Had a 6 or 7 year old white with red flecks which did not bloom this year. Only formed numerous small buds about fingernail size and did not progress from there. Could have been hit with a frost but all the others bloomed normally. Major part of the old root tops were above the soil surface and showing rotted centers so I decided to dig and move. I understand a peony should not be dug and replanted in the same spot.

First pic is a top view. Second pic is a bottom view.

Wow! That's quite a root mass! Very impressive indeed.

The compactness of of the root ball is worth noting. The original plant was a potted peony planted in a small hole dug into yellow clay and subsoil then back filled with humus. Someone on DG had discussed the problem with that type of planting where the roots grow out to the edge of the hole then have a tendency to circle the other roots. The cleaning box I use for irises and peonies is about 14 inches wide so you can see there was not much spread.

Interesting. My father had a row of peonies in the yard at the house I grew up in. Two of them never got very big, and I don't believe they ever had more than a half dozen blossoms (if any). He never could figure out what their problem was and why they were smaller - no matter what he did, they were still smaller than the rest. They were at the end of the row, I have a suspicion that this was their problem. ~Jan

I have been told they do not like competiion from grass, at the end of a row, that could be it.