I have many different herbaceous peonies and never noticed that some grew more upright than others. All will gradually spread as the plant has more years of age. Al

Like I said a really stupid question...thanks for being kind enough to answer it Al. Ive always wondered about it though because its over three feet high and only a little over a foot wide, and very erect stems. Maybe because its in a slightly shaded spot. Thanks for humoring me.
CMK

Not a stupid question at all. Bud has a very upright habit. Tall stiff stems, red single. Some of the tenefolias spread their stems so it appears when in bloom to be a mound of foliage with red dots all over the plant.

It all depends on the parentage. I will agree that most of the lactifloras seem to be more upright but with flexible stems.

Thanks maifleur! Ill have to find out more about some P. lactifloras...I really like the upright habit of mine.
CMK

I did not imply your question was stupid, in fact it was worth thinking about, which I did. My conclusion was that I could not notice a difference in the peonies in my garden, one of which is Madame Emile Debatene. Since I have had Cataracts removed from both eyes in the last month, perhaps next year I will be a better observer. Al

No no no! I wasnt insinuating that you were being condescending calistoga, I was just implying that I felt stupid for asking such a simple question. I tried looking lactifloras up before posting here, but most of the info was on the blooms; I couldnt find anything on the growing habit of them. Thats why I decided to ask the experts here. :)
CMK