1. Kansas and Red Charm are good reds.
2. Containerized plants can be planted now; most mail order suppliers only sell bareroots, which are shipped in fall.
3. Go to songsparrow.com; they have a good section on cultural requirements.
4. Herbaceous peonies usually bloom around Memorial Day.

I like Red magic for a red bloomer,I found that most peony are not too fussy about the soil as long as it drains well and there not over watered, before I plant a new one I always mix bone meal into the soil about a week before I plant them, so far this has worked for me, in 8 years I've not lost one plant, this year I'm adding a peony tree to the yard

Bear