They certainly withstand the cold - they go dormant. As soon as the warm weather comes they resprout. Mine have just started sending up their deep red new growth. Now they will be quite happy sitting in full sun and will take any amount of heat (I live in a climate of extremes).

I put my freezer ice on any pot plants which look as though they need a bit of water - short term drip irrigation.

Wombat do you fertilize your peonies? When I repotted I added blood & bone and lime. Should I be doing anything else to those red tips apart from letting them enjoy the sun? Thanks

Paeonies are hungry little beggars and love rich soil. I fertilise with whatever I have access to - well rotted manure if I have some (but I've also used fresh horse manure/sawdust from stables applied as mulch), blood and bone and occasionally complete fertiliser. But I do dig in quite a lot of home made compost and apply mulch. They appreciate a nice moist soil in spring but are quite drought resistant once established (which is handy for me in my drought affected area).

Basically the only problem I have is damage to flower buds from late frosts - if it's a reasonably heavy one it kills the buds.

Mine are growing in the garden - I'd be interested to know how they flower in pots.

If you get tired of them or have too many, you can dig up the roots and bake with your Sunday roast. But I believe you should dig them in the dead of night.

Never lime!! They need acid soil which is why mine will be potted unless later I can have a special bed for acid lovers.