Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Paeonia
Fully opened peonies arranged in glass vases for my "Watching that lazy town bee" design
Common name
Chinese peony, peony or paeony
Origin
Native to Asia, Southern Europe and Western North America
Varieties
Peonies for the cut flower market are herbaceous perennials. Tree peonies (large shrubs) are generally not grown for their cut flowers.
Colors
White, cream, yellow, coral, pink and red
Vase life
Two weeks
Scent
Varieties differ. Some are just slightly fragrant while others are quite strongly fragranced
Uses
Fully opened peonies are spectacular for massed designs. Very popular in wedding designs. The tight buds are great in dramatic work as a focal point.
Conditioning
Remove all foliage that will fall below the water line. Cut the stems at an angle and place in water with flower food. Keep the tight buds in a cool dark place to keep them in bud for as long as possible. To open the flowers, submerge them in warm water for a few hours. Re-condition the stems every few days by giving the stems a fresh cut and refreshing the water. Where possible, arrange the flowers in water rather than floral foam. Peonies are very sensitive to ethylene gas, do not place the flowers close to fruit.
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