Dear Angela, Jim Waddick led us in a fascinating discussion on peonies when we were doing the topic of the week. Look under Paeonia here: http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/old.php/… And his introductions: http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/old.php/… http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/old.php/… In these introductions he wrote about ones for warm climates like California but the same should be true for Western Australia. On a trip to Australia a number of years ago I saw some wonderful ones blooming in Adelaide in a garden. They were Mediterranean species grown from seed and early bloomers so they would bloom before it got really hot and the garden took a rest for the summer. Hans donated seed to the BX and sent some to me and I picked some of the species Jim recommended to try. They didn't come up the first year, but this second year I have seedlings in all of the pots but one so I'm hoping one day to have some in my garden. Species selection I believe is the key. Mary Sue