The peony is a flower with a distinct season and a strong visual presence. The full flower, soft color transitions and recognizable bud development make the peony sought after every spring. Precisely because availability is limited, knowledge of product and handling is essential.
In this blog you will read what characterizes the peony and how to keep this flower longer lasting with the right storage techniques.
The peony (Paeonia) stands out for its large, double flower and layered structure. Colors range from fresh white and pale pink to deep red and coral. Many varieties have a subtle, sweet fragrance.
Characteristics of the peony:
Color: white, pink, red, coral
Shape: round and full, with multiple petals
Smell: light and pleasant
Shelf life: 5 to 10 days on average
Availability: April to June (NL season), with storage peonies until August and imports nowadays almost year round
Symbolism: love, luck and prosperity
Application: bouquets, arrangements and bridal work
The flower visibly develops from a compact bud to a fully opened flower, creating dynamism in arrangements.
My Peony works with growers who specialize in peony cultivation. The emphasis is on variety characteristics, uniformity and the right harvest moment. The latter is decisive for both transport, storage and final flowering.
The right time to harvest
When it comes to storing peonies, the stage at which they are harvested is critical. Growers use a scale of five maturity stages. For storage, stage 2 is most suitable.
At this stage:
Is the bud already on color
Are the outer petals beginning to loosen?
Can the flower fully open later
Peonies harvested too early often remain closed or discolored. This is a common problem with improper handling.
Peonies, if handled properly, can be stored for up to four weeks. In practice, this is almost always done via dry storage.
What does dry storage mean?
The stems are not placed in water after harvest
They are placed in crates
Then they go directly into cold storage
This method slows down the ripening process and keeps the flower at rest.
Temperature directly affects peony development. The ideal storage temperature is around 1°C.
Key points of interest:
Below 0°C, damage may occur due to freezing
Above 1°C accelerates bud development
A stable temperature keeps the flour in good condition during storage.
In addition to temperature, humidity plays an important role. In an environment that is too dry, stems and leaves can dry out. Therefore, high relative humidity is used.
The challenge lies in balance:
Sufficient moisture in the air to prevent dehydration
At the same time, the flowers themselves remain dry
This helps maintain the peony's quality and appearance.
After storage, peonies must re-absorb water to continue developing. This process requires a careful start:
Cut the stems at an angle with a sharp knife
Place them in clean, lukewarm water (not hot)
Add cut flower food
After hydration, the natural flowering process resumes. Peonies from storage usually open more slowly than freshly harvested flowers. In many cases, they take several days to fully open.
Closed peonies can sometimes have difficulty opening. This is often due to a naturally sticky sugar coating on the bud.
What can you do?
Rinse gently with lukewarm water
Gently rub with your fingers to remove the coating
This helps the flower to open more easily in the vase.
