What should I know about peonies?
The Short Answer
Peonies are the lush, romantic showstopper with a short but glorious season, peaking in Michigan from late May through June. Their fleeting availability and full, ruffled blooms make them one of the most coveted and treasured flowers for weddings and special occasions.
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Worth the wait every year
Peonies inspire a devotion few flowers can match. Their enormous, many-petaled blooms unfurl from tight round buds into soft, romantic clouds of color, often with a gentle fragrance. In many traditions they symbolize prosperity, honor, and a happy marriage, which is part of why brides adore them. The catch, and the magic, is their short natural season. Because they bloom for only a few precious weeks, receiving peonies feels like a genuine luxury. At Bentley Florist we count the arrival of peony season each spring as one of the highlights of our year.
Colors and the varieties to know
Peonies come in blush, soft pink, coral, white, cream, and deep raspberry red, plus some sunset-toned coral varieties that shift color as they open. You will find single-petaled forms, semi-double, and the lavish full double blooms most people picture. Popular garden and florist favorites include the classic pink Sarah Bernhardt, the pure white Duchesse de Nemours, and the vivid Coral Charm that opens coral and fades to peach. Because a single open peony is so large and full, just a few stems create a generous, high-impact arrangement, which helps offset their premium price.
A short Michigan season and how to plan
In Michigan, garden and field-grown peonies bloom from roughly late May into June, with local stems at their most fragrant and affordable then. Imported peonies stretch the availability a bit before and after, but they command higher prices and cannot always be guaranteed. If you dream of peonies for a Genesee County wedding, a late-spring or early-summer date is ideal, and we strongly recommend ordering well ahead. For dates outside the season, our designers can suggest gorgeous look-alikes such as ruffly garden roses or double tulips that capture the same romantic fullness.
Care, cost, and best occasions
Buy or receive peonies as tight buds that feel like soft marshmallows, and they will open over several days. Recut the stems, use flower food, and keep them cool, and they will last about 5 to 7 days. To coax a stubborn bud open, place it in warm water in a warm room. Peonies are the star of romantic weddings, anniversaries, Mother's Day, and marquee birthdays. Because they are seasonal and in high demand, expect them at the upper end of pricing, with peony-heavy bridal bouquets often running $200 to $350. When they are in season, though, nothing feels more special.
Planning Tips From Our Designers
- Buy peonies as firm marshmallow-soft buds so they open in the vase.
- Coax stubborn buds open in warm water in a warm room.
- Plan a late-May or June wedding date for local peonies.
- Order well ahead, since peony season is short and in demand.
- Ask about garden roses as a look-alike outside peony season.
- A few open peonies fill an arrangement, offsetting their cost.
Planning your wedding flowers?
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