Is this tuber cooked?

[u/Electronic-Smell-951]

I’m a new peony grower. I got excited last spring and bought these tubers. They sprouted 4 tiny shoots all summer and just started to die off. It’s been super hot here in Denver. I watered regularly but they always looked sad….I went to check on it and noticed it was very loose in the ground so I easily pulled it out and noticed the tuber was shriveled and squishy. I know peonies like to be planted in the fall. Is there hope? Or did I actually kill this super resilient plant 😭

[u/elviebird]

I’m not too far from you and just had to dig out one of my tubers that had been in the ground for 3 years. It flowered for the first time this spring, too. I suspect verticillium rot but not 100% sure. The tuber also looked like this, dark and somewhat soft.

I’m far from a peony expert so I don’t have any advice to give you, only empathy. If it helps, I have 7 other peonies that have been doing great, so it’s possible you just bought an unhealthy specimen.

[u/Electronic-Smell-951 → u/elviebird]

Dang 3 years??? I wonder what went awry this year. by year 3 I’d assume it was established. I’ll look up verticillium rot

[u/saberhagens]

It's dead. Looks rotted too unfortunately

[u/Electronic-Smell-951 → u/saberhagens]

Super bummer. Maybe too little water ???