Magnificent peonies: types, varieties and photo gallery of beautiful flowers. Tree peony: the best varieties, rules of care and cultivation Peony flower description for children

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The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

We have long been accustomed to the fact that almost every garden is replete with flowers, which not only bring rainbow colors to the world around us, but also pamper us with their fragrance. What kind of flowers are these? And this peonies, which are not only beautiful, but also useful, since they have a wide spectrum of action. It is thanks to its medicinal properties that this plant has found application in medicine, both traditional and folk. The types, properties and uses of peony will be discussed further.

Description of the peony plant

What does it look like?

Peony belongs to the class of perennial plants and can be herbaceous, semi-shrub or shrub. This plant may have several stems, the height of which rarely exceeds 1 m.

Peony has a large rhizome with powerful, thickened, cone-shaped roots.

The leaves of the peony are arranged in a regular order (they can be pinnately divided or trifoliate). The color of peony leaves varies from dark green to dark purple (rare specimens with a bluish color are found). In autumn, the leaves turn yellow, brown and even reddish.

Single peony flowers reach 15–25 cm in diameter.

The peony fruit is a complex, star-shaped, multi-leafed plant. The rather large seeds of the plant are black and have a round or oval shape.

Peony is famous and loved by many gardeners for its beautiful lush flowers, which are blue, white, yellow, red (it all depends on the type of peony). Most peony flowers are single and apical (in other words, most plant stems end in one beautiful flower). Although there are varieties of peony on the stems of which not only central but also side buds are formed (there can be from 5 to 7 such buds), the side flowers bloom only after the central flower has faded. It is the side buds, which are smaller in size compared to the central ones, that ensure long-term flowering of the peony bush.

Interesting fact! In one season, the peony changes its color three times: for example, in the spring the leaves of the plant acquire a purple-red tint, while in the summer they become dark green, and in the fall the peony “dresses” in purple, crimson or yellow-green foliage.

It should also be said that peony is a drought- and frost-resistant plant that quickly recovers even after quite severe damage, and all thanks to the fact that this plant has a large number of reserve buds.

Peony family

Peony is the only genus of the Peony family (Paeoniaceae).

The meaning of the name peony

According to one version, the name of the flower is derived from the Greek word “paionios”, which translates as “medicinal, healing”.

But there is another version, which is associated with the ancient Greek myth, which tells about the doctor Peon, who healed Hades (the god of the underworld of the dead) after his battle with Hercules. According to the myth, Asclepius (the god of healing, who was Paeon's teacher) was jealous of his student's amazing gift, so he decided to poison him. But Peon learned of his mentor's intentions and asked the Greek gods to intercede on his behalf. The gods turned Peon into a flower as a sign of gratitude.

They also say that the flower owes its name to the small town of Paeonia, located in Thrace (Balkan Peninsula), because it is here that peonies grow literally everywhere.

Where do peonies grow?

Today peonies can be found in almost every garden, but in the wild this plant grows mainly in the forest belt of the European part of Russia, on the Kola Peninsula, in the western regions of Yakutia, in the eastern part of Transbaikalia. Peony is especially common in Western and Eastern Siberia.

This plant prefers well-lit (or slightly shaded) and well-warmed by the sun forest glades, edges, meadows, and clearings.

Bloom

Peonies bloom at the end of spring, although much depends on weather conditions: for example, the timing of flowering of the plant shifts in some years.

The duration of flowering depends, first of all, on the peony variety and is about 8–16 days, while for varieties with lateral buds, this period is extended to 18–25 days.

Peony storage

The herb and peony roots are used for medicinal purposes. In this case, the above-ground part is harvested during flowering, that is, in the period from May to June. Roots are most often harvested during this same period.

The rhizome and roots are washed in running water and then dried in the attic or under a canopy.

The above-ground part is dried in the same way. You can dry raw materials in dryers, but the temperature in them should not be higher than 45 - 60 degrees.

It is important not only to dry the plant correctly, but also to store it. To do this, place the dried raw materials in paper or fabric bags, and the packaging must be hermetically sealed.

The shelf life of raw materials is no more than three years.

Peony varieties

There are about 5,000 varieties of peonies, some of which have medicinal properties and are used in folk medicine to treat various diseases. We'll talk about them further.

Tree peony

Tree peonies are deciduous shrubs with woody shoots. The height of this type of peony reaches 1 - 1.5 m, while in the southern regions you can find specimens whose height is about 2.5 m.

Tree peonies are rightfully considered long-lived, since they can grow in one place for about 100 - 150 years. They prefer bright and sheltered places from the wind.

Tree peony flowers, of which up to 30–70 can be formed on one bush, are very large (they can reach 25–30 cm in diameter). Tree peony flowers have the shape of a bowl or ball. They bloom at the end of May, and their flowering lasts about two weeks.

Tree peonies can be white, pink, yellow, red and purple.

This type of peony has healing properties. Thus, the roots of the plant contain substances that help thin the blood. In addition, preparations based on tree peony have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, tonic, anticidal and decongestant effects, normalize high blood pressure and prevent the formation of blood clots.

Taking into account all of the above, it is not surprising that this plant is actively used in Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese and Korean medicine in the treatment of the following diseases:

• arthritis;
• arthrosis;
• headache;
• diabetes;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• tumors;
• kidney diseases;
• poisoning;
• ulcers;
• stress;
• persistent night fever;
• carbuncles;
• cough;
• hemoptysis.

To prepare the infusion, peony flowers (you can also use the roots of the plant) are poured with boiling water (1 tablespoon of raw material is poured with a glass of boiling water) and infused for about 10 - 15 minutes. The resulting product is taken 2-3 times a day, one-third of a glass.

Peony yellow

This is one of the varieties of tree peony, the range of which covers mainly China.

Yellow peony is a shrub or subshrub up to one meter high. Single flowers, the diameter of which varies between 5 - 10 cm, are distinguished by a golden or copper-yellow color; their petals can have either a round or elliptical shape.

Yellow peony blooms in June.

This variety of peony (mainly the roots of the plant) is used in Tibetan medicine in the treatment of nosebleeds, migraines, radiculitis, joint pain, depression, gynecological diseases, diabetes, thrombophlebitis.

To prepare the decoction 1 tsp. dry crushed peony roots are poured into 500 ml of water, and then the resulting product is boiled for 20 minutes. The cooled and filtered decoction is drunk 100 ml three times a day.

Peony red

The red peony has a branched stem, a short rhizome and large serrated leaves. The height of the plant rarely exceeds one meter. Large single flowers of the plant can be either pink or dark red.

Interesting fact! The red peony belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, not the Peony family, but due to its resemblance to the peony, this plant is often classified as a member of the second family.

Important! The plant is poisonous!

In medical practice, plant petals collected during flowering are used (the raw materials are collected in dry weather, dried in the sun or in dryers at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees). Red peony roots are collected from September to November, then they are washed and dried in the sun or in a dryer.

Red peony, which has anticonvulsant properties, significantly enhances the tone of the uterus, as well as the intestines and urinary tract. In addition, preparations from this plant promote blood clotting.

Taking red peony preparations is indicated for the following diseases:

• pain in the abdomen and intestines;
• hysteria;
• rheumatism;
• whooping cough;
• asthma;
• gout;
• epilepsy;
• sand and kidney stones.

Red peony infusion
1 tbsp. The petals of the plant are poured with 300 ml of cold and always boiled water, after which the mixture is infused for 8 hours, filtered and taken 100 ml three times a day.

Peony angustifolia (thin-leaved)

Peony angustifolia (also called thin-leaved) has an elongated, pineal-shaped rhizome. The stems of the plant are bare and reach a height of no more than 50 cm.

This type of peony can “boast” of large, regular-shaped flowers, which are located at the very top of the stem. The flowers have about 8 - 10 large petals of bright red color.

Important! The narrow-leaved peony is an endangered plant that can rarely be found in the forest-steppe part of the Crimea, Russia and Ukraine (this type of peony is included in the Red Books of two countries).

Since the natural resources of this plant are excluded, the thin-leaved peony has been introduced into cultivation, that is, it is grown on specially designated plantations.

For medicinal purposes, the plant's grass is used, cut off during the flowering of the plant, as well as the cone-shaped rhizomes. All parts of the angustifolia peony contain flavonoids as well as tannins, while fresh leaves contain large amounts of vitamin C.

Preparations of peony angustifolia are used in medicine in the treatment of:

• anemia;
• epilepsy;
• poisoning (especially alcohol intoxication);
• kidney stone disease;
• hemorrhoids;
• some heart diseases.

Important! The plant is toxic, as a result of which dosages must be strictly observed.

Rhizome decoction
1 tsp raw materials are poured with 400 ml of boiling water and placed on water bath for 5 minutes. The broth removed from the bath is filtered, squeezed out and brought with warm boiled water to its original volume. Drink a third of a glass of the decoction three times a day, before eating.

Peony (common)

The officinalis peony (also called the common peony) reaches a height of 50–85 cm and pleases gardeners with large flowers of red, white or pink. This perennial It has rough stems and separate compound leaves.

Important! Only peonies with purple flowers are used for medicinal purposes.

The crimson-red petals of Peony officinalis are dried immediately after collection (it is important to collect the petals before they fall off). Dried raw materials are stored in dry and always dark containers.

The roots of the plant must also be harvested, which are cleared of soil, washed with cold water, and then cut into strips about 10–15 cm long (the thickness of the strips should be no more than 2–3 cm). The raw materials are dried under a canopy until they become brittle, after which they are dried in a dryer at a temperature of about 50 - 60 degrees. Properly dried roots have a dark brown or yellowish-brown tint, while the fracture of the roots acquires a whitish-yellowish color, which turns into purple along the edges. The taste of dry roots and rhizomes is sweetish-burning and slightly astringent, and the smell is pungent.

In addition, preparations of peony are indicated for intestinal and stomach spasms, hysteria, epilepsy, dropsy, and edema.

Chinese medicine uses Paeonia officinalis preparations to treat the following conditions:

• retinal hemorrhage;
• infectious hepatitis;
• stomach diseases;
• diabetes;
• gynecological diseases;
• nephritis;
• leucorrhoea;
• menstrual irregularities;
• spastic colitis;
• peptic ulcers;
• gastritis;

In Tibetan medicine, a decoction of peony rhizomes is used in the treatment of:

• colds;
• pneumonia;
• liver diseases;
• pulmonary diseases;
• stomach cancer;
• dysmenorrhea;
• polyarthritis;
• gout;
• hypertension;

Powder from the roots of the plant is part of an effective wound-healing ointment, which is indicated for bone fractures.

Official medicine widely uses tincture from the roots of peony officinalis as a sedative for insomnia, neurasthenia and various vegetative-vascular disorders.

Peony infusion for whooping cough and asthma
1 tsp dry peony flowers should be poured into 250 ml of cold boiled water and left in a closed container for two hours, after which the infusion is filtered and consumed one tablespoon three times a day.

Decoction for spasms, hysteria, swelling and urolithiasis
0.5 tsp Pour a glass of water over the crushed rhizome of the plant and put it on fire. The product is boiled under the lid for 10 minutes, then infused for one hour, filtered and drunk a tablespoon three times a day.

Important! The plant is poisonous, so the prescribed dosage should be strictly followed.

Mountain peony (spring)

Mountain peony has an almost horizontally spread rhizome, an erect and single stem, the height of which does not exceed 30 - 50 cm. Moreover, the stem of the plant, which acquires a red-violet hue in spring, is slightly ribbed.

The large mountain peony flower has a light cream corolla (white and pink corollas are less common). The smell of the flower is reminiscent of the poppy.

In the wild, this rare species of peony, listed in the Red Book, is found in the south of Primorye, in East Asia, as well as on some islands of Japan.

All parts of the plant are used in folk medicine in the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system, headaches and some disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Peony evasive (Maryin root)

This type of peony, growing mainly in Siberia and the European part of Russia, is popularly called marina root.

This perennial herbaceous plant can reach a height of 1 m or more. Peony evasive has a powerful rhizome and thick roots of a red-brown hue.

The erect stems of the plant have three to five large leaves, the length and width of which are about 30 cm.

Large red flowers with a diameter of 10–18 cm have 5 petals.

It is the evasive peony that is most often used not only in folk medicine, but also in official medicine, so it is this species that will be discussed further.

Composition and properties of peony evasive

Essential oil

• increased secretion of glands;
• promoting increased gastrointestinal motility;
• reduction of fermentation in the intestines;
• regulation and normalization of central nervous system functions;
• strengthening the process of bile secretion;
• strengthening the cardiovascular system.

Starch

• saturating the body with energy;
• increased insulin synthesis;
• removal of bad cholesterol.

Glycosides

• increased urine output;
• vasodilation;
• destruction of germs and bacteria;
• increased sputum discharge;
• calming the nervous system.

Tannins

• improved digestion;
• normalization of gastrointestinal tract functions;
• elimination of foci of inflammation;
• neutralization of bacteria;
• acceleration of wound healing.

Sahara
The main task of sugars is to provide the body with energy.

Flavonoids

• removal of toxins;
• neutralization of bacteria and germs;
• eliminating allergies or reducing their manifestations;
• promoting the excretion of bile;
• relieving inflammation;
• acceleration of wound healing;
• relieving spasms;
• increased urine output.

Alkaloids

• relieve pain;
• eliminate spasms;
• help stop bleeding;
• have a calming effect on the nervous system.

Organic acids

• remove toxins;
• restore acidity;
• normalize digestion;
• calm the nervous system;
• relieve inflammation;
• eliminate joint pain.

Glutamine

• regulates metabolic processes and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• improves the activity of skeletal muscles;
• promotes the synthesis of amino acids and glucose;
• improves the process of hematopoiesis.

Arginine

• strengthens the immune system;
• promotes wound healing;
• enhances the synthesis of growth hormone;
• increases sexual activity in men;
• transports oxygen to body tissues;
• removes toxins, thereby normalizing liver function;
• removes harmful cholesterol;
• prevents the development of thrombosis and atherosclerosis;
• stimulates insulin production;
• lowers blood pressure.

Resins

• accelerate the wound healing process;
• neutralize the effect of microbes and bacteria;
• strengthen the immune system.

Ascorbic acid

• normalizes central nervous system functions;
• significantly improves iron absorption;
• promotes hematopoiesis;
• removes toxins.

In addition, peony evasive contains micro- and macroelements (strontium, chromium, potassium, calcium, sulfur, aluminum, iron, magnesium, copper, etc.), which have an extremely beneficial effect on health, namely:

• normalize the functioning of the female reproductive system;
• regulate the functioning of the central nervous system;
• stimulate mental activity;
• promote wound healing;
• reduce allergic reactions.

Medicinal properties of peony

• Antispasmodic.
• Painkiller.
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Sweatshop.
• Diuretic.
• Hemostatic.
• Diuretic.
• Disinfectant.
• Tonic.
• Strengthening.
• Decongestant.
• Sedative.
• Choleretic.
• Expectorant.
• Astringent.
• Anticonvulsant.
• Hemostatic.
• Antitumor.

The benefits and harms of peony

Peony evasive is an adaptogen that naturally regulates the functioning of the immune system, thereby not only protecting the body from various viruses and infections, but also significantly accelerating the healing process.

Taking peony preparations makes it much easier to tolerate radioactive radiation, as well as chemotherapy. In addition, preparations of peony have a detrimental effect on protozoa, which is why they are used as a bactericidal agent.

In addition, this plant normalizes metabolism and increases the acidity of gastric juice, which has a beneficial effect on the digestive process, not to mention the fact that peony-based preparations speed up the healing process of ulcers and wounds, relieve spasms of smooth muscles as internal organs, and blood vessels.

Peony - a remedy for nerves

Peony preparations are rightfully considered an excellent remedy for chronic fatigue, overwork, hysteria, stress and lack of sleep, as they have sedative and tonic effects. Thus, peony infusion will help improve your mood, get rid of insomnia and overcome depression.

The therapeutic effect is primarily due to the presence of glycosides salicin and methyl salicylate. In addition, the sedative effect is associated with stimulation of the body's production of endorphins, which cause a feeling of happiness.

To prepare the infusion, 1 tsp. crushed peony roots, pour 600 ml of boiling water and infuse for half an hour. The drug is taken 10 minutes before eating two to three times a day.

Peony flower (petals)

Peony flowers contain aromatic substances, therefore they are used in pharmacology to improve the taste of medicinal solutions. In addition, this part of the plant contains ascorbic acid, so infusions and decoctions of peony flowers are used in the treatment of colds.

As an external remedy, tincture of peony flowers is used for radiculitis and joint pain. To prepare the product, a half-liter jar is filled with plant flowers and filled with vodka. The tincture is filtered after two weeks and used for rubbing into sore joints.

Seeds

Peony seeds contain a large amount of fatty oils, so preparations based on them have long been used in the treatment of sore throat and pulmonary diseases.

Interesting fact! The healers of Ireland used peony seeds to treat postpartum ailments, for which 9 peony seeds were crushed and mixed with borax, almonds, and aniseed white water.

Grass (leaves)

The aerial part of the peony contains a large amount of vitamin C, flavonoids and starch, as a result of which preparations based on this part of the plant are indicated in the treatment of pulmonary diseases, inflammation, colds, nervous disorders, digestive disorders, spasms, allergies, epilepsy.

Tubers

The spindle-shaped tubers of peonies are used to prepare remedies intended to treat gout, seizures and epilepsy. To this day, the Greeks and residents of Altai use peony tubers as a seasoning for meat dishes.

Peony root and rhizome

Exactly underground part plants are most widely used in both folk and scientific medicine, so we will pay special attention to it.

Application

Official medicine uses a tincture from the underground part of the evasive peony in the treatment of neurasthenic conditions, insomnia, vegetative-vascular disorders of various origins, headaches, and chronic fatigue.

The roots of this plant have long been included in anti-cancer preparations that help speed up the cure of cancer.

Peony roots are used in the treatment of epilepsy, viral diseases, poisoning, liver and kidney diseases.

So, for stomach cancer, it is recommended to prepare the following remedy: the dried roots of the plant in a ratio of 1:10 are poured with boiling water and infused for at least two hours. An infusion of 100 ml is taken three times a day.

If we talk about folk medicine, Avicenna also used peony to treat pain and burning in the stomach. The roots of this plant were widely used in Rus': for example, gout, rheumatism, gastrointestinal diseases, bleeding, stroke, and epilepsy were treated with decoctions and infusions from this plant. Moreover, the treatment included the use of not only infusions, but also the root fresh(a pea-sized piece of root was taken three times a day after meals, washed down with water).

Medicinal properties of peony roots

• Calming.
• Painkiller.
• Antispasmodic.
• Anticonvulsant.

The active substances of the roots and rhizomes of peony have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, which in its effectiveness is similar to amidopyrine - a drug that has antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. For this reason, preparations based on peony roots are used for headaches, neuralgia, arthritis, myositis, and rheumatism.

It must be said that the roots of the evasive peony have a general strengthening effect, since they contain micro- and macroelements that help the body fight many diseases of various etiologies.

Contraindications to the use of peony roots

There are no special contraindications to the use of root-based preparations (with the exception of pregnancy, childhood and individual intolerance).

Use of peony in medicine

Peony evasive is used in the treatment of the following diseases:

• diarrhea;
• peptic ulcers;
• arthritis;
• dysmenorrhea;
• amenorrhea;
• myositis;
• spasms and twitching of various muscle groups;
• gastrointestinal cramps;
• CNS diseases;
• stress and neurasthenia, accompanied by excessive excitability;
• epilepsy;
• insomnia;
• hypochondria;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• lethargy;
• hypertension;
• liver diseases;
• fever;
• colds;
• Peony tea To prevent colds and to improve immunity, the above-ground part of the plant can be brewed and drunk like regular tea.

  Tincture

  The tincture is indicated for the treatment of gastritis, uterine bleeding, cough, pain of various origins, rheumatism and gout.

  Pour 10 g of evasive peony (you can use a collection from all parts of the plant) into 100 ml of vodka, after which the product is thoroughly mixed and left to infuse for two weeks in a dark and cool place. It is important not to forget to shake the tincture regularly. After the specified infusion period, the strained product is poured into a dark glass container. Drink tincture 20 drops three times a day.

  Peony ointment

  It is used externally for joint pain, neurological inflammation, and treatment of inflammation of the trigeminal and sciatic nerves.

  The ointment is prepared from dried peony root, which must be grated, then add pork fat to the resulting mass in a 1:1 ratio. Next, the mixture is sent to a water bath and heated slowly for 30 minutes. Removed from heat and cooled, the mass is used in the form of compresses and rubbing.

  Peony extract in drops (instructions)

  Pharmacy peony extract is used in the treatment of all those conditions that the tincture prepared at home, including:
  • nervous disorders;
  • headache;
  • insomnia;
  • diseases of the reproductive system;
  • some types of cancer;
  • convulsions;
  • epilepsy.
  The pharmacy tincture is taken orally, 25–40 drops three times a day before eating, and the tincture should be diluted in 50–70 ml of water.

  Treatment is carried out over a course of 25–30 days.

  Important! There are no absolute contraindications to the use of peony tincture. Side effects are extremely rare and disappear quickly.

  Peony extract tablets

  Peony extract is available not only in liquid, but also in tablet form.

  The tablets have a sedative, anticonvulsant, membrane-stabilizing, antioxidant and antihypoxic effect on the human body, as a result of which they are indicated in the treatment of sleep disorders, increased nervous excitability and neurocirculatory dystonia.

  The tablets are taken orally, 1 capsule twice a day, half an hour before meals. The tablets are taken for 21 to 30 days. If necessary, the course is repeated after a ten-day break.
  hawthorn
  If the syrup is taken for preventive purposes to enhance concentration, improve memory and calm the nervous system, then daily norm syrup should not exceed two tablespoons.

  Important! Children over 14 years old can take 1 tsp of this syrup. twice a day - during the day and in the evening.

  Contraindications to the use of syrup are:

  • individual intolerance to any component of the drug;
  • periods of pregnancy and lactation;
  • childhood.

  Evading peony: properties, application - video

  Contraindications to the use of peony preparations

  Peony is not only a beautiful, but also a poisonous plant, so it is extremely important to follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

  Contraindications to the use of evasive peony preparations:

  • individual intolerance;
  • age (children under 12 years old);
  • liver or kidney failure;
  • pregnancy period;
  • lactation.
  In addition, people with high stomach acidity and low blood pressure should be careful when taking decoctions, tinctures and infusions of peony.

  Side effects when taking peony preparations are observed very rarely and are mainly caused by severe overdose.

  Side effects:

  • a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
  • decreased concentration;
  • fatigue;
  • weakness;
  • allergic reactions (redness,

Biological description

Application

Since the times of the ancient world, the peony has been known not only as a decorative, but also as medicinal plant. It owes its name to the legendary physician Peon, who healed gods and people from wounds received in battles. Ancient Roman philosopher of the 1st century BC. e. Pliny the Elder listed twenty diseases cured with the help of the rhizome of the officinalis peony (P. officinalis).

Peonies are propagated by dividing the bushes, but if you need to get many plants of the variety you like, you can propagate by layering, stem and root cuttings. The most reliable way is propagation by buds with pieces of rhizome. Each part of the rhizome should have at least 2-3 buds.

Information about peony in Russia at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries (according to the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary)

Peony (Paeonia L.) is the generic name of plants belonging to the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae).

Most representatives of this genus are perennial herbs that overwinter through their tuberous, swollen roots; only a few representatives are subshrubs.

The genus is divided into two subgenera:

1. Paeon DC. (perennial herbs, disc is poorly developed) and
2. Moutan DC. (subshrubs, the disc covers almost the entire pistil).

The last subgenus includes the so-called. tree peonies (P. arborea, fruticosa, Moutan); these are subshrubs, with branched bare stems reaching up to 60-150 cm in height.

The homeland of tree peonies is the valleys of Japan and China.
Two forms are known:

1. Moutan Sims. - very large (up to 25 cm wide), single, semi-double or double flowers various colors; the best garden varieties of this form: Bijou de Chusan (light pink), fragrans maxima plena (large, fragrant, coral-red flowers), lactea (double, milky white flowers), etc.;
2. papaveracea Andr., corolla consists of 8-12 petals. Tree peonies are very sensitive to spring frosts, and therefore require good winter cover. They are propagated by cuttings and grafting onto tubers of other peonies.

The first subgenus (Paeon) includes the majority of both bred and wild peonies. In European Russia (in the steppes, Crimea, and Caucasus), P. tenuifolia L., also known as “voronka”, “funnel”, grows wildly; the stems are simple, with one blood-red flower and trifoliate leaves; tubers are oblong. The following varieties are grown in gardens: f. flore pleno and flore roseo pleno (double with red and pink flowers). In Crimea, on the mountains, between bushes and in forests, another species, P. triternata Pall., is found, with red or whitish flowers. P. Wittmanniana Stev grows in the Caucasus. with bright yellow flowers, and in Southern Siberia and Turkestan P. anomala L. In Southern Siberia, as well as in China, P. albiflora Pall., a Chinese peony with pink flowers, has many garden varieties (the flowers smell like roses). The most common garden ones belong to P. peregrina Mill.; this is an ordinary peony, a perennial herbaceous plant up to 30-80 cm in height, blooming in May-June; oblong tubers, for the most part With long leg; stems are simple, monochromatic; The double-triple leaves are softly hairy on the underside and sometimes covered with flakes. IN simple flowers 8 or fewer purple, less often white or yellowish petals. The stamens are mostly yellow. Bags 2-3; they are almost straight or bent, the seeds are large; oval, bluish-black, shiny. This species grows wildly in Southern Europe and Western Asia. Several varieties are known:

1. oficinalis Huds, in Switzerland, Italy, Tyrol: pink-red flowers;
2. villosa Huds., in Spain, southern France, Italy, flowers purple or dark red;
3. humilis Huth., in Italy, southern France; flowers pink-violet or purple-red;
4. Glabra Boiss., in Crete; the flowers are yellowish.

The best garden varieties of common peony are as follows:

• flore albo pleno (double, white flowers),
• Madame Crusse (double flowers, white, carmine in the middle),
• flore purpureo pleno (double flowers, purple-red),
• Jules Devert (pale pink flowers with a silver tint), etc. S.R.

Literature

• V. Dubrov. Ito hybrids: past and future. // Floriculture, No. 3, May/June 2007.

Rhubarb cannot be found in every garden plot. It's a pity. This plant is a storehouse of vitamins and can be widely used in cooking. What is not prepared from rhubarb: soups and cabbage soup, salads, delicious jam, kvass, compotes and juices, candied fruits and marmalade, and even wine. But that's not all! The large green or red rosette of leaves of the plant, reminiscent of burdock, acts as a beautiful background for annuals. It is not surprising that rhubarb can also be seen in flower beds.

3 delicious sandwiches - a cucumber sandwich, a chicken sandwich, a cabbage and meat sandwich - a great idea for a quick snack or for an outdoor picnic. Just fresh vegetables, juicy chicken and cream cheese and a little seasoning. There are no onions in these sandwiches; if you wish, you can add onions marinated in balsamic vinegar to any of the sandwiches; this will not spoil the taste. Having quickly prepared snacks, all that remains is to pack a picnic basket and head to the nearest green lawn.

Depending on the varietal group, the age of seedlings suitable for planting in open ground, is: for early tomatoes - 45-50 days, average ripening periods - 55-60 and late ones - at least 70 days. When planting tomato seedlings at a younger age, the period of its adaptation to new conditions is significantly extended. But success in obtaining a high-quality tomato harvest also depends on carefully following the basic rules for planting seedlings in open ground.

Unpretentious “background” plants of sansevieria do not seem boring to those who value minimalism. They are better suited than other indoor decorative foliage stars for collections that require minimal care. Stable decorativeness and extreme hardiness in only one species of sansevieria are also combined with compactness and very rapid growth - rosette sansevieria Hana. The squat rosettes of their tough leaves create striking clusters and patterns.

One of the brightest months of the garden calendar pleasantly surprises with the balanced distribution of favorable and unfavorable days for working with plants according to the lunar calendar. Vegetable gardening in June can be done throughout the entire month, while the unfavorable periods are very short and still allow you to do useful work. There will be optimal days for sowing and planting, for pruning, for a pond, and even for construction work.

Meat with mushrooms in a frying pan is an inexpensive hot dish that is suitable for a regular lunch and for a holiday menu. Pork will cook quickly, veal and chicken too, so this is the preferred meat for the recipe. Mushrooms - fresh champignons, in my opinion, are the best choice for homemade stew. Forest gold - boletus mushrooms, boletus and other delicacies is best prepared for the winter. Boiled rice or mashed potatoes are ideal as a side dish.

I love ornamental shrubs, especially unpretentious and with interesting, non-trivial coloring of foliage. I have various Japanese spirea, Thunberg barberries, black elderberry... And there is one special shrub, which I will talk about in this article - viburnum leaf. To fulfill my dream of a low-maintenance garden, it is perhaps ideal. At the same time, it is capable of greatly diversifying the picture in the garden, from spring to autumn.

It is no coincidence that June remains one of the favorite months of gardeners. The first harvest, new crops in the vacant spaces, rapid growth of plants - all this cannot but rejoice. But the main enemies of gardeners and garden bed dwellers are pests and weeds- also this month they use every opportunity to spread themselves. Work on crops this month is waning, and planting seedlings is reaching its peak. The lunar calendar in June is balanced for vegetables.

Many dacha owners, when developing their territory, think about creating a lawn. The imagination, as a rule, draws magical pictures - a smooth carpet of green grass, a hammock, a sun lounger, a barbecue and beautiful trees and shrubs around the perimeter... But when faced with laying out a lawn in practice, many are surprised to learn that creating a beautiful, smooth lawn is not so easy . And, it would seem, everything was done correctly, but here and there strange bumps appear or weeds sprout.

The June schedule of gardening work can surprise anyone with its richness. In June, even lawns and ponds require attention. Some ornamental plants have already finished flowering and need pruning, others are just getting ready for the upcoming show. And sacrificing an ornamental garden in order to take better care of the ripening harvest is not a good idea. IN lunar calendar There will be time in June to plant new perennials and potted arrangements.

Cold pork leg terrine is a meat snack from the category of budget recipes, because pork legs are one of the cheapest parts of the carcass. Despite the modesty of ingredients, the appearance of the dish and its taste are at the highest level! Translated from French, this “game dish” is a cross between pate and casserole. Since in times of technical progress there have been fewer game hunters, terrine is often prepared from livestock meat, fish, vegetables, and cold terrines are also made.

In cute pots or fashionable florariums, on walls, tables and window sills - succulents can withstand weeks without watering. They do not change their character and do not accept conditions that are comfortable for most capricious people. indoor plants. And their diversity will allow everyone to find their favorite. Sometimes looking like stones, sometimes like fancy flowers, sometimes like extravagant sticks or lace, fashionable succulents have long been not limited only to cacti and fat plants.

Trifle with strawberries is a light dessert common in England, the USA and Scotland. I think this dish is prepared everywhere, just called differently. Trifle consists of 3-4 layers: fresh fruit or fruit jelly, biscuit cookies or sponge cake, whipped cream. Usually, custard is prepared as a layer, but for a light dessert they prefer to do without it; whipped cream is enough. This dessert is prepared in a deep transparent salad bowl so that the layers are visible.

Weeds are bad. They interfere with the growth of cultivated plants. Some wild herbs and shrubs are poisonous or can cause allergies. At the same time, many weeds can bring great benefits. They are used and how medicinal herbs, and as an excellent mulch or component of green fertilizer, and as a deterrent harmful insects and rodents. But in order to properly fight or use this or that plant for good, it needs to be identified.

Peony flowers in their pristine beauty are not much inferior to roses, and some forms even surpass them in many characteristics. The only thing in which peonies can lose to the “queens of gardens” is the duration of flowering. But if you plant different types of peonies with different flowering periods, then your area will be painted in bright colors all summer long.

According to the currently generally accepted botanical taxonomy, peonies belong to the Peony family (Paeoniaceae), which includes only one peony genus (Paeonia). According to various sources, the genus includes from 40 to 47 species of peonies, and all plants grow in the Northern Hemisphere: Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America.

Most naturally occurring peonies have a simple flower shape. They are very decorative and can be grown in gardens along with varietal peonies.

All species of herbaceous peonies grow in areas of the Northern Hemisphere with clear seasonal changes in temperature from relatively high in summer to fairly low in winter. The annual cyclical development of these peonies corresponds to the seasons and includes the death of the above-ground herbaceous part in the fall and the obligatory rather long winter dormancy.

The duration and temperature level for winter dormancy depend on the type of peony. For full flowering of P. lactiflora and its varieties, the duration of this time should be at least 40 days. According to Alan Rogers, the temperature level for the winter dormancy period of some species should not be higher than 2 ° C, and its duration should be from 40 to 60 days. According to other observations, the Maryin root has the longest dormancy (more than 100 days), so in the spring it germinates later than the others.

For peonies to bloom, the air and soil temperatures must be maintained at a certain level for a specific period. Temperature levels are lower for early bloomers and higher for late bloomers.

For varieties of peony lactiflora to bloom, according to my observations, the temperature should not be lower than 16-17 °C. All types of herbaceous peonies can be cultivated in most of Russia, with the exception of the Far North.

Popular types of peony flowers

Check out the photos, names and descriptions of the types of peonies that are the most popular in garden plots:

Peony "Caucasian" (P. caucasica Schipcz)

It grows in forests and on the edges of the middle mountain zone in the western part of the Caucasus at an altitude of 900-2000 m. The stems are branched, 50-100 cm high, pinkish. The leaves are double-triple, the lobes are wide and oval. The color is green above without shine, grayish-green below. The plant resembles P. Mlokosevich. The flowers are pink-violet, light purple or deep pink, 10-12 cm in diameter. Blooms in the Moscow region in mid-late May. Often considered as a variety of p. Crimean or p. thrice-triple.

Peony "Japanese" (P. japonica Makino)

It grows in Primorye, Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands. Found in valleys and along river beds. The flowers are white or pink. The leaves are rough, without shine, with a light green edge. The appearance is similar in appearance to P. obovata.

Peony milky-flowered (P. lactiflora Pall)

It is found in the Far East, Transbaikalia, Mongolia, Japan, and Korea. It grows in valleys, on the edges, and on the slopes of hills. The height of the stems is 60-100 cm, there are several flowers on one stem. The leaves are double-triple, pointed, green, shiny. By appearance The plant resembles ordinary garden peonies. This type of peony has simple, creamy white or pinkish flowers, rarely red. In the Moscow region it begins to bloom from May 25 to June 5. Highly decorative. The progenitor of the vast majority of garden peonies.

Large-leaved peony (P. macrophylla Lomak)

Endemic, grows in Georgia - Adjara, Guria. Found on the edges of mountain forests. The height of the stems is 100 cm. The leaves are large, up to 22 cm long and up to 15 cm wide, bright green above, bluish below with pubescence. One of the earliest flowering species in the Moscow region after May 10. The flowers are large, white, with a slight yellowish tint. In the Moscow region it is difficult to cultivate; in the spring it needs protection from Botrytis cinerya (gray rot).

Pion Mlokosevich (P. mlokosewitschii Lomak)

Endemic, grows in Kakheti and Lagodekhi, in the western part of Dagestan. Found in forests and on steep slopes. The height of the stems is up to 100 cm, their color is pinkish. The leaves are very decorative: with wide rounded lobes, bluish-green with a bluish tint and pink petioles. Flowers up to 12 cm in diameter, yellow when blooming, later creamy. One of the earliest blooming - in the Moscow region it blooms after May 15, once in my garden - on May 9 (in 1972). Decorative after flowering (in the second half of summer, unfertilized carpels open with coral-red beads of ovules inside.) Exclusively decorative look, highly prized by amateurs.

Peony obovate (P. obovata Maxim)

Grows in mixed and deciduous forests in the south of the Primorsky Territory, in China and Japan. Stems 60-90 cm high, single-flowered. Flowers up to 10 cm in diameter, bright pink or white.

Crimean peony (P. taurica (P. daurica Anders)

Grows in Crimea and the Caucasus. The height of the stems is 36-62 cm. The leaves are dark green, with wide oval lobes. Flowers up to 10 cm in diameter, red-pink or purple-pink.

These photos show the types of peonies that are most popular in Russian garden plots:

What other types of herbaceous plants are peonies?

Three-triple peony (P. tritemata Pall ex de Candol)

It grows in the Crimea and the North Caucasus, in mountain deciduous forests on open slopes. Stems are 50-100 cm high, thin, often twisting. The flowers are purple.

Peony "Wittmann" (P. unttmanniana Hartwiss ex Lindl)

The species is distributed in European Russia, in Siberia, and is found in Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. In the north - in the Komi Republic.

Endemic, grows in Abkhazia, in forests and on the edges of mountainous areas. Stems 80-100 cm high. Leaves are dark green. The flowers are wide open, pale yellow, later cream. One of the early flowering species.

Peony evasive (P. anomala L.), commonly known as Maryin root.

Grows in forests, forest edges and meadows. The bush is elegant. Stems are single-flowered, 80-100 cm high, red-colored. The leaves are double-triple, with narrow longitudinal segments, shiny, dark green-olive. The flowers are up to 9 cm in diameter, purple, looking to the side. Early flowering species, in the Moscow region from May 16. Has a number of varieties. The roots are purple in color, with a characteristic “pharmacy” smell. Shoots emerge from the ground late in the spring and then develop quickly. One of the most popular species of peonies. Widely used in pharmacology.

Hybrid peony (P. hybrida f. intermedia Meyer, ex Ledebour)

It grows in Finland (Lapland), in the north of the European part of Russia, in the mountainous regions of Altai and Turkmenistan, among shrubs, in meadows and open rocky slopes. The stems are single-flowered, up to 80 cm high, and can branch at the top. The leaves are three-triple, the segments are cut into narrow linear short lobes. The flowers are shiny, pink, purple, bright red, looking to the sides.

Peony officinalis (P. officinalis L.)

It grows in France, Switzerland, northern Italy, and Crete. The height of the stems is 40-90 cm. The leaf lobes are deeply cut into narrow oblong or elliptical parts. The flowers are solitary, large (up to 13 cm in diameter), dark red. In the gardens of amateur gardeners, double varieties are widespread, resulting from a mutation of the main form of the species. They are widely cultivated in gardens.

Foreign peony (P. peregrina Mill). It grows in Italy, the Balkans, Asia Minor, and Moldova. Found in semi-shaded places among bushes. The height of the stems is 35-70 cm. The leaves are double-triple, some leaflets are divided to the base, shiny, green. Flowers up to 15 cm in diameter are deep dark red. The plant resembles P. officinalis.