You get a big surprise!!
Last year I had my first peony bloom!
It went to seed and I let the seeds mature on the plant, cut off the pod, placed it in an empty clay pot, and immediately forgot about them. They stayed out all winter in the cruel SoCal environment. When I found them all moldy and a bit mushy last month I just tossed them in the garden.
Yesterday to my surprise I found what looks like baby peony seedlings growing where I tossed the seeds.
My peony this year bloomed again too and this time the seed pod is bigger. You can bet I'll be taking care of those seeds, or should I.....