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An herbaceous peony is classified by its blooming time and flower form:
single five or more petals in a single layer around pollen-bearing stamens
semidouble like the single form but with several layers of petals around pollen-bearing center stamens
Japanese (also known as anemone) with single or semidouble petals around showy stamens that resemble petals
bomb double having many petals and a rounded center
double large petal-packed blooms and no visible stamens.
Growing in the south
PEONIES are hardy perennials, distinguished by their ability to thrive in the coldest regions of the United States, but this quality doesn't make them off-limits to southern gardeners.
If your site receives night temperatures of 40 deg F or less for at least 6 weeks a year, you can probably grow most any variety of peony. Some varieties can even thrive as far south as USDA Hardiness Zone 8.
Southern gardeners should consider early- to mid-season-blooming cultivars, such as 'Kansas,' 'Miss America,' 'Big Ben,' and 'Red Charm.' Later-flowering varieties develop weak stems and are more susceptible to diseases as temperatures increase. Single- or Japanese-form flowers are also good bets. To help blossoms last longer, plant peonies where they will get cool afternoon shade. Loosen the site's soil to 18 inches deep. The fingers, or large fleshy roots, of a peony's tubers reach deep into the soil. A deep cavity of loose soil allows the fingers to grow easily to their full length.
Avoiding floppers
Some folks avoid planting peonies because of the plants' tendency to lie down, or flop, on the ground after a heavy rain. There are several ways to avoid having floppers.
You can select varieties that are classified as single, Japanese, or semidouble. These types have fewer petals, so they don't hold as much rainwater as the fuller double-petaled varieties.
If you desire the petal-packed peonies, go for a variety with especially strong stems, such as 'Charlie's White' or 'Angel Cheeks,' a pink bomb double.
You can also reduce a plant's likelihood of flopping by picking some of the blooms for indoor arrangements before the flowers are fully open. That way, you lighten the plant's load, making it less likely to droop.
Finally, you can support your peonies by staking them. One system, called Jumbo GrowThrough Supports, consists of a round wire grid (with 21/2-inch-square openings) atop three legs. Place this support over the top of your peonies early in spring as new shoots emerge. As the peonies get taller, the shoots will grow through the wire grid of the plant support and eventually conceal the structure.
You can make a homemade version of this system by surrounding your peonies with any type of stake, stringing a line around the stakes, and then crisscrossing between them to form a grid.
