How long can a peony sleep?

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

I planted 2 Snow Mountain last year in an arrangement that balanced
2 existing Festiva Maxima (planted 2012, 18” tall now, 3 buds each this year)
and a red Buckeye Belle (2014) in the center.

Like this:

FM .... SM.... BB.... SM .... FM

One Snow Mountain
has not appeared. All the roots planted last year sprouted and grew. The other Snow Mountain is 8” tall and even has a
bud. Buckeye Belle just popped up a couple of days ago. The SnowMountain and Buckeye Belle were
purchased last year at a garden fair, from an established grower (no guarantee
offered). The SM were smaller roots, sold for less; the vendor told me they
might not bloom for a while.

I went back to the Garden fair this year, but the vendor had
not brought any SnowMountain.
I told her about the missing culprit, she said, “It’ll turn up.” But she would say
that, wouldn’t she?

Is it possible that the missing SM is still alive? I have a
hole in my arrangement now. I could try to replace it with a big box store
bareroot white, while they are still available. (I’d prefer not to buy one potted; foot problems
are making digging painful)

Do they sleep this late? Suggestions?

Featured Answer

lizbest1

11 years ago

Could the 2nd Snow Mountain be planted much deeper than the 1st one? I assume there would be no difference in amount of sun/shade/water since they're so close together....Did one have much more feeder root or eyes than the other? Trying to think of why they would come up at much different times. It can certainly happen that 2 of the same peonies come up at different times in the same yard when they're in different areas, have that myself with some planted in back yard vs front.

It is absolutely possible that the 2nd SM is still viable. If it's covered with mulch I'd move it away from where you think the eyes should be sprouting, very, VERY carefully because they'll sprout up where you least expect. If there is no mulch you could gently move a bit of soil away from where you think the crown should be. I would wait to do anything more than that for several more weeks.

The no guarantee thing is absolutely common among peony growers--not a single one of the major growers offer any growth guarantee, just a replacement if something arrives damaged and they are immediately notified. Don't hold the grower in low esteem because of that issue. If the two roots were both equally healthy then they should both make it. Let us know if that 2nd one comes up!

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Comments (7)

linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks, Lizbest1.

As far as I can remember, they were both pretty identical. I don’t recall
specifics like number of eyes or feeder roots. Both holes were dug at the same
time, so I doubt I’d have planted one
much deeper. I had not applied mulch there. They both grew last year after planting. Not much, but I knew they
were alive. I put a stake by its location, though, last fall. It’s a new
planting area and I didn’t want to make any mistakes in the spring. I do that
often with new plants until I get used to something being in that spot. So at
least I know where it is.

They were small, but I knew that going in, and the cost was less than half
of the larger roots being sold. This vendor was expensive (by my standards),
and I bought one expensive full priced one (the Buckeye Belle) , and “subsidized”
that by buying the two smaller roots.
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linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
11 years ago
(a fourth one, which I didn’t mention in my original posting, planted in
another location, never grew at all. I never saw any sign of it after planting,
and it had plenty of eyes and life showing when I did plant it. I did not plant
that one immediately, though, so that might have been the reason. I still look
hopefully at that spot every time I walk past!)
lizbest1
11 years ago
I'd say just wait and watch a while longer. Has your weather warmed up a lot? If you're still having a lot of cold spells it could pop up when it warms significantly. Wish I had something proactive to suggest but I think you're in the waiting game now, sorry...
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I think I'll just wait, as much as I'm tempted to get something to plug in there now. After all, it's not like peonies are an instant gratification perennial. If it fails to show altogether, I'll look for a white one in the fall. Instead, I should plant the 4 peonies I already bought ;)
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I needed the spot where I mentioned I had planted the fourth one last year. I dug carefully and reached the root: spongy and rotted! But as I said above, I knew I had held it too long. I had to dig out sod to do it, so I put it off. I no longer recall HOW long, just that the others I bought (Buckeye Belle and Snow Mountain) were planted immediately. I held it (bareroot, in moist peat) for, maybe, 2 weeks? 3? As an amateur at peonies, I don't know how long is too long.

On the plus side, the surviving Snow Mountain (sold as small and likely to take long to bloom), now a foot tall, has a bud! The Buckeye Belle (full size when purchased), now one stem 6 inches tall, also has a bud!
lizbest1
11 years ago
Sorry you lost the one but congratulations on your buds!