2018 Question Where to Plant 'Sarah Bernhardt' Peony

Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt'
I received this question from Karen in zone 7a:

"I just ordered Sara Berhardts for the first time this year. I read that you were buying more to put in a better location to help them grow better. Any tips on where I should plant? Full sun or part shade? Thank you for any advise you can offer!"

I am actually planning to plant my new Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt' right next to my house which does receive full sun. The old Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt' I planted is actually in pretty much full shade, - maybe a tiny bit of sun - and is close to death. I am trying to get some trees removed this fall, but I'm not sure if it will be enough to save her. So I figured I'd order a new one from a reputable source to make sure I have the correct cultivar as well, and plant her in a better location to try to get some blooms! The Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt' planted in the shade has never bloomed, and does not increase. So if you've learned anything from my story, stay away from the shade - full sun is definitely best! The more sun, the better your peony plant will grow, bloom, and increase. The more shade your peony has, the worse it will grow, it may never bloom, and will likely decrease in size. So please, please, please plant your Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt' in full sun, and if you need more ideas on great locations to plant your peony, check out our article on Top 5 Spots to Plant a Peony.

2018 Southern Peony Fall Planting

It's that time of year again - fall peony planting time! It's the time when boxes of peony roots converge on your front doorstep all in the same week! What used to be excitement to see the blooms of those new varieties, now becomes pressure to get them all planted! It happens to all of us, the peony bloom photos look so gorgeous, they just draw us in. The ones we've been wanting for years become available, the APS hosts their convention auction, the APS awards its newest Gold Medal winner, the peony farmers hold last chance sales, the APS hosts their Fall Auction -- so many opportunities to find the newest, the latest-greatest, the oldies but goodies, the hidden gems, and the ones you didn't even know you needed! (And if you're lucky enough to have a local club, you might also have the opportunity to buy roots at a local peony fall auction as well!)


Southern Peony Fall Planting
Yes, it can add up to quite a bit of work in the fall to get them all planted, but when spring arrives you know that it will be worth it. And although many of your new peony roots may not bloom the first year, you know they are growing and saving up their energy to make a plant large enough to bloom another year. And as long as you've got them planted in the right place (check out our article on Top 5 Spots to Plant a Peony), you know they will be growing larger and larger every year! One day you'll have a peony (or lots of peonies!) just full of blooms! Happy Fall Peony Planting!!!

2018 Last Chance Peony Sale @ Hidden Springs Flower Farm

Hidden Springs Flower Farm Last Chance Peony Sale Order
If you did not notice yet, Hidden Springs Flower Farm just released their Last Chance Peony Sale list. I believe they put a sale list up every year at the end of the season, but you never know what's going to be on this list (or when it's going to come out). I think this is a great way to pull in a few extra orders at the end of the season, plus give people an opportunity to order peonies they may not have gotten the chance to order earlier. This year I decided to pick up three pink colored peonies - Peony 'Joker', Peony 'Juliska', and Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt'. I really love the picotee edge on the Peony 'Joker'. I've been seeing lots of photos of this one, and it has been on my "Want List". Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt' is a classic double light pink peony, which I don't grow well right now. So I'd like to give her a better place in the garden and a better chance to thrive.


Hidden Springs Flower Farm
Sells Peony 'Juliska' on Sale for $68.00!
However I think the real story here is Peony 'Juliska' on sale for $68.00! This peony was fetching $80-$100 a root last year, according to our 2017 Herbaceous Hot 100 Peony Catalog Price Comparison List. This is an even better price than the originator Solaris Farms sells it for this year ($75.00), according to our 2018 Herbaceous Hot 100 Peony Catalog Price Comparison List. This Peony 'Juliska' was hybridized by the late Bill Seidl and Nate Bremer (owner of Solaris Farms), a promising duo that have produced many advanced herbaceous and tree peony hybrids.


Hidden Springs Flower Farm
SOLD OUT Peony 'Bob' on Sale for $112.49!
And there's always the one that got away... The first peony I noticed and tried to put in my cart was Peony 'Bob', a rarely offered dark red, almost black peony. However the system told me it was already sold out, how disappointing. Well, I suppose there's always next year... Check out all of the Last Chance Sale offerings on the Hidden Springs Flower Farm list, you may find something you've been looking for!

2018 Peony Plant Markers from Kincaid Gardens

You've probably seen pictures of these in lots of my peony photos. They are the best garden markers I have ever found, Kincaid 100% Stainless Steel Plant Markers. I first found out about them from Hollingsworth Peonies, and I have been using them for over 10 years now. The original markers I purchased from them still look brand new. The only reason one of them ever gets messed up is if I get too close to it with the lawn mower (even then, only the plate is damaged). They do sell replacements stainless steel plates if you need them, but just stay away from them with the lawn mower, and you'll be fine. The one pictured here is actually an old one. Sometimes the markers outlast the plants!!!


Kincaid 100% Stainless Steel Plant Marker Nameplate
I just realized this week that I am totally out. I usually keep a few in the house in my desk drawer (which was empty) and the rest of them in my garage storage area. I figured I'd check the garage later and bring some more inside to my office, but when I did check the garage, I was fresh out. So I just placed a new order today to get a few more bundles. They've changed their web site around a bit since the last time I ordered, but their best plant markers are the "Signature Series". They're not cheap (about $1 per marker or so), but you can get a discount for buying in bulk. Also if you are a member of the American Peony Society, you are also eligible for an extra discount of $1 off per bundle. You just need to call Kincaid and tell them you saw their ad in the American Peony Society bulletin to get the discount code.


Kincaid 100% Stainless Steel Plant Marker
Their "Signature Series" plant markers are 100% stainless steel which does not rust, and they're made in the USA! I think I usually order the 15" length, but 12" or 10" would probably work okay too. I guess it depends how deep you want to push the stake into the ground and how high up from the ground you want the plant nameplate to be. Keep in mind that about 2.5" of the length will be holding the nameplate. If you're tired of wasting your money on garden plant markers that rust, break, snap, and disintegrate, then it may be time for you to invest in these garden markers. You will be so pleased with them for years to come!

2018 Song Sparrow 25% Off All Itoh Peonies

Klehm's Song Sparrow 25% Off Itoh Peonies
If you haven't seen this yet, this is awesome! Of all the years I've seen Klehm's Song Sparrow host a fall sale, they usually just select 5-10 specific peony varieties to put on sale (usually all herbaceous) or have a buy 2 get one free sale (herbaceous only). I don't think I've ever seen them put their Intersectional/Itoh peonies on sale, and to be able to just buy 1 or as many as you want and still get a discount - WOW! that's an awesome deal!! If you've been on the fence about whether to buy one of their gorgeous Itoh peonies, especially some of their just released new Intersectional offerings, 2018 Peony 'Pink Double Dandy' aka 'Keiko' for Sale at Song Sparrow (both of which are on sale!), then now's the time to take advantage of this great sale!

If you are thinking that Klehm's prices are higher for intersectional peonies than other vendors, 2018 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List, well, they usually are. But here's a secret you may not know, Klehm's Song Sparrow grows all of their Intersectional (and Tree) peonies in pots. So you are actually purchasing a growing potted plant. This plant has a big advantage over any other intersectional peony you might buy from another vendor. It's like gaining an additional year (or two) of time for your Intersectional peony plant to increase in size, and the plants are usually larger than what you would get from planting just the root. Plus Intersectional/Itoh peonies grow great in the South. Intersectional peonies are such robust plants from their tree peony and herbaceous peony heritage - it's like the best of both worlds. I haven't grown one yet that wouldn't grow here!!