What we love most about Garden Candy® Itohs:

• Bright, saturated colors that pop in the landscape

• Heavy bud counts, giving you weeks of bloom instead of days

• Compact, well-shaped plants perfect for modern gardens

• Strong performance in northern climates, including right here in Minnesota

Identifying peony varieties can be challenging due to thousands of cultivars, unnamed heirloom plants, and overlapping bloom times—making most peony identification efforts educated guesses rather than exact matches.

Peony bloom dates—also known as bloom weeks—help gardeners predict exactly when different peony varieties will flower. Based on research from the American Peony Society, this system classifies peonies into a seven- to eight-week bloom period, allowing gardeners to extend the peony season or plan for a stunning mass bloom. Learn how peony bloom dates work and how to choose the best peonies for your garden.

It can be hard to decide on a peony. Afterall, they are all pretty darn lovely.

But you’ll never go wrong with choosing an award winner.

The 2026 peony season beings January 1 at Midnight!

As the clock strikes midnight for the new year to begin and we are toasting champagne and kissing our loved ones, our website will kick into sales mode with our first release of peonies available to order!

For a sneak peek, download the 2026 bare root catalog early by clicking the pink button below.

Every winter, we hear plenty of chatter about deer—especially around Christmas, when Rudolph and his reindeer friends take center stage. But when it comes to your garden, there’s good news: even Santa’s most famous helpers aren’t interested in peonies.

While deer may nibble their way through hostas, daylilies, and tulips like they’re part of an all-you-can-eat buffet, peonies usually get a pass.

It was cookie weekend. Mira, Grandma and I made my favorite cookie… Cherry Winks! I’ve loved these ever since I was little and my Grandma Helen made them… a mixture of maraschino cherries, nuts and dates in a classic dough with a corn flake coating for crunch. Topped with a cherry for good measure.

I love giving Christmas presents… actual presents that weren’t just bought off a list someone handed over… but a true thoughtful present.

Gift cards just aren’t that fun to give. They seem impersonal. But they are so convenient and very useful. I am a fan of practical and useful gifts!

If you are still looking for that perfect gift for someone that has everything or is seemingly impossible to buy for I have a couple solutions for you!

You all know I’ve been potting peonies like crazy… more than 1200 of them to get ready for spring here on the peony farm.

I have a three hour window in the afternoon, four days a week, when all the kiddos are in school and I can actually get something done.

Lately that’s potting up peonies to be sold in the spring here on the farm. There’s a process, some technique and a whole lot of trial and error that goes into it.

Experiences make amazing gifts. They stick with you in a way stuff just doesn’t.

Instead of adding more clutter, they give memories, moments, and stories you’ll talk about for years. They bring people together, spark fun, and make life feel a little fuller.

From year to year, there are some peonies that remain fan favorites. Others rise to top of the popularity contest based on availability. Regardless it’s fun to see what you all are loving from season to season. See the list of our top peonies of 2025!

It’s always fun at the very end of the season to see where our peony roots ended up. This year there were a few tweaks compared to last year with a final tally of 45 states plus DC on the shipping list. Wow!

Whether you are looking to divide your own or purchase new, there’s still plenty of time. You do want to give your peony roots a little time to settle in and grow into their new surroundings before the big freeze. On average, even here in Minnesota our ground doesn’t freeze until into December so you’ve got some time.

We live in a world where bigger is almost always better and more is more is more. But that isn’t necessarily the case for peony roots.

For expertise on this I’m introducing your to Nate Bremer, a well-known voice in the peony world.

If there’s one thing peonies don’t like, it’s being over-watered. Over watering can easily lead to root rot. But that' doesn’t mean peonies, especially newly planted peonies don’t need a drink once in a while!

This is for those of your who are planting peonies this fall. That means new roots sent in the mail or if you are dividing and transplanting some of your own.

I advise to apply a mulch over the top of your peony for its first winter only. In following years this won’t be necessary and in fact, it’s not a good idea to mulch peonies. For big, beautiful blooms, they need exposure to winter’s cold.

From our farm to your garden, here’s the process of how your peony roots go from our field to you!

Step 1: The Dig List

There’s a big spreadsheet I make up letting Bryan and I know how many of each variety we need to dig.

After all orders are shipped out I do an inventory check and reload the website with varieties that are still available. Those that have joined the waitlist for specific peonies will be given an early heads up that the sale has begun. Next everyone on this email list is brought into the loop. And finally the rest of the world is invited.

When spring finally arrives after a long winter, nothing lifts the spirits quite like the vibrant blooms of early bulbs and the lush elegance of peonies. While peonies typically flower in late spring to early summer, spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and crocuses can fill your garden with color much earlier. With thoughtful planning, you can plant these companions together for a seamless succession of blooms—and maximize your garden’s beauty without adding extra maintenance.

There’s a reason we ship out our peony roots in the fall. It’s this time of year when the weather turns cool that peonies put their energy into developing roots that will supply the energy needed for next year’s stems, leaves and flowers.

For the same reasons, it’s a great time to divide the peonies you already have to create more beautiful plants for free! Spread them around your garden of gift them to a friend.

Pictured: Wilford Johnson