Bowl of Beauty is the only peony I own that has never, ever needed staking. My 8 year old plant produces close to 35 flowers every year, and the flowers stand up to the weather beautifully. The shrub has a nicely rounded habit, and doesn't appear very susceptible to botrytis--however, it did get a touch of powdery mildew this fall. It has some degree of shade tolerance. The only drawback--no fragrance!