FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

When do you start digging your peonies?:

We start digging as soon as the peonies start to die back in autumn. The herbaceous are first to go into dormancy, and we can usually start digging them in March.  The Itohs are later and sometimes it is mid April before we can start digging them, depending on when we get our first frosts

How long does it take?

Quite a while! If weather conditions are favourable we can really get stuck in but with well over 100 varieties to dig and process, it still takes a couple of months. Wherever possible, we dig by hand but that's just the start of it. Washing, dividing, dipping, rinsing and storing, all by hand, is time-consuming but we believe this is essential for quality. But it does require a bit of patience.

So I've paid for them, when should I expect my peonies to arrive?

If you have ordered one peony and its name starts with an A, then the answer is: not too long. Of course we want to get them out to you as soon as possible. But, if you have multiple varieties on your order, obviously you have to wait until all of those varieties are dug before we can put your order together. We aim to have all of our orders out by May, and I try and give regular updates on progress throughout the despatch period since I understand how keen everyone is to take delivery of their new peonies. 

What if I'm going to be away in April or May?

Just let us know on your order when you will be back and, as long as you have paid for your peonies, we will happily hold on to your order until it is convenient for you. We don't like holding past the end of May if possible though so if you're not going to be back by then, perhaps get a friend to empty your letterbox.

How do you send the peonies?

We pack with a lot of care, using damp sawdust to protect the peonies for their journey. All our deliveries are done using NZ Post. We've been using them for many years and they've never lost a package.

What do I do when my peonies arrive?

Because we pack so thoroughly, your peonies will be fine in the box for a few days if you can't plant them straight away. Open the top of the box and check they haven't dried out in transit. Then keep them in a cool dark place until you are ready to pop them in the ground. The sooner you can plant them the better but the hard and fast rule is that peonies MUST be in the ground by the shortest day, June 21st/22nd. Every day after that they are not planted is detrimental to their development.

I'm ordering quite a few varieties. How will I know which is which when I open the box?

Every peony root will have a permanent label tied to it so you will know which variety it is, and you can pop the tag into the ground next to it when you plant. Cool eh?

I live in Auckland/Whangarei/Kaitaia and I want to grow peonies. 

I totally understand the attraction of peonies for you but I also don't want you to waste your money. Not only do peonies need 500 hours of winter chill but they HATE humidity and wet feet. Even if you do manage to get a flower, it will be small and misshapen. But if you insist on trying, start with an Itoh.

I live in the USA/Ukraine/China/Estonia/Latvia and I want to buy your peonies.

Thank you so much for your interest. I am amazed at the number of messages I get every day and I am really grateful. Unfortunately, I can't just mail peonies internationally. There is a strict process that needs to be followed, both here and in your own country, wherever you live. We hope to get our certification to export for the 2027 season and, by then, we will have a better understanding of all the steps required and all the associated costs incurred sending peony divisions overseas.