How to Care for Peonies (and When They're in Season)
Cut peonies last five to seven days if you re-trim the stems at an angle, strip the leaves that would sit below the waterline, and keep them in clean cool water away from direct sun. They arrive as tight buds by design, and they open over the next two to four days, which is the whole pleasure of the flower. A peony that looks small and hard on day one can double in size by day three.
Why peonies arrive closed
Peonies are cut at the marshmallow stage, when the bud gives slightly under a thumb and shows a seam of color. Cut any later and the bloom spends its short life traveling. Cut at that stage, it travels tight and opens on your table. We select peonies at the Los Angeles Flower Market in the Downtown Flower District in the morning and build with them the same day, so what you get is a flower at the start of its life.
How to open them faster, or slow them down
Temperature is the dial. A warm room and lukewarm water will bring a bud open in a day or two. A cool room, or a night in the refrigerator away from fruit, holds them back for an occasion later in the week. If a bud feels stubborn, gently roll the outer guard petals back with your fingers to break the seal and the rest usually follows.
Daily care
- Re-cut on arrival and again every few days, at an angle, so the stem can drink.
- Clean water every two days. Peony stems are thick and they foul water quickly.
- No leaves below the waterline. Submerged foliage is the fastest route to cloudy water.
- Keep them cool and out of afternoon sun, which matters more in Los Angeles than most places.
- Away from ripening fruit, which gives off ethylene and ages the bloom early.
When are peonies in season in LA?
The real season here is late spring. California field peonies come in around April, peak in May, and taper through June. Outside that window the market carries imported stems from the other hemisphere, mostly in late autumn, and they are lovely but the price reflects the distance. This is why I build peony-led pieces hardest in spring and let ranunculus and garden roses carry the shoulder seasons.
Working with peonies in a garden-style piece
A peony changes shape every day, so it earns its place in loose, asymmetrical work. We set the buds at different heights and leave room around them, because a bloom that opens to the size of a fist needs somewhere to go. Our seasonal everyday arrangements and luxury pieces feature peonies while they run, from $150. Order before 11 AM, Monday through Saturday, for same-day delivery, or see the delivery page for areas and timing.
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