should begin at the end of summer, after the plant has formed seeds. Seed boxes must be cut off so that when transplanted to a new place, the peony can maximize its efforts on rooting.
There is nothing complicated in the division of the rhizome. The peony bush should be completely dug out of the ground and, using a knife or shovel, cut the large root into several small ones. Usually the rhizome is divided into two or three parts. Each of them is transplanted to a new place.
Rules of landing
The plant prefers partial shade, but can be planted on the sunny side. The best soils for cultivation are loamy or fertile heavy soils.
The planting of the peony lactiflora Red Sharm is carried out after the rhizome of the mother plant has been divided. This usually happens at the end of summer.
The landing order is as follows:
- dig a hole 60-70 cm deep and 60-80 cm in diameter;
- compost or humus is placed at the bottom of the pit;
- a layer of drainage is laid on top;
- drainage sprinkled with soil mixed with humus (proportion 1 to 1);
- a rhizome is installed on the top layer of soil so that it is 5 cm below ground level;
- the pit is filled up and lightly rammed;
- watering and mulching.
Aftercare
As such, Red Charm peony does not need special care. The most important thing is to maintain the required level of humidity. Excessive dryness of the soil leads to drying and wilting of the plant, too much water – to the appearance of fungal diseases. Watering in the heat is reduced to one per week. Under normal weather – once every 10-15 days.
Watering is convenient to carry out by making a small depression around the bush
It is recommended to either loosen the soil after each application of moisture, or mulch the bush with a layer of needles or straw at least 5 cm high.
Top dressing of the plant is performed three times per season:
- in early April, nitrogen fertilizers are used (urea or potassium nitrate from mineral or rotted manure, if organic is used) to stimulate the growth of the green part of plants;
- at the beginning of the flowering period (mid or end of May), phosphorus-potassium compounds are introduced, at this stage, the use of superphosphate (up to 50 g under one bush) would be ideal;
- at the end of autumn, “pre-winter” top dressing is used, which helps the plant survive the cold season, in general, it practically repeats the second one (phosphorus-potassium fertilizers), but the application rate is about half as much.
Since the plant has large flowers, tying the stems is an integral part of care. It is recommended to allocate a separate peg for each shoot. However, this design does not look aesthetically pleasing, so they use a circular garter of the entire bush with a rope or twine.
Preparation for winter
Peony Red Sharm is a frost-resistant crop and can winter in open ground without problems. In order for the plant to endure the cold season more easily, it is required to carry out simple preparatory measures, which come down to pruning and top dressing.
Pruning the Red Sharm peony is sanitary in nature and consists in removing dry and damaged shoots.
It is best to prune before the onset of cold weather – in the middle or end of October
Also remove the unflowered buds and inflorescences remaining after the summer.
Autumn top dressing should consist of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. In the case of poor soils, organic substances are used, on fertile soils – mineral substances.
It is recommended to use wood ash as organic matter. Of the mineral fertilizers used: the drug Kerima-Combi, superphosphate, potassium-phosphorus mixture.
Pests and diseases
Like most large-flowered terry hybrids, the Red Charm peony is vulnerable to many fungal and viral diseases. The former most often manifest themselves at excessive humidity and low temperatures. The most common fungal diseases of peony:
- powdery mildew;
- cladosporiosis;
- verticillosis.
Powdery mildew is one of the most common fungal diseases in the garden. Almost all plants are affected by it, and Red Sharm peonies are no exception. The most vulnerable of them are just large-flowered hybrids.
A white coating of powdery mildew spreads over peonies very quickly, in 1-2 days it covers the entire foliage of the plant
Another name for cladosporiosis is brown spotting. Most often, the manifestation of the disease is observed in early summer. In this case, leaf blades are covered with small brown spots, subsequently merging into one large one. Over time, they darken and become like burns.
The disease begins to spread with the appearance of spots on the tips of the leaves.
Verticillium wilt appears during flowering. For no apparent reason, damage to the leaves, buds and stems of plants begins. Subsequently, the culture may completely die. The most unpleasant thing about this disease is that the fungus can be in “hibernation” for a long time, appearing only a few years after planting.
Verticillium damage begins with peony buds
The considered fungal diseases (various types of rot and spotting) can be prevented by spraying the plants in early spring with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. If, according to the experience of previous years, gardeners are more likely to deal with powdery mildew, this chemical is replaced with sodium carbonate (0,5%). In both cases, spraying is repeated after 7-10 days. Also, the use of a 0,2% solution of Figon will be an effective tool.
Viral diseases that peonies are susceptible to are few. Most often, the plant is affected by tobacco rattle or mosaic (caused by ring and filtering viruses, respectively). Usually the defeat occurs in the middle of summer.
The symptomatology of any viral infection is a characteristic local yellowing of the foliage, which subsequently spreads to the entire plate.
In any case, there is no treatment plan for these diseases. Damaged leaves, shoots and flowers should be removed from the plant and destroyed (best to burn). There are no preventive measures against viral diseases, the only thing that can increase the immunity of Red Sharm peony is compliance with growing conditions and proper care.
First of all, aphids and bronzovka should be attributed to pests. Their influence is the most destructive. The aphid not only sucks the juices from the peony, but also attracts ants that bring fungal diseases.
Bronzovka is the most terrible enemy of the Red Charm peony, beetles destroy its flowers and leaves
If with many diseases the plant is able to exist throughout the season, then the invasion of bronzes can destroy the peony in just a matter of days.
Aphid control involves the use of insecticides or acaricides. Spraying the affected Red Sharm peonies with Akarin, Fitoverm and Entobacterin will be effective.
Aphids mainly affect the stems of the crop; they almost never occur on buds and leaves.
To save the Red Charm peony from bronze, you should use a set of measures:
- loosen the soil at the end of summer during the pupation of the beetle;
- collect bronzes manually;
- during budding, spray the bushes with an infusion of tomato leaves or insecticides.
Preventive tillage around the Red Sharm peony with a 1% formalin solution will also be effective.
Conclusion
Peony Red Charm is a beautiful plant with large flowers of a dark purple hue. In addition to excellent appearance, it has a delicate aroma. The plant is widely used in landscape design and in the design of bouquets. Peony variety Red Sharm tolerates cold weather and frosty winters well. The disadvantage of culture is its vulnerability to fungal and viral diseases. To reduce the risks, it is recommended to follow the rules of agrotechnics of the plant.
Peony reviews Red Charm
Below are owner reviews on growing Red Charm peony.
