Peonies and martagons are dug in the fall of the year, from September to October, when plants are entering their dormant stage. Plants transplant better, develop strong feeder roots, and do well in shipping: this is why we only ship in the fall. We ship healthy, large divisions with a minimum of 3 to 5 eyes with a root system that will support healthy growth the following year. The roots we ship are divisions from larger plants that are dug and divided. Our plants will bloom in the second year after planting, many in the first year. It is recommended to cut the flower buds off the first year plants to allow the root system to develop stronger for year two. This is sometime hard, but will reward you with a better plant the following year.
Martagon lilies usually have a sulking period the first year, after planting the bulbs. They will emerge in the spring, have a short growth period, and then growth is stopped, plants die back early. This behavior of sulking happens because the martagon bulb needs to develop a strong root system to support proper growth. The second year after planting, your martagon, will grow and flower normally.
In 2025 we will not be shipping Peonies or Martagon lilies to the USA. United States customs drastically extended processing times for parcels, and increased costs, so unfortunately we can not guarantee quality of roots, due to the fact our peony roots sometime take weeks to arrive to our customers.
We will consider shipping to the USA in the future, and will monitor how parcels are processed by customs.
A quick note for all our wonderful customers—both new and returning!
At Parkland Peonies, we’re a fall shipping mail-order nursery. That means all of our peonies are shipped as bare-root plants in the fall season, not in the spring.
Why fall? Because that’s when peonies are dormant and ready to be dug, divided, and transplanted with minimal stress to the plant. This timing gives your new peonies the very best start for strong growth and beautiful blooms in the seasons to come!
If you placed your order this spring—thank you! Your peonies will be shipped out this fall, and you’ll receive an update closer to shipping time. In the meantime, enjoy planning your planting spots and dreaming about the flowers to come!
A quick tip: To get the best selection, be sure to order as early as possible. Our inventory is limited, and many of our most popular varieties do sell out quickly.
Thanks again for supporting Parkland Peonies. We’re excited to share these special plants with you!
Sincerely,
Adam Yakabuskie
Parkland Peonies
