This magnificent perennial flower owes its name to the ancient Greek healer Peon, a disciple of the god Aesculapius. According to myth, the student surpassed the teacher in healing, in revenge God poisoned him, but left to live in the world in the form of a beautiful flower. This is an ancient Greek legend, meanwhile, China is considered the birthplace of a peony. There he was considered the most exquisite of flowers and landed near palaces and temples.
There is even evidence that it was possible to buy this plant only for gold. And all because more medicinal qualities were valued for its healing properties: dozens of diseases cured peony. Its landing was allowed only for the nobility, and commoners did not have the right to cultivate this exquisite culture.
Peony has today about six thousand varieties. It is of two types - grassy and tree-like, with lignified stems. The second type is most common in China itself, the countries of the Mediterranean and North America. The most common among Russian flower growers is a grassy peony. Planting and breeding it is popular both in large floriculture farms and in summer cottages.
A variety of shades, luxurious large flowers, delicate aroma - everything attracts in it. In his homeland, China, the beauty of the peony was appreciated much later, and at first, Chinese medicine made extensive use of its rhizomes for the preparation of miraculous potions. Our pharmacists and traditional healers also appreciated the strength of this plant. Tincture
of peony root with propolis is recommended for the treatment and prevention of cancer, diabetes, gynecological problems, diseases of the kidneys and biliary tract. In addition, peony-based preparations are famous for their calming effect. It is known that this flower is able to raise tone and increase mood. It is enough to go to the bush and take a deep breath of the aroma that exudes peony. Planting of this decorative culture is carried out once for many years. If the place is chosen successfully, the peony will grow in one place until seven to ten years.
He loves well-drained soil, moderately dry and lit places. Where storm drains pass, there is no place for pion. Abundant watering is required for him only after transplantation, until he takes root.
The bush is beautiful even by itself thanks to the abundant carved foliage. But it sometimes has to be tied up when large heavy peonies bloom. Planting and care (photo on the left) consist in a good location and cleanliness of the area around the flowers, whether it be whole plantations or single bushes, which also looks very impressive.
Nevertheless, this flower has its vagaries. The most important of them is a certain depth of the hole for tubers. If you want your peony to bloom in a new place, the planting should be at such a depth that the buds are closed for one or two centimeters, no more. Otherwise, the root will go deeper, and flowering can never wait. And you need to replant the bushes if the flowering has become sparse or has stopped, or the flowers began to fade - it means it's time to renew the bush. Carefully dug the rhizome must be divided into several parts and put in pre-prepared holes. The optimal transplant time is late August-mid-October, when the ground part is cut off. But it is also possible to plant peonies in the spring in the ground. As already mentioned, the hole should be shallow, some gardeners even put crushed stone or flat stone at the bottom so that the roots do not rush down. Very long rhizomes can be trimmed, but you must very carefully touch the delicate sprouts - they are very brittle.