When I've bought Itoh's bare root, I've been told to plant the highest crown bud 2 inches below the surface.

Thank you weeper. Will do.

Good news, I ended up planting two plants last year and they even have a couple of buds this year!!! I am so excited! They have several established Bartzella and other itoh peonies at Olds college, I knew I could not live without trying one. I am so happy mine survived the winter!!!

Mine is crazy this year. Plentiful, gigantic blooms.

WOW! We need pictures here, people!!! :-)

BTW, these Itoh peonies are sooooo expensive! I have not been able to justify their price so far....

I got them last year clearance for $34.99, from Sunnyside garden centre as they were clearance because of powdery mildew.

Veseys bulbs has a few itohs for around $40 but I've ordered herbaceous peony roots online from them this year and was not too impressed with the quality although they are now all finally living. I also bought another Bartzella root online from Canadablooms for about $35, quality was ok (there was some rot) but it is leafing out now. Bluegrass also had a few potted itohs for around the $50 range.

I read somewhere once they found established Bartzellas at Costco, I can't remember if this was in Canada, but it would be amazing if it were true!

shazam, I am glad to hear Bartzella is already blooming for you and doing well! I have three plants all together now, two with buds, and can't wait to see the first bloom!

Sorry but I am still too cheap to buy it at $35.... LOL! But where are the photos please!? LOL

Amazing Shazam!!! Thank you so much for the photos! It is great to know such an exotic looking plant can do so well here!

I should take some with the DSLR. The iPhone doesn't do it justice.

Nice photos, shazam!!! Now, how long do these blooms last? Just the same as the herbaceous peonies, or longer?

Same as herbaceous. However they don't all come out at once, which is nice.

Mine is quite a bit further behind, here is its first bloom ever!

My other one planted last year finally had its first bloom, unfortunately it was pinkish purple, not yellow. Oh well!