Depends on the nursery if bare roots are better than potted. Ask your nursery when the plants were potted up. Their roots were bare rooted when received and were small enough to fit into pot. Do they have peonies that you want? Price of peonies? A lot depends on where the roots are from. Some nurseries send hugh healthy roots but some are small. Again the type of peony will determine size of roots. Tenifolia and other specie parentage roots should be small compared to others.

We are lucky here we do have several nurseries that either hybridize their own or bring in and grow to larger size in their fields. Most nurseries purchase from wholesale suppliers rather than grow their own.

During the bloom period visit local peony nurseries if available, and pick out the plant you like in bloom. Place your order,(and pay for it). When they are dug and divided you will be called or they will be shipped to you. This is the best way to get the plant you want in the best condition to be planted in your garden. Don't expect this to be the cheapest way. Al

maifleur: thanks for the info--think I need to get a book on peonies.

calistoga: thanks for replying. I don't have any peony growers near, but have found a recommended online site to order from.

It depends on what varieties you want. Local nurseries will have potted, bigger plants, but often limited varieties; many don't sell them by name, just "white" "pink" or "red".

Bare root plants are great depending on the source, and much better variety, but the first year or two they'll be smaller...a little patience will win out. To the mail-order nursery list I saw in another thread, I'd add Song Sparrow Farms (www.songsparrow.com). It's Roy Klehm's nursery and has great plants and an exceptional variety.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Musings blog