Peony Varieties
As one of the most requested flowers for weddings and events, it’s no wonder why peonies are so beloved with their large, fluffy, marshmallow-like blooms. Peonies are available in an array of pinks, corals, reds, whites, and yellows. Many have a sweet fragrance and are long lasting in the vase!
We have sweet memories of peonies on the farm also. These flowers were originally planted on the farm near Grandma’s house and many childhood memories are filled with picking peonies and watching the ants “work” on the peonies. Their sweet fragrance always filled the house as a vase was always on the table when it was peony season.
Today, there’s 78 peony bushes in the Pine & Posey garden (with more to be added possibly in the future). A little over a third of those are original peonies, aka “Grandma’s” peonies. I’m not sure when they were planted or exactly what varieties they are (I think some of them might be Shirley Temple) but I treasure these as family heirlooms and can’t get enough of these wonderful flowers as they start to bloom. My aunt saved them from the road redevelopment that went through the farm and replanted them at her house. A few years ago, we dug them up again and divided them and moved them back to the farm at the Pine & Posey garden.
Varieties
We’ve also planted a few other varieties of peonies to widen the color palette of peonies we offer. Below are the known varieties we currently grow:
Pink Hawaiian Coral
The first to bloom with long lasting and super-ruffled flowers. These large blooms have yellow centers surrounded by coral petals that fade to a lighter shade with age.
Sarah Bernhardt
Huge, pink double blooms look like old-fashioned roses; they’re very fragrant too.
Sarah Bernhardt RED
The best of Sarah Bernhardt pink only red! These huge double peonies are fragrant while making a statement.
Gardenia
Red stems with giant creamy-white flowers. Petal tips have the slightest hint of cranberry. Blooms are fragrant.
Shirley Temple
Large, fluffy soft blush pink bloom that lightens to cream.
VASE LIFE TRICKS
We try to harvest peonies while in bud stage for the longest vaselife. Once placed in warm water with flower preservative, the buds will open within 24 hours, and the blooms will last a good week in the vase.
TIP: To prolong vase life, try putting your flowers, vase and all, in the refrigerator overnight or when you’re not home. Please remember to clip the stems with a change to the vase water every couple of days and add more flower food to prolong the life of peonies. You should never had leaves or petals below the waterline, only stems. You can read more tips for longer vase life and general flower care here!