Hi, Amy. The "early" and "late" designations refr to the bloom time and not to the time the shoots come up. I have over 30 types of peonies in my garden and they bloom at different times. But every one of them is up now. I have overwintered some in pots but they should go into the ground as soon as possible. Maybe someone from your zone could tell you if you need to give them more protection?

Thanks! I'm just biting the bullet and letting it go, the others in buried pots have started but not nearly like this one. The foliage looks so fragile, but it's been in snow.. I think the flowers are possible what could be more of a worry with frost, and that's a LONG LONG ways off...I wonder why my guys in the ground (no pots) aren't showing their heads? though I'm glad they aren't, some nasty cold coming yet again...

Amy