Some of the other seeds had rotted. Do most of you scarify peony seeds? I never scarify peony seed and it comes up without problems. It does seem as though there are always a few that rot, but for me it has been minor. The most important requisite for germination seems to be a nice cold period. Even here in Zone 9 on the southwest coast of Oregon, peony seed apparently gets enough chill to germinate. Robin Hansen Hansen Nursery Z 9 North Bend, Oregon, USA