It sounds like a decent root if it has about 8" tuber and 6 buds or "eyes". Can I ask what you ordered? It sounds like you planted it correctly. It does not matter how you lay the root as long as the eyes are up at soil level or 1" below and the rest of the root buried in the soil. I have planted many of my roots slanted, horizontal, or upright depending on the shape of the root. As long as the tuber roots do not stick out of the soil, you are on the right track.
I guess I am not getting any younger so I really dislike it when I get mislabel peonies esp. if they don't bloom the following spring. I hate to call up vendors and complain about the mislabel plants when it is their job to make sure that they send me the right varieties to begin with. I can understand of having one mislabel root out of a bunch but some vendors will send mislabel roots for half of an order or more. I will never order peonies from Van Engelen again because they sent me all mislabel roots for my order. Although the flowers are nice, some are the same cultivars that I already have.
Sorry if I am ranting. Don't worry about the roots from American Meadows. If they are your first peonies, they will be alright. Even if they happen to be mislabel, you will like them just the same. It is when you try to grow a distinct collection, that the correctly labeled root is important.
Good luck and welcome to the Peony Forum. Please share pics next year if the peonies bloom.
