My Grandma gave me these a few years before she passed away. She said they have been in her family for 65 years. I planted about 12 plants. The first year my husband sprayed them with ant killer not knowing that the ants are the only reason the flower blooms. After waiting a few years for them to recover from that, I now have several beautiful peony bushes. I would guess that they have been in my family 70 years now. At least I didn't totally kill them off! :)