Q: Can I grow herbaceous peonies in a warm climate? A: The short answer is a qualified yes. The factor limiting the success of peonies in warm climates is the requirement for a cold period to overcome a seasonal dormancy. There is no well-accepted data available that states exactly what the requirement is in terms of temperature and duration. There does however seem to be consensus that weeks of freezing temperatures are not required. Peonies grown in warm areas will benefit from slightly more shade than those grown in cooler climes. Paeonia lactiflora comes from the most northerly locations and as such is logically less likely to perform well in warm areas. The early flowering peonies tend to be either hybrids or varieties of species from warmer areas. These are likely best suited to warmer areas.

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