Like lilacs, peonies need a winter chilling period of a certain length in order to set buds. The cold winters and hot summers of the Midwest suit peonies just fine. Gardening Zone 7 is probably the limit of their southern range. Unfortunately, the late-season flowering doubles do poorly in the South. Early-flowering singles are a better choice, even though they are not nearly as showy.
Staking peonies is a good idea, especially if they tend to flop over by mid-summer.
To stake most effectively, begin early in the growing season, when the first red shoots are showing. You can buy commercial supports, which usually consist of a wire grid on legs. The legs are pushed into the ground over the peony shoots, and the stalks then grow through the openings in the grid. If you can t find these supports or find them rather expensive, you can duplicate them easily on your own. Push four sturdy bamboo stakes into the ground around the edges of each clump of peonies.