Someone said that they saw them for $19.99 at Zellers or Walmart. Where do you live that they are $75 each? Here they are usually $40 in the stores/nurseries.

I received my first one as a gift from the owner of a local nursery. I also bought some at a garage sale. A few years ago I divided a friend's peony for him and he gave me some. So, I have many many clumps all over my acreage now from many different people. Now, each spring I also divide and then sell two or three at my garage sale.

I do not like them nearly as much as regular peonies. But they are another flower to bloom and the foliage is interesting. I find that the flower seems to dry on the tips and that the flowers are finished just as they started. Maybe I need to fertilize mine, never have yet. They are almost finished blooming now here in my yard. I have the double fern peony.

So, as you tour people's yards in your local garden club or go visiting or garage saling...just ask if they ever would split their peony for a little piece for you. The recommendation I heard is that the best time to split a fern peony is after about 3 - 4 years of growth. This came from the owner of a local well established nursery. So if you see someone with a huge fern peony, just ask...the worst thing they can say is no, but you may be pleasantly surprised.

I have never heard of anyone starting them from seeds, rather, always splitting the mother plant. Usually you will get almost double the stems each year on a fern peony, so they do increase nicely. The owner of the nursery talked only about splitting the root as the way of getting some to sell, not by planting seeds.

Does this help?

Brenda

$75 for a little clump, Ouch, thats a rip off!

I have no idea where you live, but if you live in Western Canada, Parklands in AB sells them at Fall time for $35 for the singe and $40 for the double flowering.

Sharon

It is Parkland that has them for $75 and yes if there are any left you can pick them up for 30 or 40 buckeroos when they have their 50 to 60% off fall special (in RED DEER). They are also not my favorite Peony but they make a pretty mound for the front of my rose beds, I am looking for colorful early and late blooming mounds to fill in the gaps and provide some color till the roses bloom.

Hey I just realized according to the zone chart I am in the 3's or 4's, thought I was in the 2's.
Annie