can I plant peonies at this time of year and if not when is best?

Hi
i too am trying peonies this year. there are different types but Im assuming its P. lactiflora? Ive already planted one of them this month and will plant two more over the next week or so. The advice Ive read says to plant in rich well draining soil but do not cover the "eyes" with more than an inch of soil or they wont flower very well. It can take up to 3 years to get them going so dont despair if you dont get much happening at first. Claire Austin perennials has some good advice. Hope this is helpful

Paeonies start into growth very early in the year so the best time to plant them is in late autumn as soon as they stop growth for the year. Having said that, pot grown paeonies should be OK now as long as the roots don't get disturbed during the planting process; bare-rooted ones (or ones being moved) are better left until late autumn

Paeonies are bulbous (tuberous) plants that are starting into growth now, mine are already a couple of inches high. It would be better if you could wait until autumn to buy some, as Andrew advises.

also remember to plant shallow, otherwise they dont flower very good..

Paeonies are surprisingly tough plants. Planted early is best. In southern Siberia they drop them in the ground whenever it is soft enough to dig! So the UK weather is easy by comparison. My tree paeonies (all colours) look as though they will be their best ever this spring/summer following a colder UK winter.

Just to add my pennysworth, make sure you are certain where you want to plant it, coz peonies Hate to be moved. They usually don't flower for a year when moved, so also make sure you put in lots of good compost under the plant when digging in the soil.

agree with craftn. I once moved some in a previous garden and they sulked for ages.

Again, deep replanting can cause them to sulk after being moved. I moved twelve paeonies in autumn 2007 and nine of them flowered last year