'BRIGHT WHITE' Peony (Paeonia x lactiflora 'bright white')

Naturally the shipment carrier was apparently playing some football with the box - it arrived pretty beaten up, and not sure how but it felt as if it was kept in the oven, the roots were really warm/hot when I took them out. All of the eyes/buds that started sprouting looked really dehydrated and wrinkled; no clue where the box was kept during transit.
Apart from a crappy delivery experience, I received a decent medium sized root ball(?) with several eyes / sprouting points. I planted it already and what's now above ground level seems to have firmed/perked up quite well. Fingers crossed it continues to sprout and grow.
If everything goes well, I am very eager to see how this peony performs - described by several hybridizers, distributors and sellers, as a variety that grows in a Mediterranean (mild or no winter) climate. Here comes the shocker (are you sitting?) I live in Los Angeles, zone 10b (everyone gasps, few ladies faint...) But, before you say anything, I found out from several people that they have been successfully growing other herbaceous peonies in LA for decades... Go figure.