Peonies 101: The Ultimate Guide to Peonies with Care Advice

Peonies are the princesses of the floral world. Beloved by brides for wedding bouquets, peonies are a romantic flower with their own personality. They’re a flower that demands attention, filling any room with its sweet aroma. Peonies are an ideal choice for an allergy-friendly bouquet and the perfect pick when shopping for a luxury gift.

Native to Asia, Europe, and North America, we can trace peonies back to 1000 BC, first gaining notoriety during the Tang Dynasty in China in the 7th century BC. The peonies we know and love today didn’t spread to Europe until the 18th century. There are now more than 6,500 recorded peony varieties, typically blooming from late spring to early summer.

We’re sharing everything you need to know about peonies to help you find the perfect hand-tied bouquet for spring and summer.

The History of Peonies

Peonies have a history that stretches back over 3000 years, being grown and cultivated in China and Japan as a medicinal flower. After generations of being used as a natural remedy for asthma and headaches, peonies made their way to Europe and North America from the 18th century – and the rest, as they say, is history.

Although no longer a medicinal flower, peonies are one of the most widely appreciated flowers, even though they have a short window for blooming. Allergy-friendly and romantic with a dramatic shape, peonies work for any occasion. Just like daisies in spring, peonies are the first sign that summer is right around the corner.

Even though it’s of Asian origin, it’s thought that the name “peony” comes from Greek mythology and the tale of Paeon being turned into a flower. However, the word “peonies” means ‘king of flowers’ in China with the flower being considered a symbol of wealth due to its association with Emperors.

What Do Peony Flowers Symbolise?

Peonies are a bashful flower, one that is guaranteed to lighten your spirits. Synonymous with love and romance, peonies are a popular choice for wedding celebrations, engagement parties, and bridal gifts. Peony bouquets are commonly given to celebrate a 12th wedding anniversary.

From its humble beginnings as a medicinal flower, peonies have long been associated with strong virtues, such as prosperity, respect, nobility, honour, and good fortune. During the Victorian Era, these flowers were associated with shyness due to their colour similarity to blushing cheeks.

As a symbol of good luck and romance, peonies are a luxury flower you can give for almost any occasion.

5 Different Colours of Peonies

Just like tulips and roses, peonies come in a rainbow of colours. While peonies have overarching symbolisms of luck, fortune, and honour, different colours of peonies can carry extra meaning.

Not sure which types of peonies to add to your birthday bouquet? We’re sharing the meaning behind 5 of the most popular peony colours.

• White peonies: White adds a touch of purity and humility to peonies, as well as representing new beginnings. They’re the perfect choice if you’re buying flowers for a new parent, to celebrate a life milestone, or a graduation.
• Pink peonies: The classic peony. These pink flowers emphasise grace, joy, and femininity and can be used to show appreciation or gratitude. Lighter shades of pink symbolise sweetness while darker peonies are an ideal choice for an older relative, mentor, or friend.
• Red peonies: The ultimate alternative to roses, red peonies are a flower you can give at any stage of your romantic relationship, whether you’re in the honeymoon period or celebrating your wedding anniversary.
• Purple peonies: Purple flowers are synonymous with royalty and nobility, making them an elegant choice for someone who wants a romantic bouquet without using pink flowers.
• Yellow peonies: Sending a luxury bouquet to a friend? Yellow peonies symbolise prosperity, new beginnings, happiness, and friendship. They add a touch of positive energy to any space.

The Most Popular Types of Peonies

With over 6,500 recorded varieties of peonies, there’s no shortage of choice when curating a luxury bouquet. It’s impossible to list every type of peony, so we’re putting a spotlight on four of the most popular types of peonies.

• Sarah Bernhardt: Most of the peonies you’ll see in a florist shop are the ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ peony, named after the famous French actress. Created by Monsieur Lemoine, these full-petalled peonies bloom later than most varieties and have a larger flower.
• Gardenia: Commonly used for bridal bouquets and wedding flowers, a gardenia is another type of full-petalled peony, usually blending hues of light pink and ivory white.
• Coral Sunset: : If you want a dramatic flower, check out the ‘coral sunset’ peony, named for its similar appearance to an exotic sunset. You can spot these peonies by their wider petals that open more than typical peonies.
• Duchesse De Nemours: ‘Fluffy’ isn’t a term you might expect to be used to describe flowers, but the Duchesse De Nemours is a stunning double white peony.

How to Care for Peonies and Peony Bouquets

The good news is that peonies are a fuss-free flower. They’re one of the easiest flower bouquets to look after, requiring little to no work. When you receive a luxury bouquet, your peonies may look a little smaller. If you’re arranging them into a vase, remember that the petals will grow larger as they bloom. It’s a good idea to give them a little wiggle room to grow.

Most peonies will last for just over a week, giving you a stunning bloom to enjoy in your home or as part of a wedding bouquet. If you’re looking to speed up the opening process, you can pop the peony flowers into some warm water and give them a gentle smack against a hard surface. Be careful not to break the petals!

While peony season is short and sweet, these stunning flowers deserve a spot in your bouquets during late spring and early summer.

Shop for Peony Bouquets with Next-Day London Delivery

Peonies are a flower everyone should try at least once. With a rich history, romantic symbolism, and showstopping appearance, peonies are a flower we can’t get enough of.

Our local flower delivery service in London makes it easy to order luxury hand-tied bouquets directly to your doorstep with guaranteed chosen-day delivery. Sending a peony bouquet as a gift? Add a custom gift card and let us know the occasion when ordering your fresh bouquet with Chelsea Florals.

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