JV Dubb, the picture clearly shows a woody stem from a tree peony. Itoh's do not have woody stems. There are three types of peonies: herbaceous (green stems and dies back in the fall) cut to the ground after Labor Day; tree peonies (woody stems and the leaves dies off in the fall but you do not cut back). It will look like a leafless bush or twig in the winter; and Itoh or hybrid peonies (a hybrid between herbaceous and tree peonies). It will have strong green stems but will also die back in the fall and needs to be cut back to within one inch of the ground. Hope this helps clarify. You have a tree peony. It will grow best in well draining soil and in 6b it will need full sunlight. Pick a good spot and be patient.
