Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
Response from the Help Desk: Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk about your Coral Charm Peony
The brown areas you are seeing on your flowers are most likely the result of a fungus. The most common fungal disease on peonies, especially herbaceous peonies like Coral Charm, is botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea). Botrytis blight can cause flowers to become discolored. It can also cause buds to soften, which may be why you might find that the flower bud is also squishy. If this is botrytis, you are seeing it in a mild form.
like all fungus diseases, botrytis is most likely to occur in wet, humid weather. To help prevent the problem from spreading, make sure you remove and destroy any fallen leaves or other debris under the plants. Place the debris in your green bin or trash. Avoid putting it in your compost pile. Prune out and dispose of any dying tissue you may find on the plants. Avoid use of sprinklers or other overhead watering. If possible, irrigate early in the morning to allow foliage to dry more quickly. If these new plants have dense foliage, you may want to prune some of the canopy to provide better air circulation.
If the plants fail to thrive and you need to replant, consider waiting until the fall. Autumn is the best time to plant peonies.
For more information on preventing botrytis blight, see http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/DISEASES/botrytis.html
For general information on growing peonies, see http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FLOWERS/peony.html
Good luck with your new peonies. Let's hope that the warmer and drier summer weather helps your peonies return to health
Please let us know if you have further questions
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (ECS)
Note: The UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/).
/span>Client's Request: A visiting friend of mine has given me as a present a large 5 gallon Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Festiva Maxima'). These friends grow these back East, but I'm not familiar with Peonies or growing them here in Contra Costa County. Would you please provide me with some guidance on planting and caring for this Peony in my garden?
CCMG Response: Thank you for contacting Master Gardeners with your question regarding planting your new peony. How lucky you are to receive a five gallon Peony from a friend! Often a showy spring flower in colder Eastern gardens, they can also be grown in temperate Contra Costa County when situated properly in the garden.
A permanent, morning sun only or partly shady site is ideal for your peony. Protection from afternoon sun and from harsh winds will help to prolong its life. Peonies will perform best in well-drained, evenly moist, rich soil with a pH near neutral. They are drought-tolerant once established. Hardiness Zone: up to 8 means that the cooler spring/summer exposure the better and that cold exposure in winter isn't a problem. This most likely will lead to planting it with a north-easterly exposure in the garden trying to be “cool” in the summer at the same time trying to get adequate morning sun.
- Good drainage! Reasonably good soil!
- Usually needs a sunny location for blooms - will do well in light shade but best blooms usually on those in full sun. In central and east county you will want a spot with morning sun and partial or afternoon shade (ideally 4-6 hours of morning sun).
- Keep away from large trees or heavy shrubs to avoid root competition.
Soil Preparation - important factor in growing peonies! Prepare well before planting!
- Planting hole – Dig twice as wide as actual root size. Dig or till in a 2 - to 4 - inch layer of organic matter into heavy clay soil. Mix double handful of bone meal with soil for each plant. Sunset Western Garden Book also recommends letting the soil settle for a couple of days before planting.
- Planting - Ideal time is early fall. Once planted, peonies can be left to grow undisturbed indefinitely. They may take 3 - 4 years to reach mature size; may not bloom first year and only a little the second
Watering – All peonies need regular water and should not be allowed to dry out. Apply 2 – 3 inches of organic mulch to retain moisture.
Here is a link to additional information about pests of peony in the landscape:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FLOWERS/peony.html
Please let us know if you have any additional questions regarding growing peonies in your area!
Contra Costa Master Gardener Help Desk
Note: The Contra Costa Master Gardener Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/
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