How to Join the American Peony Society: Membership Options and Signup
To join the American Peony Society (APS), go to americanpeonysociety.org and use the Join Today! link, which appears in the site's top navigation and again in the footer. From there, the Membership section is where you compare options, purchase a membership, or buy a gift subscription. The site also provides Member Login and Member Portal links for members to manage their accounts afterward. The APS does not publish its prices directly in the page content available here, so check the Options & Pricing page under Membership for current rates and terms before you commit.
Step-by-step: joining the APS
- Open the APS website. Go to americanpeonysociety.org.
- Find the join link. Look for Join Today! in the header or footer navigation. This is the entry point the site itself uses to direct new members.
- Review membership options. In the Membership section, open Options & Pricing. This is where the APS lists its membership tiers and costs.
- Choose individual or gift. If you're joining for yourself, select a standard membership. If you're buying for someone else, use Gift Subscriptions instead.
- Complete the purchase. Follow the checkout flow from the membership page. The site lists Purchase Memberships as the action for new members.
- Log in to the Member Portal. After joining, use Member Login to access the Member Portal, where renewal and account management live.
- Set a renewal reminder. The Membership section includes Membership Renewal and Terms and Conditions pages, so check those for how and when your membership renews.
What you get as a member
The APS structures its member-facing content around several programs and publications. Based on the site's navigation, membership connects you to:
- The Seed Distribution Program — described as "Open for Members," with 2026 seed information and an order window noted as available through August 2026. Note that the seed-ordering page has shown as Order Seeds – Closed at times, so availability is seasonal.
- The Bulletin — the APS publication, listed under Resources.
- The Peony Registry — the official international database with more than 7,000 peony cultivars.
- Learning content — growing and care, floral arranging, photography, hybridizing, propagating, and exhibiting.
- Activities and events — including the Annual Convention (2027 is listed), an auction, and show results.
- Member-only tools — the Member Portal and Member Login area.
If your main reason for joining is the seed program, confirm the current order window before purchasing, since it opens and closes on a schedule.
Membership options at a glance
| Option | Where to find it | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard membership | Membership → Options & Pricing | Individuals joining for themselves |
| Gift subscription | Membership → Gift Subscriptions | Buying membership for someone else |
| Renewal | Membership → Membership Renewal | Existing members continuing |
| Donation | Membership → Donate | Supporting APS beyond dues |
The APS does not publish pricing in the page content available here, so treat the Options & Pricing page as the only reliable source for current rates.
Common snags and how to handle them
- Can't find the join link. It appears as Join Today! in both the header and footer. If you're on a subpage, scroll to the footer.
- Unsure whether you're already a member. Try Member Login first. If you have an account, you'll reach the Member Portal; if not, you'll be routed toward joining.
- Seed ordering looks unavailable. The seed page has displayed Order Seeds – Closed. This reflects the seasonal window rather than a broken link — check back or review the 2026 seed information for dates.
- Buying as a gift. Don't use the standard purchase flow; go through Gift Subscriptions so the membership is assigned to the recipient.
- Questions about terms. The Terms and Conditions page under Membership covers the rules that apply to your purchase and renewal.
Is joining worth it for you?
Join if you want access to the seed distribution program, The Bulletin, the cultivar registry, and member events like the convention and auction. If you only need general peony-growing information, much of the Learn section — covering growing, care, arranging, photography, hybridizing, propagating, and exhibiting — is presented as public content, so browse that first. If your interest is specifically seeds or member-only resources, membership is the gate, and you should verify the current price and seed window on the Options & Pricing and Seed Program pages before signing up.