Peony Chat

Peonies – everybody loves them, am I right?! They probably make it onto the top 5 list of the populations favourite flower, and with good reason too – they are beautiful, deliciously scented and come in an abundance of varieties & colours.

As we are currently in the height of peony season I thought I’d share a few flower care hints & tips for keeping these babies, as they need a little more TLC than your regular blooms to make the most out of their dazzling beauty. With an already shorter than average vase life, here are some insider tips on how to look after your peony pals to ensure maximum longevity. And if you haven’t already treated yourself yet, head over to the Shop where you can still order peonies for a limited time.

1.      You’ve received your peonies & they look tiny!

Don’t be alarmed! When you receive your peonies from Wilderness, I make sure that the blooms are still in bud stage so that you can enjoy them for as long as possible. They will be delivered with little golf ball sized heads, but you won’t have to wait for long to witness them blooming to up to three times their original size – talk about a growth spurt!

2.      Okay, so you have your peonies. What next?

Remove all of the packaging (straight into the recycling bin – no nasty single use plastics here), and get your snips or kitchen scissors out. As with all flowers, you need to cut the stems on a diagonal angle when you receive them, so that they can drink up as much water as possible and to stay hydrated. With most flowers a 2cm cut will do the trick. However with peonies, I recommend cutting around 5cm from the stem when you first get them as they need a little more coaxing to open up their waterways! And don’t worry - peony stems are always very long, so you’ll still be able to display them in your favourite vase despite the 5cm snip.

Next, you’ll need to trim away any foliage which will fall below the water line in the vase you’re planning to display your peonies in. This just ensures that more water is taken up into the flower head, and reduces any leafy residue in the water as times goes by.

Sometimes peony buds can have a sticky sap-like residue, which can make it harder for them to bloom open. Give the buds a gentle wipe with a clean, damp cloth to make sure they are sap-free!

Finally, place your blooms in a clean vase (or split them out into smaller bottles/jars – get creative!) and fill up with cold, fresh water.

3.      Finding the perfect spot to display your blooms.

First and foremost, you’ll want to place your peonies in a place that you spend a lot of time in so that you can enjoy them! Ideally you should ensure that they are positioned in a room that gets plenty of natural light. However, do not position them in direct sunlight and definitely keep them away from radiators or fireplaces. Peonies are very sensitive to heat, so if it is particularly warm try to keep them in the coolest parts of the house.

4.      You want your peonies to open up quicker…

Some peonies will open up very quickly, and others need a little coaxing – they can be a bit stubborn sometimes! If you want your peonies to open quickly, most of the time keeping them somewhere which has plenty of bright, natural light will do the trick. However, if you need them to open up sooner, just add a little warm water to the vase and they’ll begin unfurling in no time.

5.      Maximise the longevity of your peonies

These blooms probably have one of the shortest vase lives of any flower, on average lasting around 5 days. To maximise the time that you can enjoy these beauties, make sure you replace the water every single day; and while you’re at it, trim the stems just a little every other day to make sure they can drink plenty of water.

6.      Sit back, relax & enjoy the beauty

I just love watching how peonies transform every day, growing from teeny tiny buds to big headed beauties. They are an instant mood lifter and will definitely brighten up your home and your mood! A personal favourite of mine is the Coral Charm & Coral Sunset peony, both of which start off a vibrant coral pink colour, which naturally fades until they become almost ivory. Stunning.

7.      All good things must come to an end…

Sadly, peony season comes and goes in the blink of an eye, starting around mid April and finishing towards the end of June. So to make the most of what is left of the season, get your orders in! Peonies are available to shop now for a limited time until they’re gone for another year.

What are you waiting for? Treat yourself! X