I had mentioned before of the best way to dig a fern leaf by using nozzled water. The roots are usually delicate and cannot be handled as one would handle the standard peonies. This example was dug today due to being in an unfavorable location and I wanted to see how it had developed. First pic is from 7-8-2010 the year after it was planted from a sliver root with one eye in 2009. The other two are as it is today. A prime example of the slow process required to bring them to blooming size or saleable size for marketing. One of the reasons they are scarce and expensive.

Well, I won't be so embarrassed to tell you mine is very little, but doing fine, then, LOL. I was thinking I was doing something wrong.

Thank you for the example.

Polly, if it has green leaves it should survive. Remember, do not water it after the leaves turn brown. They are native to harsh environments and do not like a lot of water.

Great tips, OGR.

Looking at the root system on your FLP makes me wonder just what is it that I have as the roots on mine bear no resemblance to your picture. My FLP has what I can only call stolons that spread out with the branches spreading out about 1.5 feet from one side to the other. It is also growing fairly quickly for a FLP. I don't have a picture of it or I would post it but the foliage is finely divided like in your photo and it has very early single deep red blooms. The main difference is only one branch rises from the ends of these strange stoloniferous roots. Any ideas? Genetic mutations from the gardens around Chernobyl? A GMO with octopus genes spliced in?

My best info indicates you have the true species P.tenuifolia which has the stolons instead of root mass as my pic indicates. My pic is of a double red of uncertain origin. It should be P.tenuifolia Rubra Flore (or Flora) Plena. I have a true species double red on order from Hidden Springs Flower Farm for comparison but may take a couple of years to bloom. My species single has the longer stolons with eyes at the end just like your's. Treasure your FLP because they are scarce.

Hey now that would be a miracle! If it is the true species P. tenuifolia that would make it the first correctly labelled species plant I've ever purchased from the nursery I got it at.

Decided today would be a good time to transplant one of my double fernies. It is only 93 and some cloud cover so this may be the coolest day for awhile. Dug it by flushing the roots with water and was able to remove it with no broken tubers. First pic is the bottom of the root system.


Notice there are several eyes but I did not want to try to divide it since I have 2 others with a species double coming this fall.

Notice the eyes are not firmly anchored to the crown so do not try to pull it by the stems. I hose out the soil and put my hand underneath the tubers and lift gently.


Next 2 are of a couple of singles which were too close to the surface. I hosed some of the loose soil away to check for eyes then covered them with some high quality MG potting soil.

Nice photos. What a healthy specimen you have there.

Mine is looking good, I'm hoping for flowers next year. Thanks again!