In-Season Peony Flowers: A Guide to Colours, Varieties, and Care
Updated: Mar 26
Are you a peony lover looking to find out more about these beautiful flowers? Look no further than our guide to in-season peony flowers. We'll cover everything you need to know about these stunning blooms, including their colours, varieties, care, and even some fun facts about much-loved garden flower and peony plant.
Peonies are a perennial plant and have been in cultivation for over 2000 years and well-loved by the nation - included us! Peony flowers will typically bloom from late spring to early summer, making them a popular choice for weddings and other special events during this time. They come in a range of colours, including white, pink, red, and even yellow. Some popular varieties include the Sarah Bernhardt, Coral Charm, Bowl of Beauty, and Festiva Maxima.
One of the most beautiful things about peony flowers is their layers of petals. Some varieties have so many layers that they're often mistaken for roses. The Sarah Bernhardt, for example, is a stunning pink peony with layers of ruffled petals that almost resemble a fluffy tutu. We love watching them transform from the state they arrive in which is a tightly budded hard ball into the blossoming blowsy flower they are more recognised by. Their big and blowsy fluffy bloom make them a favourite statement flower to enjoy in the garden and in many floral designs.
In terms of seasonality, peony flowers are only available for a short time each year and this is why they are a favourite floral of ours because to us, they symbolise a change in the seasons. Peony blooms will start to appear in late April through to the early summer throughout the months of May and June.
If you're looking to grow peonies in your own gardens, they can be a labour of love taking up to three years to first flower but they can live onto one hundred.
To care for your peony flowers, it's important to plant them in well-draining soil in a sunny location. They should be watered deeply once a week, and deadheaded regularly to encourage more blooms.
In the flowering world, the Netherlands is the largest peony cut flower producing country with about 50 million stems each year, with “Sarah Bernhardt” dominating the sales with over 20 million stems. Sarah Bernhardt is a popular peony choice for many wedding flowers and we enjoy creating many wedding flowers using this favourite flower.
Interestingly, peony flowers have a long history of symbolism and meaning. In ancient Greece, peonies were associated with healing and were used in medicines. In Chinese culture, peonies are known as the "king of flowers" and symbolize prosperity and honor. In Western culture, peonies are often associated with romance and are a popular flower for weddings.
In-season peony flowers are a must-have for any lover of flowers and we love stocking them in our floral home when their season comes around. With their vibrant colours, delicate beauty, we love to use this special flower in our floral designs.