I think you did just fine planting it as and when you did. My only concern would be the different exposure coming from the growers greenhouse into the full sun of your garden. If that were to be a problem you would know it within the first few days. I recently bought a very large, very full, VERY CHEAP, peony from Costco. When I was finely able to get it out of the pot the soil was as dry and hard and fully packed with roots as I have ever seen. With the plant in bloom and so packed with stems I was afraid to do anything drastic to the roots. I just planted as it was in my peony bed and soaked it well. The next day it was wilted and I soaked it again. The weather was cool and not much sun. It took about two weeks of babying to get this peony to stop the periodic wilting. This fall when the plant goes dormant I will dig it up and break up the root ball, divide it,if called for. I guess the lesson is a plant may have a good reason, for being CHEAP. Al

Last question first. I placed a couple of bush peonies in the ground last year. These peonies were from a mail order, I see buds on them this year. You should expect the same. We had a bad winter in Toronto too, but this should not bother the peonies. In fact, peonies needs the winter cold. Earlier this year, I transferred four peonies into pots for different reasons. Contrary to other people's comments, these peonies are doing fine. As an experiment, I also divided a few bush peonies while it's growing. Maybe I will post the results when it's finished blooming. Below are the four peonies I have transferred to bigger pots. Peonies grow fast, so make sure your pot is big enough. Starting from left to right, the first is Magical Mystery Tour Itoh peony. I've received this plant from Spring Gardens in a very small container. I transferred it to a larger container until I find a home for it later in the summer or fall. The second plant from the left is a Yellow peony tree grown from a seed. I got it from a trade. It was stored in the ground in the small container all winter. The third Plant from the left is Scarlet Heaven Itoh peony. I took it from the ground and transferred it to a larger container until I find a home for it later in the summer or fall. You would need a half size whisky barrel to store a full size Itoh peony. The last plant is a baby White tree peony I stored in the ground last winter. I dug it up this year to examine its root system, and to find a permanent home for it later in the season. Here are the before and "after" pictures.

Reading your post gives me hope for my boxed roots I bought at a Home Depot. However, I think I potted them up a day or two after buying them. I actually looked them over in their plastic bag before buying them because I was shopping in May and I hadn't seen them there before. Led me to believe they had been returned items as they were the only two there. My luck! They were also marked down along with the rest of the boxed perennials. I liked playing rescue gardener this summer; buying the last of the (even thogh better looking) leftovers. Now I have to do a bit of repotting and repositioning to give them less of this scorching Chicago sun! I know they won't bloom until next Spring if then. I'm just anxious to see what colors I'll have. They were four to a box and the pictures showed Sarah Bernhart, Festiva Maxima, Sorbet, and the Karl guy's :). As for more suggestions for your garden, do you have Sorbet? If you bought them boxed up you maaaaaay have had a Sorbet in it. There's also a new, rare breed out that is yellow but quite expensive. About $90 and up for one root with maybe 3-5 eyes. I can't remember it's name but it's the only pure yellow peony. I'm sure once I save up enough blood to sale I'll be able to buy one!

I have two really beautiful and sturdy pink peonies, and I'd like to divide the biggest one and trade for a different peony that will go better with my planned color scheme. I'm sorry I don't know the name of the peony I have, but a photo is shown below. It's a nice sturdy peony (not floppy), kind of a later blooming type. I'd like to trade for a white single with a smaller yellow center like a Pico or Requiem, or a red/cerise/dark pink with white like a White Cap. I would prefer to trade a medium or bigger box so we both get larger sized peonies growing next year, but I'm flexible on size. I think it's better on the peony to trade later in the fall, but I thought it would be best to get the trade lined up now while things are blooming. I also have a lot of creeping sedum, or sweet woodruff, or some virginia waterleaf (if we trade soon before it disappears for the year) to trade if you'd prefer that instead of my pink peony. Also happy to do SASE for your peony, but not looking to send out my peony for SASE. Thank you!