GARDENIA

Peony Gardenia is a decorative perennial with beautiful large flowers, reaching up to 22 cm in diameter. The flowers are double, rose-like in shape, initially pinkish-white, then acquire a creamy-white tint with a light pink blush, resembling a gardenia flower. The plant has a delicate, sweet, and pronounced aroma, making it particularly attractive to gardeners. Flowering begins in May and continues until June-July, thanks to a multitude of side buds, ensuring a long flowering period.

The adult bush reaches a height of about 85-90 cm and a width of 40-50 cm. The stems are straight, thin and strong, surrounded by large dark green pinnatifid leaves, which turn crimson in autumn. Peony Gardenia belongs to the meadow peony group and is an intraspecific hybrid bred in the USA in 1955. The plant is characterized by high frost hardiness and resistance to garden pests and diseases, which allows it to be grown without winter shelter.

For successful cultivation, the peony prefers sunny places with fertile, moist and loose soil of neutral reaction, without waterlogging. Regular top-dressing and abundant watering during the growing season promote good development and abundant flowering. In the first year after planting, buds are recommended to be removed to strengthen the root system. Peonies do not tolerate increased soil acidity, so it is sometimes recommended to top up with ash to maintain the optimal pH level.