It really depends on how quickly your area is warming up, Laurie. You can plant it now but it'll probably droop and you'll possibly lose this year's flowers. If the growth you're seeing is just a few inches tall you might not lose buds, though. If it were me, if I had stem growth and no buds yet I'd chance it, just so I didn't have to keep such a close watch on the pots. Yes, you'd need to pay closer attention to that one for several weeks, just like any other newly planted perennial, but less so for a shorter period than if left in a pot. If there were buds already I'd bite the bullet and leave it potted until fall. If it's warmed up considerably in your area I'd probably leave it potted, too. If you do leave it in a pot you'll want to put it in dappled or afternoon shade so the roots don't heat up as much in the pot. Another option is to plant it, pot and all, as long as the pot has really good drainage and can't get waterlogged in your garden area. Then you'll want to replant it without the pot this fall. Good luck with your new peony! Let us know what you decide to do and how it works out for you.

Thanks Liz, sounds like what I pretty much thought. The peony has no buds, but it is about a foot and a half high. We're having a slow start to spring in Northern NJ. I think, based on photos from last year at this time, we're about 3 weeks or so behind schedule.

Thanks for the tip about placing it somewhere it will get shade later in the day. It didn't occur to me the pot might heat up too much. Right now, it's on my back deck in a spot that gets sun from early morning until about early afternoon - then it's shaded.

Heeling it in pot and all is a great suggestion also.

Thanks very much!

To plant or not depends on how long it's been in the pot. If it's well rooted and you can slide it out of the pot without disturbing the roots you can plant it as soon as the soil heats up, here in zone 4 that would be early May. Peonies like a well prepared spot, deep digging , adding compost, then plant it no deeper than it is in the pot. If it's sunny, I would shade it for a couple of days, with a lawn chair. Good luck, Heather

Thanks for your input also. Yes, it's very well rooted and I should be able to slide it out easily. I think I will try to get to it this weekend along with the rose I need to get in the ground as well. It has been fairly cool still in Zone 6, but I think by this coming weekend it should. I already purchased garden soil and compost so I'm set. I had intended to add some bone meal to the hole also - I assume the peony would appreciate that. Great suggestion for shading it for a few days. I never would have thought to do that.

Now my only problem is convincing my BF that the hole he's digging isn't deep enough :P

With potted plants it is very difficult to determine the depth of root - it could be planted too shallow. Not sure about others experience, but I personally would rather dig it up from the pot in fall and plant it bare rooted after getting rid of the soil. This way I can guarantee the depth of planting. May be there are different opinion on the matter, just my 2 cents.