Content
Peony Diana Parks is a variety of stunning beauty with a long history. Like most varietal peonies, it is unpretentious and accessible to cultivation even for inexperienced gardeners. With a little effort, the garden will simply "glow" with bright red inflorescences with a heady sweet scent.
Description of peony Diana Parks
Russian gardeners have long appreciated the Diana Parks hybrid for its diversity and simple agricultural technology. Peonies of this species are moderately growing herbaceous perennials. A distinctive feature is the densely double inflorescences of scarlet color, reaching a diameter of 13-15 cm.
Peony Diana Parks was bred in the United States in 1942
The stem of the plant is dense, withstands any signs of bad weather (heavy rain, wind) and does not require the installation of supporting supports. The leaf plates of peonies are elongated, with a solid edge and a glossy light green surface. The height of the bush is 60-90 cm.
Like all peonies, "Diana Parks" can grow in the shade, however, in sunny areas it shows the best development. This hybrid is classified as an early variety. The first blossoming buds of a fiery scarlet color can be seen already at the end of May - in June.
Peonies "Diana Parks" are actively used by landscape designers. Red flowers are very harmonious both in a single solution and in group plantings. The variety is loved by florists who use scarlet peonies to compose voluminous flower arrangements.
The hybrid has good adaptive qualities and can adapt to the climate of the growing area. Peony frost resistance is high (up to -40 ° С). Diana Parks does not require shelter for the winter, as it hibernates well under the snow cover.
The region for growing peony is the European part of Russia, Transbaikalia. This variety can be found in Western and Eastern Siberia.
Flowering features
One of the most attractive features of the Diana Parks peony is its flowers. Spherical densely double inflorescences reach 14-15 cm in diameter. The shade of flowers is deep red with a delicate orange tint. Diana Parks petals glint in the sunlight.
The start date for flowering varies by region. In the southern regions, the peony begins to bloom on May 25-27, in the northern latitudes - from June 5. The flowering period is 15 to 20 days.
Peonies "Diana Parks" are good, both in the cut, and as a bright accent on the backyard. Flowers, in addition to their spectacular appearance, have a mild, rich, sweet aroma.
The variety is not afraid of low temperatures and grows well in arid places.
The following factors are responsible for the splendor of the peony inflorescences:
- planting depth;
- lighting in the selected area;
- properly organized feeding;
- plant age.
Timely pruning of faded buds is important, but watering is not decisive, since the hybrid is a drought-resistant species.
Application in design
Peony flowers have a rich hue and can become the dominant accord, both in the flower garden and in the flower bed. In a pair with them, it is better to choose quieter plants that play well the role of the background.
In the flower garden, organic partners for Diana Parks peonies will be:
- purple irises;
- asters;
- lilac phlox;
- small chrysanthemums of white or lavender hue.
When planting peonies on the site, you can accompany them with sun tansy, primrose, undersized hosts and conifers.
Scarlet flowers look great in a flower bed, on a long discount, multi-tiered flower garden and single plantings.
The variety is organic and in the form of single bushes
After the peonies have bloomed against the background of their bright light green foliage, late-flowering chrysanthemums, zinnias, daylilies, petunias, phloxes and lilies will look great.
Reproduction methods
Diana Parks peonies are propagated in two ways: vegetative and by seeds. The last method is applicable to wild plants. Cultivated species of peonies are most often propagated by dividing the rhizome.
To implement this method, a plant is selected with an age of at least 3-4 years with a well-developed bark system. The separation procedure itself is carried out from mid-August to the first decade of September. The peony rhizome is divided so that 2-3 healthy buds and roots at least 12-15 cm long remain on each "cut".
The uterine root is divided into "delenki" with healthy buds and roots
The finished part is disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate, after which it is "powdered" with crushed coal or wood ash.
Landing rules
Diana Parks peonies can be planted in autumn and spring. But most gardeners choose exactly the autumn period.
Diana Parks prefers well-lit areas where it exhibits both vigor and lush bloom. It grows well in partial shade.
The hybrid does not tolerate dense soil, giving preference to moderately moist loamy soil with low oxidation rates. A prerequisite is deep groundwater (1.5 m from the surface). Too clay soil is diluted with sand, 200 to 400 g of lime is added to the soil with a high acidity level.
In about 3-4 weeks, preparations for the disembarkation process begin. To begin with, a 60 × 60 × 60 planting hole is formed, after which it is filled by ⅔ with fertile soil, consisting of a mixture of garden soil, humus, sand and peat.
Superphosphate (250 g), wood ash (1 l) are added on top, after which they are covered with the rest of the soil. The bottom is pre-drained using crushed stone, broken slate or brick.
The procedure for planting "delenki" is simple. The root is placed in a hole and covered with earth, while the buds should be 4-5 cm below the soil level. Too deep deepening has a bad effect on the splendor of the flowering. The last step is watering and mulching.
The root is placed in a previously prepared hole and covered with soil
Follow-up care
The main care of the herbaceous peony Diana Parks is watering, feeding and mulching. The variety is classified as a drought-resistant variety, so it does not require frequent watering. It is enough that the soil is always moderately moist.
Watering is carried out under a bush. Average consumption is 2-3 buckets per plant. Before the irrigation procedure, the soil in the root area is loosened.
In the spring, mineral complexes are applied directly under the bush
In the first years of a peony's life, a foliar form of feeding is used. Spraying with the "Ideal" preparation is popular. As soon as the aerial part germinates, the bush is sprayed with a urea solution (50 g per 10 l of water).
If we talk about root types of fertilizers, then in the spring (in March) mineral complexes are scattered “over the snow” under the bush, which are absorbed into the soil along with the melted snow. In May, it is fertilized with a potassium-phosphate mixture and the same complex is used 2 weeks after the end of the flowering of the variety.
Preparing for winter
Since the variety is classified as a frost-resistant species, it does not require shelter in winter. A little mulching is enough in the northern regions.
Used as mulch:
- agrofiber;
- conifers;
- straw;
- peat;
- humus.
Pests and diseases
Despite its good immunity, Diana Parks peony sometimes infects viruses, more often - fungal diseases.
Peony diseases:
- Rust - one of the fungal diseases, manifested in the form of brown spots - pads with fungal spores. The affected leaves are removed, and as a preventive measure, spraying with 1% Bordeaux liquid is used.
- Gray rot - the most dangerous lesion affecting all parts of the plant: from leaves to flowers. It is a gray bloom or brown spots in the area of the root collar. All affected areas are removed, and the bush is watered with a 0.6% suspension of the Tiram preparation.
- Powdery mildew - a disease of adult plants. It is easily identified by its characteristic gray-white bloom. Method of struggle - treatment with 0.5% solution of soda ash or 0.2% solution of the drug "Figon".
- The most dangerous pests of the "Diana Parks" peony are ants that carry aphids. The latter devours the green mass, additionally drawing out all the juices from the plant. The best way to get rid of it is to treat flowers and leaves with Fitoverm or Aktellik.
- Bronze beetle dangerous for flowers, as it feeds mainly on petals. The insect is harvested by hand or the flowers are sprayed with infusion from the tops of tomatoes.
- Gall nematodes infect the roots of the bush. It is completely impossible to eliminate them, so the infected plant is destroyed.
Conclusion
Peony Diana Parks is a surprisingly bright, spectacular and beautiful variety that can become a real "star" of a personal plot or flower garden. It is easy to care for, so it is available for cultivation even by beginners.
Peony reviews Diana Parks
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