I have had the same problem with two peonies planted next to each other in the same soil at the same depth with exactly the same care and one blooms beautifully and the other one does not even set buds while making lots of foliage. I give up after three years and dig it up and convert it to compost. Al

Diane,

Different cultivars of peonies are like different people. They seem to have different comfort zones. One peony that does poorly in one location may do very well in another. The cultural requirements for all peonies are not the same.

If one of the plants doesn't do well where it is located then think about relocating it to another. When you dig it make sure you check the root system for any other underlying problem. Especially check for nematodes and Lemoines. Both look somewhat similar. Bulblets on fine roots for nematodes and bulges on larger roots for Lemoines. Nematodes can be eliminated and the plant saved. Lemoines is scary thing and plants exhibiting it should be destroyed.

If you think you have the plant set too deep it doesn't do much good to try to excavate soil from around it. Eventually additional soil will wash back into the depression you have created and the same problem will exist. You should probably dig the plant and reset at the correct depth.

Leon