Buford...they are container- grown Roses...I still have several yet to plant...hopefully tomorrow...(I'm slow) and have to haul off rocks from every hole I dig... It all started innocently enough last Spring...I went to a nursery to buy my usual annuals... They had this huge Blushing Knockout Rose in a planter...displayed so that you had to walk around it to get to the annuals...a trap I know...I'm not fond of pink at all, but couldn't get that out of my mind...so later, I had to buy two of them and two red knockouts and planted them around a big tree stump... Yes, Roses are an addiction.

If the vendor did not send planting instructions please plant with the graft and part of the stem under the surface of the dirt. Most tree peonies are grafted plants. To insure the grafted plant(the part that you want to grow) sends out it's own roots part of the stem must be below ground. Some people actually bury with only the tip showing. I only do this if the grafted stem is very short. A word of advice I find with many of the grafted peonies the stem that is grafted will die this winter. However if I leave the plant alone a new stem may come up not next spring but the following spring. So patience is the word. I find this is most often true with the tree peonies that are imported directly from China. The stem dying may happen several years in a row but once the plant has established itself the resulting plant is quite vigorus. This is from my experience in my area and may not be the same for everyone.

NoTitle Insurance mentioned? Sorry I cannot be of any help but this is a good lesson for anyone considering a land/property purchase. Even after due diligence, don't agree to purchase property or land without adequate title insurance. One needs to cover one's investment; it's true title insurance costs money but money worth spent especially when spending a significant amount on the purchase. A copy of a title insurance is almost as important as the land deed. For my coast to coast land purchase last year, I paid a couple of thousand for title insurance; it ensured a risk free transaction and covers me for a host of other unforeseen issues way into the future till I own the land. Zero lawyers were involved in the deal though it is advisable to engage a land attorney if one is not confident about understanding the fine print of any document.

Do not despare - it is still alive. Like any other gesneriad - it rots if overwatered. So it shoudln't stand in a water ever. If the roots are rotten - look at them and tweak - if they are gone - they will be falling off - you better restart it from part of a healthy stem you have. Method - sphag-n-bag. Barely moist sphagnum and get it covered. Second option - they grow under lights and in relatively humid conditions. If your air is very dry - it can cause problems... Third option - normally these plants are tough. What if the box got overheated in a mail or near your doors waiting to be picked up? It could cause a damage that would bring a gradual decline. If I would grow this plant on a windowsill - I would use Oyama pot - and do not refill reservoir it until the soil is dry. It is kind of fleshy - so it won't die if dries a bit. Regarding VB - since the purchase was done months ago - they are not going to replace it. Before you could call them during the working hours and ask for an advice. If it arrived cooked or frozen - the time to complain was at the same day or about. I do not think there is a magic word they can say - and it will recover - at that point. Otherwise - this plant requires the same care as an AV, can take a bit more light. It is not as tough as Nematanthus "Tropicana", but it is not picky. VB soil is on a heavy side, I would repot it into something lighter- like AV soil split with perlite, at the same time look at the roots - if they are viable. Keep it covered for some time - but barey moist, not soggy.