Hiyamakki,
A lot of us grow tree peonies because they bloom earlier than the herbaceous peonies, and we can extend the season. Their blooms are often much larger, too. It's all a matter of what a gardener likes!

Do you know if there are any public gardens near you than have tree peonies that you could go see in the Spring? That would be a good way to see if they appeal to you.

As to the price, they are not bad considering that if you give it the proper growing conditions the peony will probably outlive you! There are some in China that are several hundreds of years old.

with LG. I hope you will check out the tree peonies in public gardens near you. You will find out they are in a class of their own. If you think the pictures look beautiful, they look even nicer when viewed in person. Their beauty is magnified when viewed up close. I love the Japanese tree peonies. THe presentation of the flowers on Japanese tree peonies is one of the best. These are not that expensive. In fact, I bought some of mine for $40 or less.

Where do you get yours Karen? It's 50 at Song SparSparrow but shipping is another $25. I am very intrigued by tree peonie and some of them are very lovely. I may just have to indulge a other year. Hopefully next fall I'll remember to budget for one and order early enough that half the varieties aren't sold out.

Are there any garden centers near you? My garden centers carry Japanese tree peonies in gallon pots for $39.90 a pot. It is labeled as pink, white, or purple, but sometimes you will find name tags hidden in the pots and they can be Chojurako, Shimadajin, or something else. A few years ago, I bought a pink one on clearance for $20. It hasn't bloomed yet. This past fall I bought Shima Nishiki at Solaris for $45. IT was a huge root but yes,you are right. Shipping is quite high. Shipping did cost me $20. I guess if you get multiple items, then you can spread out the shipping.

I bought 2 trees from Alderman, shipping cost was like $16.
But my tree roses are just as expensive, a rose is $49.99, plus $20 shipping per plant. Last year I bought quite a few tree roses, and it was a huge bill. But that's the price I pay for not having room here.

Hiyamakki, Adelmans has a big peony sale on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I haven't heard for sure that they will have one this year, but you could check. Everything's 50% off, so the savings will make up for the shipping. They may have some tree peonies listed.

Last year I got Rosalind Elsie Franklin for $49.50. The shipping was $21. I also got an Itoh at half price, so that spread the shipping, and made it a very good deal.

Mieko2 said:Hiyamakki, Adelmans has a big peony sale on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

This has to have been the craziest year for nurseries ever. Lawn and garden improvement has been a major activity this year.

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What did you do with the peonies you bought LG? It must have been the first week of December when you received your order. Did you overwinter in pots?

Hiyamakki, I did get them the first week in December. I'm in zone 7a, and I planted them as soon as I received them.

I think you would be fine planting then, too.

Thanks LG! I will keep an eye out for season end sales. Adelmans had sveral Itohs I loved the look of but not tree peonies. If Song Sparrow has a sale I will be over the moon. They have several; tree, itoh or herbaceous,that I would love to have.

I found another one for next year's wish list:
Pink Jitterbug

And in however many years it takes for the price to come down :
KimSue
Love Affair

Song Sparrow had a sale earlier this year, I bought 2 for 20% discount.

You can tell what's going to be on sale on Alderman website, go there and see what's available now. I'm waiting for Alexander Woollcott.

Confetti is a Lins peony, huge, fragrant blooms. It is a lactiflora and blooms fairly late. If your on FB and part of the peony lovers and enthusiasts group do a search On it there, Axel grows it and has posted several pics. I personally like Mandaleen better because I prefer pale pinks but if you're looking for a white it's great and not easy to find.

LizinElizabeth said:Confetti is a Lins peony, huge, fragrant blooms. It is a lactiflora and blooms fairly late.

Wow! Impressive.

Hiyamakk, you are welcome, it was fun to find out about Lin.

I am also looking into tree peonies, but next year. I find that right about March/April I really need something to brighten the grey and green. I bought a camellia in bloom from a local nursery and enjoyed it so much, but I had to cover it every night that we have frost. I think that a tree peony blooms will be sturdier and withstand the frost.

I am also trying to decide if I just want the bright color and leave the flower on the peony or do I want a good smell and bring in blooms...I am leaning toward the bright color, which I could get for cheaper. 4peonies has both tree and regular. Fina has some tree or rock peonies with regular. A&D has both. Of course, so does Adelman's, but that would be a bring in the house choice for me and I would want her more expensive ones.

I try to remind myself that my husband has spent $75 plus shipping/delivery to send me bouquets, when he was out of town. Think of all the blooms I could enjoy for years on 1 plant for that...I got to stop, I'm talking myself into a tree peony.

Annie, peonies take half a decade to mature. If you want it, don't wait too long.

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Annie, I told my husband to switch to the cheapie bouquets at Aldi, I'd rather he bought me live plants! Still no live plants though. I've made up my mind to get a tree peony next year. I may try our local nursery in the spring. They didn't open intil summer this year due to Covid but I remember a tree peony section the year before. I didn't even check it out because I thought they were full sized trees!

Liz, I joined the fb group this morning just to check out the photos you mentioned. Confetti is fun but it will probably have to wait. I think next year I want a single or semi double white. I wish I had a bigger garden! Someone had posted a progression of Coral Charm over the course of a week and now I am ensnared! Definitely getting that next year!

My husband had to hide a receipt when he bought me peonies for our 20th. He went with our youngest daughter. I didn't check the credit card.
Anyway I like the name of the peonies mentioned in this thread, I'm going to keep them in mind when they open.
But I like full bloom, fragrant, wedding like color. No more yellow, no more deep color, I've already have them.

I've been looking at Peony Shop Holland, I have to be careful in selecting peonies, as much as I like Madame Claude Tain, it's a mid to late season and for Southern California, that's a pretty good reason to eliminate it from my shopping list.

Top, I wanted them this year, but am just too late. They are top of my list when sites start selling for 2021 or if I find them at nurseries.

Hiyamakki, my husband says he will pay for what plants I pick out, then I can plant them...although he usually wants to approve them and check placement...I just laugh and have fun with it.
I got a Coral Sunset that finally bloomed this spring....oh that progression was amazing! I got other corals because of it.

SoCal, look at A&D nursery to get ideas for those old fashioned, white, wedding ones. (I think the local flower movement has effected what they carry and it is more for cut flowers.) I have bunches I was wanting, but I need to wait until things bloom this spring.

I am trying to remind myself to find what I really want, then buy that, instead of wanting ALL the peonies!