Written by Rona Wheeldon
May 09, 2017
Peony season has well and truly arrived at New Covent Garden Flower Market this month! There are so many beautiful varieties available, many of them grown in France, that you'll be spoilt for choice when you next visit.
Here's a gorgeous variety! 'Festiva Maxima' which has double white flowers, with crimson flecks on some of its central petals.
Read on to discover lots more peony varieties you can find here, together with a snapshot of just some of the flowers, foliage, plants and sundries available in May.
British Flowers
At GB Foliage, there are billowing clouds of cow parsley...the perfect filler for natural, relaxed style designs.
Whilst over at Pratley, you'll find boxes of pretty white Scilla.
They also have pinks (Dianthus) in various hues. For more information about this fragrant bloom, please click here.
And you're in luck if you're looking for homegrown ranunculus!
World Flowers
Here are just some of the different types of peonies you can expect to find at Nine Elms. Bunches upon bunches of 'Madame Claude Tain' peonies are available at Zest Flowers.
Pale pink 'Sarah Bernhardt' peonies can be found at DG Wholesale Flowers...
...where they also have 'Gardenia'. Its buds start off as soft pink and then open up to lightly scented white petals, with just a touch of blush.
If you're looking for a rose-pink peony, choose 'Monsieur Jules Elie'.
Magical 'Coral Sunset' start off with coral petals, which gradually fade to pale cream.
'Flame' peonies, which you'll find at S Robert Allen, have cupped deep pink petals with golden yellow stamens at the centre of each bloom.
And let's finish off with 'Red Charm' peonies at Deanos Flowers, with their intense crimson red petals.
Bear in mind that different varieties of peonies open at different rates. So, if you need your peonies to be blooming perfectly for a wedding or event, simply ask the traders and they'll be able to advise you how soon in advance it's best to buy them.
Have you seen this lovely variety of Dicentra spectabilis before? It's called ‘Valentine’ and you can find it at Bloomfield.
And if you're looking for near-black blooms, how about Dianthus ‘Blackjack’ at A Goodchild?
Or if you have a bride-to-be who's set her heart on lilac roses, how about wonderful 'Dancing Clouds' at R G French & Sons?
No, I couldn't quite believe it either! The first Dutch 'Café au Lait' dahlias for 2017 have arrived at Bloomfield.
And in a similar colour palette is this lovely apricot statice (Limonium sinuatum).
If you're looking for exquisitely scented cream stocks (Matthiola incana), then head for S Robert Allen.
Or if it's foxgloves you're on the look-out for, Zest Flowers have a lovely variety called Digitalis purpurea ‘Camelot Cream’.
Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum) with its arching stems and dainty white flowers is available at several wholesalers.
And you'll find pale blue 'Love-in-a-Mist' (Nigella) at J H Hart Flowers.
If you're on the search for a more vibrant blue though, head to Dennis Edwards Flowers, where you'll find these stunning cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus).
British Foliage
White leaf (Sorbus) is available at GB Foliage. And did you know that they've recently joined Instagram? Click here if you'd like to check out their account.
At Porters Foliage, there are containers brimming full of birch.
You'll also find viburnum...
...and photinia.
World Plants
At Evergreen, they have a wide range of geranium plants, which are ideal for adding a pop of colour to window boxes.
They also have trays upon trays of sunflowers plants (Helianthus).
Whilst over at Quality Plants, they have daisy-like marguerites...
...and Eucharis too.
How cute is this plant?! It's called Sedum morganianum, but it's also known as burro's tail. And it's available at Arnott & Mason.
That's where you'll also find these String of Hearts plants (Ceropegia woodii)...just the ticket for the current hanging plant trend. And such pretty, heart-shaped leaves!
For something more structural though and great for selling in your shop gift-wrapped are Zantedeschia plants.
Sundries
Have you visited the fantastic 'Greenery Avenue' at C Best yet? It's an Aladdin's cave of artificial plants and trees, including ferns which were the focus of last month's Product Profile Report.
New in, they also have these fabulous antique pots...
...and this lofty blossom tree, plus lots more new sundries in their fabulous new showroom.
By the way, did you know that C Best have also joined Instagram? Simply click here if you'd like to follow them.
So, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this month’s report and it’s given you lots of inspiration! As always, we’d love to hear from you if you have any comments or questions. Simply fill in the boxes below.
P.S. Did you see that we've announced the 5 star florists of British Flowers Week 2017? Simply click here to find out who they are.
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