The Rozella Peony is a popular herbaceous perennial and a garden staple. It provides consistent beauty year after year.
Distinctive Features of Rozella Peony
The ‘Rozella’ peony features vibrant, dark pink, double flowers resembling classic roses, often with subtle paler petal edges. The flowers are borne on exceptionally strong, erect stems, generally eliminating the need for staking, even with their large size. ‘Rozella’ is a prolific bloomer, typically flowering heavily in late spring to early summer, classifying it as a late midseason peony. This variety usually maintains its bloom for approximately 7-10 days. It has been recognized for its landscape qualities, earning the prestigious Award of Landscape Merit from the American Peony Society.
The plant itself forms a lush, bushy mound of glossy, deep green, divided foliage. It typically reaches a height of up to 31 inches (78 cm) and spreads about 24-30 inches (60-75 cm). This foliage remains attractive throughout the summer and can even develop appealing fall colors. It may have a light fragrance. This herbaceous hybrid was introduced in 1990 by Reath.
Planting and Site Selection
Optimal establishment of a ‘Rozella’ peony begins with proper planting in the fall. This timing allows the plant to develop its root system before winter, contributing to better spring growth. Peonies are long-lived plants, so selecting a permanent location is important as they do not respond well to transplanting.
A suitable site for ‘Rozella’ peony should provide full sun exposure, ideally at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, to encourage abundant blooms. While they can tolerate some light afternoon shade, more sun generally leads to more flowers.
The soil should be rich, fertile, and most importantly, well-draining. Peonies do not tolerate waterlogged conditions, which can lead to root rot. Incorporating organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure can improve soil fertility and drainage, particularly in heavy clay soils. Ensure good air circulation around the planting site to help prevent disease.
When planting bare-root ‘Rozella’ peonies, dig a hole approximately 12 inches (30 cm) broad and 4 inches (10 cm) deep. For bare-root peonies, the “eyes,” or growth nodes, located near the base of the old stem, should be positioned no more than 1.5 to 2 inches (3.8-5 cm) below the soil surface. Planting too deeply is a common reason for a lack of blooms. After placing the root, backfill with soil, gently firming it, and then water deeply.
Essential Care Practices
Consistent watering is important for ‘Rozella’ peonies, particularly during dry periods and as they establish. While established plants are somewhat drought-tolerant, new plantings benefit from periodic deep soakings to encourage root development. Avoiding overhead watering can help reduce the risk of fungal diseases. Overwatering, however, can lead to root rot, so ensuring good drainage remains paramount.
‘Rozella’ peonies do not require heavy feeding. A balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) or organic options like composted manure or bone meal are suitable. Fertilize in early spring when new growth emerges, or just after flowering. Established plants may only need fertilizing every few years or an annual top-dressing of compost. Too much nitrogen can promote foliage over blooms.
Providing support for the heavy blooms of ‘Rozella’ peonies is often recommended, especially in areas prone to heavy rain or strong winds. Grow-through rings or other plant supports can be installed early in the season, before shoots fully emerge, to prevent flopping.
Deadheading, the removal of spent flowers, helps maintain the plant’s tidy appearance and redirects energy from seed production back into the plant’s root system for future blooms. Simply snip the faded flower head below the bloom where it meets the first leaf or node. In the fall, after the foliage has died down, cut back the plant to ground level. This autumn cleanup helps remove any disease spores that might overwinter on plant debris.
Common Challenges and Solutions
One common issue encountered with peonies is a lack of blooms. This can often be attributed to improper planting depth, specifically planting too deeply, which inhibits flower production. Insufficient sunlight, less than six hours daily, can also lead to reduced flowering. Young plants may take a few years to establish and produce abundant blooms. Over-fertilization, particularly with high-nitrogen fertilizers, can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
While ants are frequently seen on peony buds, they are generally harmless and are attracted to the sweet honeydew secreted by the buds. They do not cause damage to the plant or prevent blooms from opening.
‘Rozella’ peonies can be susceptible to fungal diseases like botrytis blight (gray mold) and powdery mildew. Botrytis blight, common in cool, wet conditions, can cause shoots to rot and buds to brown. Powdery mildew appears as white spots on leaves, thriving in humidity. To manage these, remove infected plant parts, ensure good air circulation, and practice fall cleanup by removing all foliage. Horticultural oils or neem oil can be used for treatment if necessary.