I just got an email from Hollingsworth. They are having a Thanksgiving sale.

I'm not looking. Really like the newer early blooming Hollingsworth intros but I'm not buying any more herbaceous until I see how the ones I have in AL fare this spring. The first beds that we put out there are overgrown with grass already so I need to rescue the ones I have before adding any more.

I avoid them, last year I ordered from them, nothing came up.

Huh, I've never had that problem, even when planting in grow bags. I have had issues with a couple of other growers so maybe it's an environmental thing.

It could be I was a newbie when it comes to peonies, but I remember going back to the peony roots thread for 2018/2019 and somebody was disappointed with their roots too. I think if you bought from them years ago, you may not have problem. They changed ownership and that might explain why. This year, I'm watching all my new roots to see if I have better luck with them.

They changed ownership several years ago, sometime around 5 years? You're right about issues 2 years ago. They did move most of the peonies from one area to a consolidated farm.

I bought several from Hollingsworth in 2017. The roots looked good and all are thriving.

Heres a photo of 'Folk Art'

I bought 4 peonies there also in 2017, the roots were smaller than those form Adelman's or Solaris but all grew and flowered in a year.

My roots were tiny, I ordered Show girl and I just dug it up recently, it was the smallest peony root out there, even smaller than the Sarah Bernhardt root I got from Holland Bulbs for $5. Last year, I didn't know any better, but I believe I paid something like $22 for it.

I haven't ordered as much from Hollingsworth in the last few years, was taken aback with the bad roots sent out a few years ago. Up until 2017 or so they were my favorite. They used to send roots that were the same as Adelman's AND they always sent a bonus root. I got Garden Treasure, Old Faithful and a Blonde Vision as bonuses on 3 different years, don't remember any others. I really hope Juergen gets through this rough spot and returns the quality of their roots to what they were in earlier years. Another APS member and I visited the farm on the way to the 2019 convention and he was a gracious host; actually took us to lunch at a local restaurant and talked peonies and gardening the whole time. Really pulling for him to succeed, especially since we don't need to lose another peony source!

That's the problem, once I have a bad experience I won't ever buy anything from that vendor again. On my list now is J&P for roses, Park Seeds, and a few others. However I don't mind buying and knowing ahead they are cheap, basically I get what I pay for, but not in this case. There are too many good vendors out there.

Agreed, there are a few that I won't order from anymore but Hollingsworth's isn't one of them. I'll watch for the next few years before deciding one way or the other mainly because I've ordered from them for so many years and he's always fixed any issues I've had with roots without fail.

I ordered from Hollingsworth last year during their end of Season Sale. Their roots were fresh, healthy, and nice size. I think they are just as good as Song Sparrow and even better sizewise. If I can handle more peonies, I would definitely take advantage of their end of season sale. But there is so many I can add in a year and I think I am at my limit. I haven't looked at what they offer in their sale this year lest I get tempted again.

Had I known better, I would have called and ask for replacement. I paid $32 for Firebelle, and it was very small too.

If it didn't grow send him an email, especially if you took a pic of the root.

I didn't, I bought it in May 2019, roots were sent Fall 2019.

Karen..Thanks for mentioning they had a sale last year! I really would like Red Charm and Sarah Bernhart and a couple of others, but I am feeling overwhelmed with the Song Sparrow order and would like to wait.

I think back to spring when I told my husband that I needed a "couple" more peonies to replace the one I didn't like...I would say I have gotten long past "a couple!"

Annie, that's how it goes... you think you just need a few more and then you see all these beautiful peonies and pretty soon you are buying a dozen or so.

Trust me, you won't regret it once they all start blooming.

Yes, I am thrilled that most of my peonies have "homes." I only bagged the tiny and "may not be true to name," ones. Of course, I did actually make a new bed so all my peonies could have spots.

@Sandsock
A 'couple' lol we probably all have said that at some point.
My first peony wish list, I told my family 'if I could just buy these 8, since each is a different color'.
Now we have 0 back yard and I am not allowed to forget that sentence!
But they still were kind enough to keep trying the adelmans order, so I do appreciate that.