I am in Queensland in Australia, they can grow peonies down south but we only see them as a cut flower up here. But because of our heat they don't last very long. Lotus grow in water, they like warm tropical sub/tropical conditions. They go well in dams, ponds, or water bowls. You can't let them dry out, you should break them up every few years (I've not done that yet but I should) and you have to feed them to get them to flower but that's as easy as dropping them a few fertiliser tablets. :) Other than that. they're pretty good.
The only thing you do have to be careful of is drowning. If you break them, their stems, they will fill with water and it can drown them, so you want to make sure the old leaves have completely died down before removing them. : )