• Choosing the best varieties: Classic French varieties are often the most reliable. Don't choose by colour alone, but look also for disease-resistance, strong stems & vigorous growth habit

• Disease control: In Spring, remove any buds & flowers which have botrytis, plus any stems with collar rot. Remove all stems in Autumn, once they've died down

• Drainage: They do not thrive on heavy, poor-draining soil. They'll survive but they will never reach their full potential

• Growth cycle: All flower & leaf growth occurs in Spring; in Summer the plants are semi-dormant so keep them dry; root growth occurs in Autumn as the tops die down

• Dividing: Lift in April/May, selecting only the youngest roots with an eye attached. Large, old root masses often will not re-establish well

• Planting: The best time for this is also April/May, ensuring maximum root regrowth & quicker establishment, a period of up to three years

• How long before they flower? Peonies can take a while to get settled in, often not flowering for the first couple of years while they form a new root mass

• And frosts? They will not flower unless they get a few good frostings each Winter. Dumping ice over them periodically is no substitute for this

and finally, some cutflower advice...

• Minimum chiller time equals Maximum vase life: Buy your peony cutflowers from a trusted supplier, who can guarantee they have been recently picked & not held for too long in a chiller