Peony Monsieur Jules Elie

A fairly large number of varieties of peonies are distinguished by the tenderness of the inflorescences due to the amazing shade of the petals. This feature is also characteristic of the variety of the specified plant, called Monsieur Jules Elie. As soon as you see her, you will like her and will surely become the true treasure of your flower garden.

History of origin

Monsieur Jules Elie is a French variety, bred in 1888 and therefore considered historic. Its author is the breeder Crousse Félix. In catalogs and other information sources, this culture is often listed under the name "Monsignor Jules Elie".

Description of the variety

This culture belongs to the group of lactic-flowered peonies and belongs to herbaceous perennials. Outwardly, it looks like a short, up to a meter, shrub with strong, erect or slightly branched stems and dark green, matte foliage of medium size. This is an early flowering plant. The inflorescences formed on it are large, with a diameter of 18-20 cm, double, bomb-shaped. They give the impression of huge fluffy balls, consisting of narrow petals with a silvery coating on the edges. The central part of the flower is crowned with a crown of petals bent inward. The lower petals of the inflorescence are rather wide, straight or slightly bent. But the flowers blooming on the plant are most attractive because of their light pink-lilac color. In addition, the buds of this peony are also very fragrant.

Bloom of Monsieur Jules Elie begins with the arrival of summer. It is characterized as long-lasting, abundant, lush. The variety has excellent winter hardiness: the plant is not adversely affected by a drop in air temperature to -40 ° C. Thus, when cultivating a decorative perennial in central Russia and, especially, in the southern regions, it does not need any shelter. Its resistance to pests and fungal diseases is average, as well as to rain. Fragrant flowers, as a rule, do not fade in the sun. Due to the fact that the shoots are strong and do not bend under the weight of the globular inflorescences, the ornamental bush does not need support.

Growing and care

The place for the French beauty Monsieur Jules Elie should be chosen sunny or in partial shade. It is better to refuse to place the culture in a shady corner of the garden, because otherwise you will not wait for the perennial to bloom. When planting a shrub where direct sunlight will fall on it for most of the day, take care of shading it during especially hot noon hours. Another point: since peonies love space, do not place the crop near large shrubs and trees. Also, avoid planting sites that are close to the soil surface of groundwater, so as not to provoke rotting of the root system.

The soil ideal for growing the variety should be fertile, light, with good water and air permeability, if possible - loam. Monsieur Jules Elie prefers neutral and completely intolerant of acidic soils. The plant is planted in a previously prepared hole about 60 cm deep, covered with a soil mixture of peat, sand, humus and garden soil, taken in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 1. Do not forget to add a little wood ash and about 200 grams of mineral fertilizer (preferably superphosphate) to the substrate used. Deepen the root system of the plant so that the buds are 4-5 cm below the surface of the soil.

The owner of chic inflorescences needs regular watering, carried out 1-2 times a week in a moderate mode. Cold and hard water should not be used for this procedure.Pour 1.5-2.5 buckets of settled liquid under one bush. Peony top dressing is periodic. They are necessary for a decorative perennial in spring (nitrogen fertilizers in the form of organic matter) and in summer, during the period when buds and, in fact, inflorescences appear on the culture (mineral complexes, especially rich in potassium, phosphorus and calcium).

Twice a month, the soil under the flower must be loosened. It is important to do this while the substrate is still damp after watering. Along the way, remove weeds from the roots that grow in the zone of the trunk circle. After the moistening procedure, in order to retain moisture in the soil for a long time, it is recommended to mulch the soil under the peony with dry grass, sawdust or compost.

In late autumn, the perennial shoots are cut shortly so that a low stump forms instead of a bush. It is covered with dry soil, compost or dry foliage. In the northern regions, the culture should be covered with spruce branches or special insulation, but not with plastic wrap, to avoid damping out.

Use cases

It will not be difficult for Monsieur Jules Elie to find a place in a garden, a flower garden or a front garden. Its pink flowers with a lilac sheen contrast remarkably with the bright background of the grass lawn and the dark green needles of evergreen plants - junipers, firs, thujas, fir, boxwood, pines. In mixed plantings, Monsieur Jules Elie is wonderfully combined with fragrant herbs and cereals with silvery leaves and lilac, blue, pink, white inflorescences. The plant can be placed near the gazebo, planted along the fence, in the foreground of the site, at the front entrance to the dwelling. Large peony flowers are suitable for cutting.