Why is the peony thin-leaved (narrow-leaved) in the Red Book: photo and description, where it grows

Thin-leaved peony is a surprisingly beautiful perennial. It attracts attention with its bright red flowers and decorative leaves. The plant is also known to gardeners under other names – narrow-leaved peony or raven. In England, he has another one – the fern peony, which the culture received for spectacular dissected leaves. Belongs to herbaceous perennials of the Peony family. It is designated in Latin as Paeonia tenuifolia.

A complete description of the thin-leaved peony

An interesting fact – the narrow-leaved flower was very popular in the 70s and 80s of the last century. Then it was eclipsed by new varieties, and now the attention of admirers of the classics is again returning to the thin-leaved peony. Thanks to the original appearance of the black cohosh and its characteristics, designers are again incorporating thin-leaved culture into projects for decorating sites.

The main parameters of the plant:

1. Herbaceous thin-leaved shrub 40-60 cm high. It reaches this size during the summer, then the aerial part dies off by the end of August. You can safely attribute it to primroses, because the first sprouts of the narrow-leaved peony make their way through the snow. Perennial, grows in one place up to 15 years. The shape of the bush is spherical and compact. With age, the crow becomes more magnificent and decorative.
2. Rhizomes are not long, medium in size with thickened edges. The root system of the crow is reminiscent of potato tubers – oblong cones on short legs.
3. Stem single-flowered, simple, glabrous. Height from 10 cm to 50 cm. Sometimes there are two-flowered stems.
4. The leaves are the pride of the peony. They are amazingly beautiful. Needle-shaped, openwork, dissected, look like thin threads. The color is rich, bright green. There are a lot of leaves on the bush. They create such an attractive green ball that the flowers against their background become bright drops. And the leaves resemble a delicate edge.

Among the characteristics of the species, it should be noted the unpretentiousness of the narrow-leaved peony and good frost resistance.

The photo below shows an amazing Voronet peony:

To grow a luxurious bush, you must adhere to the rules of agricultural technology

Where does the thin-leaved peony grow

In the wild, the species is found on the Balkan Peninsula, in the Crimea, the Caucasus, and southeastern Europe. Voronets prefers the steppe, the space between the bushes and on the steppe slopes. On the territory of Our Country, the thin-leaved peony can be found in the southern regions, Tambov, Belgorod, Voronezh regions. Most often it grows in the forest-steppe or forests.

How the narrow-leaved peony blooms

The flowers of the thin-leaved plant are large, bright red. There are dark purple or pinkish. Flower diameter is about 8-10 cm, consists of 5-8 petals. The aroma is delicate and pleasant. Flowers bloom at the same time, so the narrow-leaved raven becomes like one huge bouquet. Voronets flowering begins in May, lasts up to 10 days. Among the varieties of narrow-leaved peony, there are terry varieties that bloom for a longer period – about 14 days.

A feature of the flowering of the narrow-leaved peony is the ability to open the petals in the morning and close in the evening.

Why the thin-leaved peony is listed in the Red Book

There are several reasons why the perennial has become a rare and protected plant in many countries. The narrow-leaved peony is listed in the Red Book, and its populations are under close scrutiny by scientists. The reasons for the disappearance of a beautiful flower are:

1. Healing properties of angustifolia peony. Previously, it was widely distributed throughout the country. However, the constant extermination of plantings for the sake of obtaining medicines led to the fact that the fine-leaved peony was included in the Red Book of Our Country.
2. Plowing of the steppe or virgin lands, expansion of places for grazing. Another factor is the increase in haymaking areas.
3. Many lovers of the narrow-leaved flower dug it up in the wild and brought it to plant on their plots. They were also collected to decorate bouquets, not giving the plant time to ripen seeds.
4. Natural disasters – fires.

Currently, connoisseurs of the narrow-leaved peony are trying to revive plantings.

Hybrids and varieties of thin-leaved peonies

The popularity of the amazing flower, its beauty and unpretentiousness attracted the attention of breeders. They brought out a number of thin-leaved hybrids, which are especially appreciated by peony lovers:

1. Variety Rubra Plena. The bush is very compact, the height of an adult thin-leaved peony is not more than 50 cm. The flowers are scarlet, densely double, very bright. The diameter of each is about 10 cm, a thin-leaved variety blooms in May. Flowering is short, only 5-7 days. But, decorativeness retains until August, while openwork foliage is preserved.
   
   

   Despite the short flowering period, it is worth paying attention to this variety when drawing up the design of the site.

2. Hybrid Tiny Tim. The narrow-leaved peony is a completely different species, bred by US scientists. The petals of the flower are carved, of a rich red hue, the stamens are bright yellow, with a diameter of about 8 cm. The contrast of colors gives an amazing decorative effect to the plant. It tolerates rocky soil perfectly, therefore it is often used in the design of rock gardens.
   
   

   Tinny Tim wins on the contrast of color with stones and backfill

3. Peony Early Scout. The height of the bush is not more than 50 cm, the flowers are large, bright red, simple. The diameter of one reaches 12 cm. The lanceolate thin leaves are painted dark green. Lush narrow-leaved perennial looks large due to the even shape of the bush. Frost-resistant variety, winters without shelter even in the middle lane. A thin-leaved shrub blooms at the end of May. Received first place in 2002 at the US Plant Show.
   
   

   Early Scout will provide decorative flower beds all season until the beginning of autumn

4. Eaglet. The variety was bred by scientists during the Soviet era. It has a beautiful lush shape of the bush. The thin-leaved variety has slightly slanted stems and glossy green leaves. The size of an adult bush is about 60 cm. The flowers are red, simple, up to 10 cm in diameter.
   
   

   When planted in the sun, the shade of the flower brightens and becomes carmine.

5. Merry Mayshine. Hybrid thin-leaved variety with large flowers. The shade is bright ruby, diameter is up to 15 cm. The height of an adult bush is 60 cm, the stems are erect.
   
   

   An early flowering variety can be mixed in flower beds with other annuals

There are many other simple and double varieties of thin-leaved peony that are in demand by gardeners. For example, Memorial to Them, Kid, Little Rhyme, Chocolate Soldier, Big Ban, Rose Gorland, Toy Delight, Leddy, Smouthii, Herald.

Methods for propagating a thin-leaved peony

Gardeners can breed a valuable crop on their own. There are only two optimal ways:

• dividing the bush;
• seeds.

Both are productive, it is only important to correctly determine the time for the procedure and the place for planting the peony. Each option has its own subtleties, they also need to be considered:

1. Division of the bush. A method with minimal effort and time of the gardener. Performed in the spring. Delenka is called the adventitious roots of a thin-leaved perennial older than 5 years. For the transplantation of the black crow, 2 adventitious roots with 3-4 developed buds are sufficient. The size of the roots is 1,5 cm thick, 6-7 cm long. First, you will need to dig planting holes for new narrow-leaved plants at a distance of 60 cm from each other. Lay a layer of organic fertilizer and mix it with the soil. Carefully remove the thin-leaved bush from the soil, separate the parts for transplanting with your hands or with a pruner. This option has another plus – it allows you to rejuvenate the old bush. The kidneys must be left 5 cm above the soil surface.
   
   

   Landing delenki must be healthy and strong

2. Sowing seeds. This method is used less frequently. Germination of planting material is not very high, even when buying it in a store. The advantage of the method is a large number of new raven seedlings compared to dividing the bush. A full-fledged narrow-leaved peony bush will turn out in 4-5 years, seedlings will appear in 2 years. Seeds should be collected in the immature stage, when the box is still closed. In this case, germination will be better. Immediately put them in the refrigerator until planting. Sowing time is autumn (October-November) or winter. In winter it is more difficult and longer, patience is required. But the seedlings are stronger and healthier. The collected seeds of a thin-leaved plant can be sown in the garden immediately, only you need to first dig up and fertilize the soil. Seedlings rarely appear the next spring, usually a year later.
   
   

   To collect seeds, do not wait for the opening of the boxes

Another option is to grow seedlings. It will take time to land her. The collected seeds must be sown in clean sand. Take a flat container. Maintain the temperature during the day + 30 ° С, at night + 15 ° С. Moisten the soil regularly. When the first roots appear, transplant the peony seedlings into a box and lower the temperature to + 10 ° C. With the advent of the first leaves, again move them to heat. Crow seedlings can be planted in the second decade of August.

narrow-leaved peony in landscape design

The emergence of a large number of garden forms allowed gardeners to use the thin-leaved species when creating compositions. According to the recommendations of experts, the species goes well with perennial flax, cereals, eremurus, willow bushes, jasmine. Ideal for alpine slides. Also practiced is the simultaneous planting of varieties of narrow-leaved peonies with different flowering periods or in combination with milky-flowered forms. The bushes of the narrow-leaved peony of the raven are framed by garden paths, mixed in discounts or borders. The flowers are ideal for cutting and arranging bouquets.

The combination of red and green allows you to plant a crow even as a tapeworm

Rules for planting a thin-leaved peony

Black cohosh seedlings can be purchased at a garden center or grown from seed. Then they need to be planted correctly. You can also buy narrow-leaved peony delenki in stores. Planting material must be inspected so that there is no damage on it. The process of planting a peony is simple, but requires the fulfillment of all points:

1. Choice of location. It is necessary to take into account the short duration of flowering culture. Peony fine-leaved raven prefers partial shade or diffused light. He needs protection from winds and drafts, such as a corner between buildings. A place in a lowland is suitable, as the narrow-leaved peony loves moisture.
2. Soil preparation. The thin-leaved plant is undemanding to the composition of the soil. But, when planted in nutritious loam, the crow blooms longer and brighter. The acid reaction index should be neutral or slightly alkaline. The bed needs to be dug up, weeded, leveled.
3. In August or early September, dig planting holes for the crow. Depth 70 cm, diameter 60 cm. Lay a drainage layer of gravel or small stones 15 cm thick.
4. Pour a fertile layer 20 cm thick. Composition – humus (10 kg), wood ash (0,5 cups), potassium sulfate (50 g), superphosphate (100 g). Sprinkle with garden soil.
5. Deepen the narrow-leaved peony at a distance of 10 cm, sprinkle with soil, water, mulch with humus.

With the exact implementation of planting measures, seedlings will appear on time

Although the thin-leaved peony is a steppe plant, it will easily take root in the garden.

Care and cultivation of thin-leaved peonies

Culture among gardeners is considered unpretentious, but violations of agricultural technology can lead to problems.

The main activities that should not be neglected:

1. Watering. This is the most regular procedure that a moisture-loving narrow-leaved peony needs. In dry summers, it should be watered 3 times a week. Landmark – the top layer of soil. In order not to lead to moisture stagnation, water the thin-leaved peony only when the top layer dries.
2. Loosening and mulching. Peony needs light soil, saturated with air. Loosening is best done after wetting, very carefully and no deeper than 10 cm. Mulching reduces the need for thin-leaved plants in watering and prevents the growth of weeds.
3. Top dressing. If fertilizers were applied when laying the planting pit, then the first 2 years it is not required to feed the peony. In the 3rd year in the spring, you will need to add urea and ammonium nitrate (50 g each). In autumn – a mineral complex with phosphorus and potassium components (according to instructions).
   Important! An overdose of nitrogen fertilizers will lead to a decrease in the number of buds.
4. Transfer – Another point of care for the narrow-leaved peony. The procedure for rejuvenating the bush should be done in the fall. The plant must be over 5 years old.

In addition to these activities, it is important to monitor the possible appearance of pests or diseases.

Pests and diseases

Peony angustifolia can be affected by fungal infections. The main reason is overflow. Also at the beginning of the growing season, the plant is threatened by aphids, ants and caterpillars. Preventive treatments with folk formulations or insecticide solutions are necessary. The introduction of dolomite flour or ash, copper-containing compounds helps well.

It is important to treat the plant from pest attacks in a timely manner.

Medicinal properties of narrow-leaved peony

The healing characteristics of the crow were the reason for its rapid disappearance. Although the plant belongs to poisonous species, its benefits to the body are very high.

It contains vitamin C, tannins, healthy oils. For tinctures and lotions, leaves, buds and roots of a thin-leaved flower are used. The main therapeutic effects of peony are antispasmodic and analgesic. It is used in the manufacture of drugs for the treatment of:

• cold conditions;
• anemia;
• epilepsy;
• problems of the cardiopulmonary system;
• disorders in the functioning of the kidneys and lungs.

However, self-treatment is not welcome. You can use only pharmaceutical preparations and as directed by a doctor.

Steppe crow has healing qualities

Conclusion

Thin-leaved peony has a lot of positive qualities. Luxurious decorativeness will be a gardener’s reward for patience, and unpretentiousness will help grow a flower in any conditions.