JoAnne, I think it took about 3 years for my Kinkaku (the proper names is Souvenir de Maxime Cornu) to bloom. Just be patient. I assume that this was a grafted plant. I do hope that you planted it deeply when you planted. I would not put mulch up on the stem of the plant. I have used landscaping timbers to build a small retaining wall of 3 inches around tree peonies to raise the ground level. These plants were located on an incline and it looked rather natural to raise the ground level around the plants in this way. If your plant is not planted deep enough to have a minimum of 2 inches of the stem below the soil then this fall you could dig and reset the plant lower. If you do this at the proper time of the year it would not set the plant back.

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!

To lizbest1: Thank you again for your help. I'm going to take a picture of what I see and post it tomorrow. I'm pretty sure they're buds! I'm in Long Island, New York (zone 7, I think) and our weather wasn't all that cold this winter, but it was pretty cold. I see my lilacs are budding, so I think that's a good sign. I'm so excited about my peonies (the one I'm going to post is the biggest one I have) as my late husband was not fond of them--he called them "ant flowers" and mowed down all the ones that were here when we bought this house (needless to say, I was very upset)--but since he passed away in 2015, I'm back to planting peonies. I remember them because of my mother having them. I have 4 other ones--not nearly as big or expensive as this one--and I don't see any buds on them yet. They are much smaller, though. The big one (an Itoh) is in a prime location in my garden. It is in a raised bed--so no standing water and great drainage--and sun almost all of the day. I remember from last year that it was very fragrant. When I transplanted it, I cut the plastic pot off so to not disturb it too much. Luckily, I have a pair of Cutco scissors that can cut through most anything. Again, I am so excited!

Cora Louise has white petals with purple flares at the base. It is also a semidouble meaning that it has more petals than the single form which is the form exhibited by your mislabeled peony above. Yours maybe Pastel Splendor, I am not sure. But here are pics to help you compare. Cora Louise at cool temps. Cora Louise at warmer temps. Pastel Splendor - single form with cream colored petals overlay with light pink.