Peony Armani

From time immemorial, the peony was considered a symbol of happiness and wealth. Over time, little has changed: these days, the popular Chinese teaching of feng shui gives the king of flowers similar characteristics. Due to the huge number of varieties, if you want to purchase a wonderful plant for your garden, you will certainly face the problem of choice. First of all, give preference to the Armani variety - one of the most attractive representatives of the culture.

Description

Herbaceous perennial Armani from the class of milk-flowered peonies is a rather tall plant (90-100 cm). Its stems can be erect or slightly branched. They are quite strong, elastic, thanks to which the bush keeps its shape well. The foliage of the culture is outwardly very decorative: openwork, fluffed, dark green in color, with a glossy sheen. It is noteworthy that both leaves and shoots are most attractive in the autumn, when they acquire a rich burgundy-red hue.

Large, double flowers of a proud handsome man look downright luxurious. The diameter of the bud in the phase of complete dissolution is from 16 to 20 cm. As it opens, the flower turns from ruby ​​to garnet-red. Every day, the shade of the inflorescences becomes deeper and darker. The size of the satin petals in different parts of it is not the same: at the base they are larger, closer to the center they become smaller. The inflorescence looks like a tousled, lush ball. The bush blooms profusely and for a long time, in the midst of summer.

Armani has a high frost resistance. Its shoots do not freeze when the temperature drops to -40 ° C. Peony flowers tolerate the summer heat well, without fading or baking in the sun. Short-term rains for them also do not pose any danger.

Growing and care

In order for the culture to develop normally and bloom magnificently, the right place should be chosen for it on the site. Our hero needs a lot of sunlight and open space - taking these requirements into account, and place the flower. A light partial shade is also acceptable, and in the period from noon to 15:00 it is even necessary for a noble plant. It is not recommended to grow a perennial in the shade, because in this case you will not get flowers from it.

The plant has a negative attitude to the stagnation of moisture in the soil, therefore, monitor the level of occurrence of groundwater at the planting site of the peony: the lower it is, the better. The soil for the ornamental bush is selected loose, nutritious, slightly acidic. If there is an opportunity to plant a plant in loamy soil, you don't need to wish for more. However, the Armani variety is also suitable for ordinary garden soil, to which it is necessary to add peat, sand and humus in equal parts. To reduce the acidity of the soil, lime is added to the substrate. Soil enrichment can be done by using ferrous sulfate and bone meal.

When planting, it is important not to deepen the root collar too much. High waist is also contraindicated for Armani. Both options prevent the plant from flowering in the future. It is necessary to leave a distance of at least 100 cm between the bushes. An elegant perennial should be watered 1-2 times a week and fed three times per season. Water to moisten the soil under the peony is used soft, slightly warm. In this case, the flow rate of liquid per bush should be equal to several buckets. Since spring, nitrogen fertilizer is applied to the soil, in the phase of the appearance of buds and during flowering - a mineral concentrate.

Preparing a plant for winter consists in pruning shoots at ground level and mulching the "hemp" formed as a result of this event with peat. The recommended size of the mulch layer is 5 cm. It is not worth covering the plant during the frost period.During the growing season, it is necessary to spray the shrub with a solution of a fungicide and an insecticide several times. This measure will help to avoid the appearance of diseases and insect pests on perennials.

Use cases

The Armani variety looks great, planted alone on a neatly trimmed lawn. It can be placed in the foreground of the site so that it attracts maximum attention. In group and mixed compositions, this plant also looks quite advantageous. The culture is combined with annuals and perennials, including peonies of other varieties with snow-white, coral buds and pastel-colored inflorescences. Ideal companions for Armani are irises, clematis, lilies, bells, honeysuckle, sage, white decorative onion, hellebore, barberry. The variety is suitable for the design of rock gardens, rockeries, front gardens, pionariums, parks, landscapes. The flower looks wonderful in mixborders, near the gazebo and along the edges of garden paths. Its combinations are harmonious with evergreens: thuja, juniper, fir, boxwood, dwarf pines. If your choice falls on tall trees, ornamental flowering bushes with pomegranate inflorescences should be planted in front of the conifers.

The variety is also used in cut. Placed in a vase of water, the chic buds on strong stalks retain their shape and freshness for 1.5 to 2 weeks.