Jabco and his colleagues have planted many recent additions to show local gardeners the extensive varieties that will do well in this area. For instance, tree peonies grow best in full sun, but appreciate some shade in the hottest part of the day. Jabco says they are tolerant of low temperatures and flourish into Zone 4. The one thing they cannot tolerate is wet soil, so look for a well-drained section of the garden for planting your moutan, as tree peonies are called in China, their native country. If planted in the right spots, these are long-lived plants and may grow 3 to 10 feet tall, depending on cultivar and location.
Colors range from maroon-black through magenta, red, pink, purple, golden to pale yellow, and white.
If you want yellow flowers, try the Saunders hybrids, including Roman Gold and High Noon. Thunderbolt is a deep red cultivar and may be hard to find. Recently, a grower introduced Daphnis hybrids, which all have Greek mythological names. One is Nike, whose flowers are multicolored. Tree peonies also are available in local nurseries.