2015 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List

Wow. I can't believe it's that time of year already. The peony catalogs are already up online, and things are selling out already. It seems like most peony growers have their catalogs out early this year. So I decided to go ahead and publish this 2015 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List. This is the third year I've collected this information. I think for the most part Intersectional Peonies are becoming more affordable. There are a couple vendors who raise their prices each year, but most of them become less costly as inventories of intersectional peonies increase. Enjoy! (Also if you'd like your company to be listed here, please join the American Peony Society as a Commercial Member, since this is where I obtain my peony grower information.)

Price Change from Last Year Adelman - mostly same or lower Bannister - same Birchwood - same Blossom Hill - mostly lower or same Brooks - mostly same or lower Buck Canyon - same Cricket Hill - mostly lower Fina - mostly higher Hidden Springs - mostly higher or same Hollingsworth - mostly higher or same Peony's Envy - same Solaris Farms - same Song Sparrow - same or higher Swenson - mostly lower or same

Intersectional Peony	Price	Vendor
Al's Choice	$125.00	Swenson
Ballarena de Saval	$70.00	Adelman
Bartzella	$45.00	Solaris Farms
Bartzella	$50.00	Swenson
Bartzella	$65.00	Fina
Bartzella	$69.00	Cricket Hill
Bartzella	$75.00	Brooks
Bartzella	$75.00	Buck Canyon
Bartzella	$79.00	Peony's Envy
Bartzella	$79.00	Hidden Springs
Bartzella	$80.00	Adelman
Bartzella	$85.00	Birchwood
Bartzella	$90.00	Hollingsworth
Bartzella	$90.00	Song Sparrow
Bartzella	C$135.00	Blossom Hill
Berry Garcia	$125.00	Brooks
Border Charm	$35.00	Swenson
Border Charm	$40.00	Adelman
Border Charm	$40.00	Brooks
Border Charm	$45.00	Birchwood
Border Charm	$60.00	Song Sparrow
Callie's Memory	$50.00	Swenson
Callie's Memory	$55.00	Solaris Farms
Callie's Memory	$75.00	Adelman
Callie's Memory	$75.00	Brooks
Canary Brilliants	$50.00	Swenson
Canary Brilliants	$70.00	Adelman
Canary Brilliants	$79.00	Peony's Envy
Canary Brilliants	$90.00	Solaris Farms
Chief Black Hawk	$225.00	Brooks
Copper Kettle	$80.00	Solaris Farms
Cora Louise	$60.00	Adelman
Cora Louise	$60.00	Birchwood
Cora Louise	$60.00	Buck Canyon
Cora Louise	$50.00	Swenson
Cora Louise	$54.00	Hollingsworth
Cora Louise	$74.00	Hidden Springs
Cora Louise	$79.00	Peony's Envy
Cora Louise	$85.00	Song Sparrow
Cora Louise	$89.00	Cricket Hill
Court Jester	$50.00	Swenson
First Arrival	$45.00	Solaris Farms
First Arrival	$50.00	Swenson
First Arrival	$56.00	Hollingsworth
First Arrival	$60.00	Adelman
First Arrival	$60.00	Buck Canyon
First Arrival	$79.00	Peony's Envy
First Arrival	$89.00	Cricket Hill
First Arrival	$125.00	Bannister
First Arrival	C$100.00	Blossom Hill
Garden Treasure	$40.00	Solaris Farms
Garden Treasure	$50.00	Swenson
Garden Treasure	$60.00	Fina
Garden Treasure	$68.00	Birchwood
Garden Treasure	$75.00	Brooks
Garden Treasure	$75.00	Hidden Springs
Garden Treasure	$80.00	Adelman
Garden Treasure	$80.00	Bannister
Garden Treasure	$80.00	Buck Canyon
Garden Treasure	$80.00	Hollingsworth
Garden Treasure	$89.00	Cricket Hill
Garden Treasure	$89.00	Peony's Envy
Garden Treasure	C$130.00	Blossom Hill
Going Bananas	$40.00	Adelman
Going Bananas	$75.00	Swenson
Going Bananas	C$90.00	Blossom Hill
Gordon E. Simonson	$215.00	Hollingsworth
Gordon E. Simonson	$225.00	Adelman
Hidden Treasure	$40.00	Solaris Farms
Hillary	$50.00	Adelman
Hillary	$50.00	Buck Canyon
Hillary	$50.00	Hollingsworth
Hillary	$50.00	Swenson
Hillary	$55.00	Fina
Hillary	$75.00	Solaris Farms
Hillary	$85.00	Song Sparrow
Japanese Itoh	$35.00	Swenson
Joanna Marlene	$75.00	Swenson
Joanna Marlene	$80.00	Adelman
Julia Rose	$50.00	Swenson
Julia Rose	$70.00	Brooks
Julia Rose	$75.00	Adelman
Julia Rose	$75.00	Solaris Farms
Julia Rose	$79.00	Solaris Farms
Julia Rose	$80.00	Song Sparrow
Julia Rose	C$125.00	Blossom Hill
(Anderson's) Kaleidoscope	$50.00	Swenson
Kaleidoscope	$75.00	Buck Canyon
Kaleidoscope	$95.00	Brooks
Kaleidoscope	$125.00	Hidden Springs
Kopper Kettle	$99.00	Adelman
Lafayette Escadrille	$60.00	Song Sparrow
Lemon Dream	$45.00	Adelman
Lemon Dream	$45.00	Brooks
Lemon Dream	$45.00	Buck Canyon
Lemon Dream	$45.00	Solaris Farms
Lemon Dream	$50.00	Swenson
Little Darlin	$60.00	Birchwood
Little Darlin	$60.00	Song Sparrow
Lollipop	$75.00	Solaris Farms
Love Affair	$150.00	Adelman
Love Affair	$160.00	Hollingsworth
Lunar Glow	$100.00	Adelman
Luxuriant	$175.00	Brooks
Momo Taro (Peach Boy)	$45.00	Solaris Farms
Morning Lilac	$70.00	Adelman
Morning Lilac	$70.00	Brooks
Morning Lilac	$70.00	Buck Canyon
Morning Lilac	$75.00	Swenson
New Millennium	$200.00	Adelman
Old Rose Dandy	$35.00	Swenson
Old Rose Dandy	$40.00	Hollingsworth
Old Rose Dandy	$45.00	Adelman
Old Rose Dandy	$45.00	Solaris Farms
Pastel Splendor	$35.00	Swenson
Pastel Splendor	$45.00	Adelman
Pastel Splendor	$45.00	Solaris Farms
Pastel Splendor	$48.00	Hidden Springs
Pastel Splendor	$70.00	Song Sparrow
Pastel Splendor	C$80.00	Blossom Hill
Prairie Charm	$35.00	Buck Canyon
Prairie Charm	$35.00	Swenson
Prairie Charm	$48.00	Brooks
Prairie Charm	$50.00	Adelman
Prairie Charm	$50.00	Birchwood
Prairie Charm	$55.00	Hidden Springs
Prairie Charm	$60.00	Bannister
Prairie Charm	$70.00	Song Sparrow
Rosy Prospects	$70.00	Adelman
Scarlet Heaven	$35.00	Swenson
Scarlet Heaven	$38.00	Hollingsworth
Scarlet Heaven	$40.00	Adelman
Scarlet Heaven	$45.00	Solaris Farms
Scarlet Heaven	$69.00	Cricket Hill
Scarlet Heaven	C$80.00	Blossom Hill
Sequestered Sunshine	$75.00	Brooks
Sequestered Sunshine	$75.00	Swenson
Shining Light	$35.00	Swenson
Singing in the Rain	$40.00	Adelman
Singing in the Rain	$125.00	Brooks
Smith Family Yellow	$99.00	Adelman
Sonoma Amethyst	$65.00	Adelman
Sonoma Amethyst	$65.00	Buck Canyon
Sonoma Amethyst	$75.00	Solaris Farms
Sonoma Apricot	$80.00	Adelman
Sonoma Apricot	$80.00	Buck Canyon
Sonoma Floozy	$80.00	Adelman
Sonoma Halo	$350.00	Adelman
Sonoma Kaleidoscope	$200.00	Adelman
Sonoma Lavender Fancy	$50.00	Adelman
Sonoma Sun	$80.00	Adelman
Sonoma Velvet Ruby	$75.00	Solaris Farms
Sonoma Velvet Ruby	$80.00	Adelman
Sonoma Welcome	$75.00	Adelman
Strawberry Blush	$250.00	Adelman
Sunshine Sensation	C$130.00	Blossom Hill
Unique	$48.00	Buck Canyon
Unique	$50.00	Swenson
Unique	$60.00	Adelman
Viking Full Moon	$40.00	Solaris Farms
Viking Full Moon	$45.00	Adelman
Viking Full Moon	$120.00	Song Sparrow
Watermelon Wine	$150.00	Adelman
White Emperor	$125.00	Swenson
Yellow Crown	$45.00	Solaris Farms
Yellow Emperor	$45.00	Solaris Farms

2015 Peony Bloom Data in Peony Database

Last night I was so happy to finally get all of my peony bloom data into a database! Being a programmer has some advantages. I was able to download Postgresql (free database software) earlier this week and get it installed. Then last night I finally decided on the layouts for my database tables to hold the peony data. Then I worked on grooming and exporting my data from Excel into CSV files. Finally I was able to import all of the data into my new databases! What a feeling of accomplishment. :-) Now that I have all of my data stored in a database, I will be able to analyze and query the data easily whenever I like. I also plan to use this data to examine the performance of peony varieties over time and update my Bloom Dates page with average bloom dates for peony varieties. This year, 2015, I will have collected 10 years worth of peony bloom data.
Peony Database

2015 Peony Clipboard Data Entry

It is the middle of winter here, and there's not much going on in the peony garden right now. So it is a good time to get some of the paperwork, data entry, and analysis done that falls by the wayside during the growing season. Another peony season is over, and another one shall soon begin. Another clipboard full of data and notes from last year's growing season awaits its turn to be entered and analyzed. So this is what I'll make use of some of my time today, a day spent locked inside in the warmth and soft glows, away from the cold and bitter winds outside. I've long been dreaming about the day when I would take my tablet into the garden with me to enter my notes right away instead of putting them on paper and them transferring them into my computer. With the price of tablets dropping so quickly perhaps that day will be here soon!
Peony Data Clipboard

2014 Southern Peony Photos

One goal I had this year was to update the photo on the main page with a new peony each month. I kind of almost made that goal. I had to put December's photo in a bit late, but otherwise I made the goal to get out at least 12 new photos this year. I want to keep this goal every year until my Inventory page is mostly complete. Right now there are more peony varieties without photos than there are peony varieties with photos. I'd like to reverse that. :-) This goal has two purposes. I'd like to keep the main page fresh with a new picture on it every month, and the other and most important reason is I'd like to increase the number of peony bloom photos available on my site. Hopefully this will help people in identifying their own peonies (or determining mislabeled peonies) and perhaps also encourage people to find new varieties of peonies they'd like to grow!
December 2014 - Peony 'Yellow Crown'

2014 Intersectional Peonies with 3 Flowers Per Stem

I actually finished cutting back all of my peonies before December this year. That's quite a feat considering some years I am pruning dead foliage well into January! While cutting back my intersectional peonies yesterday, I noticed that two intersectional peony varieties had three flowers per stem. I grow several varieties of intersectional peonies, and so far these are the only two that have had three peony blooms on one stem. This is definitely something that would make one intersectional peony variety better than another. Not only does having three flowers per stem give you more blooms per bush, but it also likely increases the blooms season for the plant. Now that I am thinking about it, the blooms on both Peony 'Garden Treasure' and 'Julia Rose' seemed to last longer than the rest of my intersectional peonies this year. I will have to keep an eye on this trait to see if any of my other intersectional peonies develop this habit as the plants mature! Also Peony 'Garden Treasure' is an American Peony Society Gold Medal Winner from 1996. So if you are looking to add an intersectional peony to your garden, and you're not sure which one to choose, Peony 'Garden Treasure' and Peony 'Julia Rose' may be good selections to consider!

3 Flowers on 1 Stem on Intersectional Peony 'Garden Treasure'	3 Flowers on 1 Stem on Intersectional Peony 'Julia Rose'

2014 Peony Thank You Card

This month I received a card in the mail. It was a thank you card for a peony root I'd given someone. My friend Michele has told me several times about how her neighbor, Glory, was always drooling over another of their neighbor's peonies and how she'd love to have one. I'd wanted to give my friend Michele a peony for a while too. So this fall I took two peony roots over to her house. I let Michele pick which one she'd like from the two peonies I'd brought and told her she could give the other one to her neighbor, Glory. I brought Michele a piece of my favorite white single peony (which had well over a hundred blooms on it at once this year) and a nice big fat double white peony. Michele opted to keep the white single peony. So I helped her plant it near her mailbox (since that is the sunniest part of her yard). She later gave the double white peony to her neighbor. A week or so later, I received this lovely thank you card in the mail. What a nice surprise! It really brings joy to my heart to share my love of peonies with others. I hope the peonies will bloom for many years to come and that they both enjoy the peony plants as much as I have!

Thank You Card for a Peony

2014 How to Divide an Herbaceous Peony

Since it's that time of year, and I needed to divide a few peonies of my own I wanted to create this illustrated how to divide an herbaceous peony guide. Let talk about reasons why to divide a peony and what would qualify as a peony that needs division or would be okay to divide. The reasons to divide a peony are to create more of the same peony to plant in your garden, to give a peony to someone you know, or maybe even to sell a piece of your peony. As far as what peony would qualify as a peony to divide, I've heard a rule of thumb is a peony with at least seven stems. However as you can see, the peony in this guide has many more than seven stems. This particular peony has more than 25 stems!
Cut Back the Peony Stems
First you should cut back all of the stems on your peony. When cutting back peony stems for the winter, I usually cut them back to the ground. However when dividing a peony it will probably help you see where and how to divide the peony if you keep the stems a little longer (about 2-3 inches). A longer stem left on the peony division will also help its new owner figure out the correct way to plant it!
Dig the Peony Out of the Soil
Next, after your peony has been cut back, carefully dig in a circle around the peony. I usually try to dig a circle that is about 1 foot away from the peony stems to try to preserve as many of the roots as possible. After you have dug a circle around the peony, next try digging a little underneath the peony all the way around it, until you are able to lift it above the soil.
Wash Off Your Peony Roots
After you have removed your peony from the soil, you should take it to a place where you can give it a thorough rinse. As you can see I had a little helper to help me with this part! A garden hose with a stream nozzle that has a little bit of power behind it will help get the soil out of all of the nooks and crannies in your peony root.
Let the Peony Rest for at Least One Day
As you can tell from the picture, my peony root is now dry. That's because it's been sitting in the same spot for a couple days. It took me a little while to get back to it. Your peony root should be given time to sit and rest before you divide it. Otherwise you will accidentally snap of lots of your peony's storage roots. When you first dig a peony from the soil, the roots are very firm and easy to break. After the peony sits for a day, the roots will be softer and a little more limber. You should still be careful with the roots because they can still break, but they will be much easier to work with than if you had tried to divide your peony right after digging it.
Find a Nice Spot to Divide Your Peony
After your peony has had a chance to rest and soften up, find a nice spot to divide the peony. Look for a spot that your garden knife will go into nicely and it seems it would be easy to cut. You don't have to divide off one piece at a time. In fact I just divide mine in half and then half again and so on until I get the size divisions I want.
Separate the Peony into Two Pieces
Next after you have separated your peony into two separate pieces, look at each piece to see how many stems and or eyes are on each division. If the roots are large enough you may be able to divide them again, just as I could with this peony. The rule of thumb is that peonies should have at least 3 to 4 eyes on them to grow nicely. If you want a larger plant that will bloom even sooner, you may want to leave 6 to 8 eyes on your divisions.
Examine the Divisions to See if They Can Be Divided Further
If one of your peony roots is large enough that you can divide it into smaller pieces, find a spot on the peony root that the garden knife will fit nicely and allow you to separate it into two pieces with at least 3 to 4 eyes on each piece. Try to make the smallest cut possible so that you don't snap off any storage roots.
Cut the Divisions into Smaller Pieces (If Needed)
After you've divided your division, separate it into separate pieces. Remember not to make the divisions too small. If you have less than 3 to 4 eyes, it could take extra YEARS to get your peony to a good blooming size. So when it comes to dividing peonies, bigger divisions are much better than more divisions.
Separate the Divided Division
Then examine the other half of your original peony to see if it can be divided further as well. If so, repeat the steps above to divide that half into smaller divisions as well.
Divide the Other Half of Your Peony (If Needed)

Find a Spot Where the Garden Knife Fits Easily

Separate the Divisions

Cut the Divisions into Smaller Pieces (If Needed)

Results of the Peony Divisions - 5 Pieces