News and Articles

Dear Solaris Customers & Friends –

We are excited to share the Solaris Farms list for 2026. Thank you for your continued support as we look forward to a great peony season.

New Fall Listings

As usual, Solaris will list our available stock on January 1, 2026. However, we will add more new listings in August and September. It’s a great chance to pick up previously unlisted cultivars, extra divisions, and/or grafts that have been harvested.  Keep watch, there always seem to be some “goodies” that escape initial listings!

Affordability/Shrinkflation

The economy and affordability are on many people’s minds – ours too. We have a plan to manage rising costs, while providing the robust quality Solaris is known for.

Like everyone, our business is experiencing cost increases for growing materials, shipping, fuel, insurance, permitting, chemicals, machinery, maintenance, and more. This is why our 2026 listings will reflect a modest price increase. This slight change allows us to continue to provide the same large or larger, healthy, high-quality plants that thrive in your gardens.  We believe you will be most please with the generous plants we supply this coming season.

As you shop, be aware that many businesses in the plant world are resorting to “shrinkflation:” the tactic of keeping pricing the same, but reducing the size, quantity, or quality of the peony root. This provides a lesser plant for your money. We appreciate your loyalty and patronage as we strive to deliver a higher standard.

Climate Impact

Climate conditions concern anyone who gardens – and are impacting the peonies Solaris Farms will offer for the future. We are working hard to determine which cultivars will best handle climate challenges and thrive for our customers.

Over the last couple of years, our Wisconsin site experienced record rainfall in early summer, fall drought, and snowless winters, with large temperature swings. This has been especially difficult for certain genetic lines.  Many herbaceous cultivars with Paeonia peregrina in their ancestry were damaged or outright killed. Intersectionals (Itohs) were also heavily damaged. Surprisingly, the woody peonies were much less impacted, and the Lutea Hybrid group actually prospered.

Moving forward, Solaris will offer fewer intersectionals, Herbaceous Hybrid cultivars and Japanese Suffruticosas, since they have proven to be less reliable for our conditions.

On the upside, there are many choices that are more adaptable and durable in variable climate conditions – these have become our focus. Lactiflora Group peonies have proven to be reliable, durable, and perform well.  The Lutea Hybrids have also shown great adaptability and perform well in variable climate conditions.  Locations that experience periods of heavy precipitation will be most successful with Lutea Hybrids, as they are more tolerant of wet soils.  Of course, there are plenty of Herbaceous Hybrids and Suffruticosa/Rockii types that have proven themselves – we’ll continue to offer those that grow and bloom well.

Visiting Opportunities

Solaris Farms welcomes the Wisconsin Peony Society for a special tour this spring. If you would like to tour the farm, please join the society for this opportunity.  More information about membership and the tour can be found at:  https://wipeonysociety.org/

Exciting Future Peony Listings

Solaris Farms is continually providing new opportunities for those who love peonies.

Propagation of rare or important historic woody peonies has been a focus for the past 10 years.  We are excited to announce that Solaris will soon be able to release these rare peonies on a limited basis. We will also be offering a limited number of historic hard-to-find Lactifloras from breeders such as Lins and Klehm.

Our hybridizing program continues to produce many fine plants, offering next-generation cultivars that quickly become customer favorites. This past year, we focused heavily on propagating select seedlings, and we are looking forward to exciting new introductions  (check them out after our signatures below!)

Thank you for your trust in Solaris Farm, and your shared love of the peony.

We wish everyone a fantastic 2026 growing season and look forward to supplying you with outstanding plants for your gardens.

Nate Bremer – Owner/Propagator
Kim Bremer – Owner
Jordan Kabat – Operations Manager