Written by Rona Wheeldon
May 31, 2018
Hugely popular with brides including Meghan Markle, plus a favourite bloom on Instagram, are peonies with their layers upon layers of delicate petals.
Check out this vibrant variety above called Command Performance. And then read on to discover more about these incredibly romantic blooms!
Background
From the Paeoniaceae family and with the Latin name of Paeonia, the flower derives its name from Paeon, a physician to the gods in Greek mythology.
From their unassuming spherical buds, ruffles of petals unfurl in shades of white, a wonderful assortment of hues of pink ranging from a hint of soft blush to vibrant cerise, plus red and coral. Single and double varieties, some sweetly scented, are available and you'll usually find them in wraps of 5 or 10 stems.
Peak season is May and June, with some availability in April and July. During these four months, they come into the Flower Market from the South of France, Italy and Holland. Boxes of English peonies meanwhile, weather permitting, are available from mid-May to early July. Our traders can usually order in peonies all year round for you though. Outside the peak season, they're imported through Holland and may be grown in Israel, Kenya, Chile, Ecuador or South Africa.
Simply ask the wholesalers if you have any questions whether it's about availability or the best time to buy your peonies for their opening to coincide with your event.
Did you know that peony plants are also available to order from Evergreen Exterior Services? Just one phone call to their nursery and they can be in the Flower Market the very next day.
Types
Madame Claude Tain
Duchesse de Nemours
Festiva Maxima
Odile
Top Brass
Shirley Temple
Mother’s Choice
Reine Hortense
Gardenia
Angel Cheeks
Sarah Bernhardt
Monsieur Jules Elie
Red Sarah Bernhardt
Paula Fay
Command Performance
Henry Bockstoce
British Early Cottage
Peter Brand
Pink Hawaiian Coral
Coral Sunset
Coral Charm
Artificial
If faux peonies are what you're on the look-out for, head to our sundries wholesalers for a wide range in different colours.
Design Inspiration
Greatly sought after by brides, with many even planning their wedding day to coincide with peony season, which is no surprise as they're such a perfect bloom for taking centre stage in big day designs. Whether in a bridal bouquet or tablecentre, hand-tied design or vase arrangement, you really can't beat peonies for adding a real 'wow' factor!
Here are some examples of beautiful floral creations featuring peonies.
(Source: Tony Marklew)
(Source: That Flower Shop)
(Source: The Flower Appreciation Society)
(Source: Mary Jane Vaughan)
(Source: Bloom + Burn)
(Source: Pulbrook & Gould)
(Source: Grace & Thorn)
(Source: Hiding in the City)
(Source: Kitten Grayson)
(Source: Amanda Austin Flowers)
Your Designs
(Source: Lush Petals)
(Source: Florescence)
(Source: Hartley's Nurseries)
We'd love to see photos of arrangements that you've made using peonies from the Flower Market. Simply send an email to hello@cgma.co.uk, stating your company name and website address. Or if you prefer, you could post your photo on Instagram or Twitter and tag us with @MarketFlowers. We'll then upload your photos into this section.
With wedding season starting, I hope you've enjoyed reading this month's florist's guide. Please do ask away below if you have any questions or would like to make any general comments. As always, we'd love to hear from you...
P.S. You may also like to read our 2013 Peonies Product Profile Report and British Peony Fact File.
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