Sadly, no.

Patty S.

My mother has 5 plants in Chino Hills that have been growing and blooming for over 10 years. I really think it depends on your micro-climate and how you plant them. When we planted my mother's peonies, we put their eyes barely below the surface. In fact, in the winter when the plants are dormant, you can still see the eyes peaking above the soil line. They also are placed in a site that gets light shade almost all day.

I just planted 3 plants here in San Diego and am crossing my fingers. I've had success with hostas, so I'm hoping that the peonies will also succeed. We'll see...

Will

Thank you for the info... Keeping my fingers crossed for your peonies...

I have read that it's best to plant the early flowering varieties.....

Boy, if you can get peonies to grow in Chino, I should be able to get them to grow in Vista near the ocean. That would be a feat. They just aren't suited for our climate, but if anyone has a particular variety, I'm all ears.

Patty S.

I'm trying to get my father to send me some pictures of the peonies in their yard (Chino Hills). Here's an old picture of the single fuschia colored one that was taken about 5 years ago (they've since removed that apple tree). This year it had about 15 blossoms.

If I did this right, the picture should be here:

[IMG]http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n632/billiame/Peonies/Peony.jpg[/IMG]

Okay, I think I got it now:

{{gwi:540322}}

If you can find a cool enough spot go for it. There is a native species, Paeonia californica, that occurs below 4000 ft. from Monterey Co. to San Diego Co.
I have seen it here locally before the area got developed and it was growin in the shade of shrubs such as Ceanothus and Manzanita on sandy soil.

Walter Andersen's had peonies a few weeks ago that they said had done well in Vista. An Itoh peony by Monrovia, Keiko (Adored). Very expensive.

Here is a link that might be useful: warm climate peony

Thanks for the lovely photo, billiame. I'm so glad to hear that some people can grow peonies. I lust after them so.
Renee

Great pictures...