Here in North Carolina, I plant the roots with the crown at ground level and sometimes visible. They do great. LG is right. Roots bought in bags at big box stores will take much longer to bloom than freshly dug roots. Go to some of the web sites that sell fresh dug roots in the fall. The prices are reasonable but beware, you will develop peony fever . The only treatment is to buy more peonies?
. The only treatment is to buy more peonies? 
