Good point about the depth, Barb. I should have thought about that, but I'm just home from a trip--and incoherently tired! Too deep and they won't bloom (like iris)! I don't think you need to worry about depth to keep them from freezing. The plants I had in pots over winter one year had snow melt in the pot that didn't drain out before it froze again, and they were a big lump of ice for a good month. I was calling them peony pops on another thread not too long ago. I thought they were gonners for sure, but when spring came and they thawed out, they were no worse for the wear! Peonies can take a LOT of cold. I should have thot of sticking this link in too! It's the one I found when I was planting mine---I was looking to get the depth right! It's from the U. of Minnesota where the zone is 4 or colder for most of the state. The "eyes" should be about 1 1/2" below the surface, and since I assume yours is already growing in a pot, that would be the place where the stems come out of the root! Planting them now, you should get at least a few flowers next spring. I just refreshed this and saw David's comment that they don't need that much sun, and the U of M site says that 4 or 5 hours is enough. I never knew that! And I definitely agree with David's comment about the deep roots! When I dug them out of the whisky barrels, where they had been for 2 years, the roots went all the way to the bottom--which was half filled with rocks--and were actually starting to grow into the wood, and I finally just gave up and kind of ripped them out! They did fine! Giddy and squealing is good! Skybird Here is a link that might be useful: Planting Peonies!

Shelley I put some suggestions on your posting in the Perenials forum. Some years back I had one which did not flower and had tried different positions but the main ingredients I had missed was the heavy feeding and good drainage. When I have seen them growing in long lines in the Dandenongs they are quite raised in long mounds. When we moved I accidently put the peony near a small brick wall and it flowered I think because of the lime. So now I am hooked! I have them now raised in a border with roses behind and annuals in front. The bronze foliage was also outstanding in the autumn. Give them a go - full sun, lots of blood & bone and lime at the bottom of your hole, raise them up and mulch sides plus a handful of cow manure on the top for good measure and water in well. If I kill mine I'll own up. Good luck.

Natasha, haven't yet used the Tumax to create a trellis. Ran across these 20 years ago, found the idea intriguing & picked up a kit for a few dollars. Would think the structural strength would relate to the diameter gauge of the wire selected & the number of anchors used as support. Expect one of the multi-strand twisted or braided cable wires - in place of the galvanized wire roll that comes with the kit - would be much stronger & bear the weight of a mature rose. Since the wire is threaded through the loops that project from the anchors, would think how closely those anchors are spaced also figures into a weight capacity calculation. The tensile strength of the wire plus the number of anchors used along the line should yield a rule of thumb where the weight is distributed evenly along the span. Tumax may have this info with their professional kit instructions on their site - you might noodle around there to find it - or just contact them & ask for their load weight formula. Have used the anchors alone, without wires, as free form supports on a stone facade. Install them on the wall where they're needed as the rose grows & loosely figure eight tie the canes to the anchor eyelet. The anchors are hidden behind the plant. Gives a pleasant natural effect to my eye, as if the rose is doing it all by itself. (Look Ma, no hands!) To allow sufficient space between the wall & the plant, often add another ring or length of rubbery plastic chain onto the eyelet & tie to that as the canes thicken, allowing me to use those spongy noodle ties or green velcro loops. Lenarufus, Nahema is a beauty with toe-curling fragrance. Your wall coloring sets her off to perfection. New here this year as a gallon own root, she's a real charmer. Good growing to all! Sue

Those peonies with their blooms in the dirt/mud! I invested in some rather tall and wide circular plant hoops--legs are about 30 in, tall--flat grid circle top is maybe 24 in. diameter (I'm guessing on these). I insert them into the ground and let the peony grow up through the hoop. Looks quite natural and keeps most of the blooms nearly upright. I leave the plant hoops in the ground all year round--just adjust it a bit for balance in the early spring. It's worth the expense! I think I got mine by googling "peony plant hoops"--and then looking through all the options until I found the height and other features I wanted. If I had lots of room, I think I might have as many peonies as I do roses! Kate