I have no idea about the wasp question. I'm not sure what you mean by the plants "going dormant" in late summer, but peonies all have a relatively short blooming season, and even if you assiduously plant varieties to cover the widest possible blooming season, you still will only get around 5-6 weeks worth of bloom. Each variety will only bloom for about a week and a half. Many are fragrant. Good luck!

Oh, and maybe you should ask this question in the bee-keeping forum...?

Thanks for the suggestion, Jayco.

Maybe "dormant" isn't quite the right word, but I'm talking about the leaves, not the flowers. From some preliminary reading, I have the impression that certain varieties tend to die down in the summer, especially in a dry year. I'd prefer ones that look like little green bushes till autumn.

All of mine remain green, bushy, and decent-looking until fall. The foliage can turn a bit yellow or brownish if it's very dry, but I'd say in general they look quite presentable until fairly late on. Here's a link to a site that discusses extending the blooming season:

Here is a link that might be useful: peony blooming

Thanks for the link, Jayco. I checked out that site (The Peony Bloom Time Project), and it looks like useful information.

I agree with you, most peonies do stay nice and bushy through the summer. But I've heard that a few cultivars may not, and I'd prefer to avoid any with this tendency.

I've read that fernleaf (paonia tenuifolia) tend to go dormant before the end of summer leaving a hole in your border. It's the reason that I didn't buy one. I still want one though. If my rockii seedlings work, would anyone be willing to consider a trade?

Well, that's probably one to avoid, then (though they are awfully pretty). Thanks, Rian.