Wildcat Ridge Farm — Attraction in Waynesville

If you love peony flowers it’s worth a visit as there’s not many public farms in south or North Carolina but it’s quite a drive from town. If you come make sure you come earlier In the day to enjoy the views of the pigeon river and maybe bring a little snack to enjoy while you’re there so you can look at all the varieties and take note of the different peony varieties. It’s a relatively small farm but you can buy cut stems and potted peonies. I would say they are a bit overpriced. You can find potted peonies much cheaper in other places (for about $10-30 cheaper)you just have to look around. So that was a bit disappointing because you drive really far hoping to pick up a few plants but ultimately still better to get a potted plant because it saves you a year of waiting for it to grow from a bulb. The potted plants also looked pretty healthy.

Update: I planted 5 peonies last year and the two from wildcat didn’t produce any flowers, which is fine I’ll wait for next year. But I do want to mention to the owners response to me to go buy from China- there’s no need you can order peonies from adelman peony gardens online and there’s also a local “the peony fields” who sells potted peonies...

My trip to Wildcat Ridge Farm was a pleasant surprise. Tucked amidst the mountains and alongside a river, it felt more like a lush garden than a typical farm. When I arrived, it was clear they were busy, but they handled everything smoothly. Although I had to wait to check out their books, nobody rushed me, and everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. Their willingness to assist and share knowledge made the experience all the more enriching. It's evident they're passionate about what they do, and their enthusiasm is contagious. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to pick up more of their...

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Wildcat Farm. The entire property is stunning and serene. I enjoyed having lunch by the river and then wandering through the peony beds. The owners obviously know what they're doing and love what they do. I am looking forward to following Ricardo's careful directions precisely to plant and care for my Prairie Charm peony. There is a really nice Airbnb yurt on the property and Chef Ricardo leads culinary Wine Tours in Argentina....