Are you asking about herbaceous peonies or tree peonies? They need different treatment.

sorry, should have said ~ the herbaceous peonies please.

Sticki - here's my tips (I'm sure others will give plenty more)

it's extremely important to make sure they are planted at the same height as the pot they are in. Being planted too deep is the main reason they don't flower.

they don't like waterlogged soil but don't like drying out in spring either - this is why buds form and don't swell.

They prefer sun, but I have a gorgeous Sarah Bernhardt that flowers well in part shade.

Provide support when shoots are small - it's so much easier than trying to support then the plant has grown.

many thanks scottish ~ thats really helpful ~ i knew i had heard something to do with depth was important but couldnt remember what.

would you suggest buying a plant or starting with the small tuber?

That depends on how long you are prepared to wait for it to flower. The smaller the tuber the longer it will take to reach maturity.

yes that makes sense owdboggy ~ thanks ~ she might be better off with a plant from the GC?

That is what I would do unless I was prepared to wait years for flowers.

thanks moon grower ~ i think that is what i will recommend to her.

All of mine except 2 were bought as flowering plants - so agree with above.

I did receive a gift of a tuber year before last and it flowered that year but I suspect that was luck!!

she could always try one of each couldnt she and see how she gets on!! thanks scottish

It also depends on how much one is willing to pay too. We have about 25 of them and I don't think I paid more than £4 for any of them. They almost all flower too.

thats useful to know too owdboggy ~ thank you.

Best not say how much I paid for my most expensive one then! Living very close to a nursery that specialises in peonies make it hard not to want more but I've no more room!

Have a look here Sticki

http://www.binnyplants.com/Catalogue_Peony.asp?GenusID=142&Alpha=*

ooooooooooh no wonder you were tempted scottish, they do look lovely, i would be tempted too. but i think we may have nurseries/ garden centres nearer here?? but i dont think we have specialists :-(

If you are planting a paeony before it comes into growth, it is important that the bud is ABOVE GROUND. If it is buried, it will not flower. I give mine a good feed in early spring (concentrated chicken poo but any general feed will do). For supports, I use those grids-on-leg type supports:

www.harrodhorticultural.com/grow-through-plant-support-rings-pid7652.html

I'm not promoting this particular supplier, just illustrating the type of support I use

thank you Andrew ~ I shall feed my paeony as well as explain this to my friend, thats very helpful.

Thanks bilbo, it's interesting you should say that because the reason this lady wants to grow peonies is because she remembers them from her parents garden.

Sounds as if they might like rich soil maybe and failing that manure!?

Those grid supports are what I use too - they do the job much better as the shoots grow up through each section.
Tell you friend good luck with whatever she chooses!

Thanks Scottish, I know those grids you mean. I just want it to work for her.
You never know she could end up on here!!

Well suggest she joins!

Don't worry I will. But she works a lot more hours than me, not sure she would have time but I think when I show her how many helpful suggestions you all gave she may well look in for herself!

A lot of us work... me included!

so do i ~ two jobs!