Being planted - from a container to the ground - is not the same as being transplanted - moved from one inground location to another. And even that is not much of an issue for a peony other than maybe - not always - putting them off their stride for a season or so.

I have issues with the quality and storage regimes for most bare root perennials (generally poor) and will always opt for a potted started plant over bare root. The success rate in planting containerized perennials is far superior than any bare root stock. And at this time of the season, peonies are out of dormancy and at least in my area, are getting ready to put on their show for Mother's Day. Anything that is available as bare root now is IMO not worth planting - too long in storage, too late to be bare root, too stressed to thrive and perhaps, not even survive. YMMV

That's great to know. I was hoping a potted peony would do! Thank you.

If you purchase a Sarah with buds on it and want to see blooms this year you'll probably want to leave it in the pot until after the blooms are done. You can get away with putting a potted one in more shade than you'd plant it out in--actually preferable since it's probably been greenhouse grown and could use the hardening off. Make sure the pot is shaded so the roots don't overheat, don't overwater and it'll be good. Once it's done flowering you can plant it any time you like, just like any other potted perennial it'll need some babying until it's established. Check to see how deep the top of the roots are before you put it in the ground, you'll want it to be around 2" deep in your zone 5b, no deeper. That's where the eyes will form later in the fall, on the crown of the root, and if they're too deep it can inhibit blooming.

Everyone has their preferences with planting, either bareroot or potted. I have 2 sources that I'll plant bareroot in the spring but mostly prefer fall from growers who dig/divide/ship in a fairly tight period. Peony roots can survive a ton of abuse though, saw a post on the Southern Peony blog where she found a box from a few years before that she misplaced with roots in it--planted them and they grew!

Lizbest, thank you! This detailed information helps a ton! I'll do just as you say!! :)

You're very welcome, hi_60! Peonies get a reputation for being fussy and hard to grow but they're not. Any perennial moved from pot to ground would take the same amount of care and you always want to harden them off gradually unless you know they've been outside at the nursery. Once they're established peonies are actually fairly xeric, I normally only water mine once every week or 10 days here in CO and we're considered high desert! They are prone to mildew and damp related diseases in more humid areas so depending on where you live you might want to leave a bit more space between plants to allow for good circulation and water at ground level, I use drip lines to make it super easy.

The only negative I can say about Sarah is that the plant really does look so much better if given support. Peony rings are fairly inexpensive or you can use a tomato cage cut down, you'll need bolt cutters to do it, though! Sarah gets big enough that the bigger half of a tomato cage would be completely obscured with just a couple of growing seasons.

Lizbest, great to hear they aren't difficult to maintain and thank you for the heads up on Sarah!

When I moved to my current home 30 yrs ago, I bought some potted peonies and planted them. (Sarah Bernhardts) Since then, I don't do much, occasionally fertilize if I think of it. That's about it, and every year, they are covered in blooms. It's true, they do need support, in the rain those big, heavy flowers will be knocked down. Even when not in bloom, the foliage is nice too. To me, peonies are one of the easiest perennials for a lazy gardener like me.