If you do you will probably get a small plant for that price. Since you are a beginner at peonies you can either buy a lower priced plant to experiment with or a higher priced plant that if you kill it you will kick yourself. Call arround to some of your area nurseries to see if any have tree peonies available. Find an inexpensive one that you like the picture of and plant it. By the time it blooms you will know if you like the trees or not and you can save for a even bigger plant of Shimonishiki. You may find the name spelled as one word or two.

The reason for the higher price is most tp's that are imported must be under three years old. A larger plant has been maintained for additional time and expense.

What is that old saw; One has either time or money, seldom both at the same time.

J&P is fine if you have the time. They only sell Japanese tree Peonies which do better for me in the Midwest. I am not sure about VA. Those I have bought from J&P have been fine.

Be careful of the tree peonies shipped direct from China. It is much better to have someone grow them a few years for you as they usually do not ship until the ground is frozen solid. You are further south YMMV.

I think Cricket Hill was selling 2 year old babies this year also.

Here is a link that might be useful: Young plants

Have you tried ebay? Sometimes there are tree peonies on auction.

SHIMINI SHIKI IS ONE OF THE SLOWEST VARIETIES TO BLOOM YOU MAY HAVE TO WAIT UNTILL IT IS 6 YEARS OLD FUJI MUSUMI WILL BLOOM USUALLY AT 2YEARS OLD THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN VARIETIES

Hi,

If you are Leesburg area, you can come and visit our plants in bloom in April. We will have several available, all are over 4 years old and in bloom.

Best,

L.T.
www.chinesetreepeony.com