Peonies and peonies are not only popular in the garden, but also in bouquets. Peonies come in a multitude of colors and their large flower heads can be found filled with many layers of petals, or quite simple with a few petals the size of teacups. Read along here in the article, where you get a mini-guide to growing peonies yourself and how to make them last longer in vases.
The picture shows peonies in the Flower Tube vase , styled with the new oil lamps from Studio About, which will go on sale in August 2021.
PEONY OR BORDER ROSE
Peonies and peonies come in thousands of different species in a multitude of beautiful colors and scents. The best known is the delicate pink we can find at flower markets and take home for bouquets.
The difference between peasant roses and peonies is most easily seen in the flowering period. Garden roses like to bloom from May to the end of June, whereas the peonies gradually begin to bloom at the end of June. The garden roses grow to about 60 cm high, whereas the silk peonies reach a height of 80-100 cm. However, both types have the same requirements for placement and care in the garden.
PEONIES IN THE GARDEN
Peonies are a classic farmhouse plant and have almost always had a place in Danish gardens. Once it is located and has established its root network, it is easy, hardy and robust. Some of the peonies with the very large flower heads may need support so they don't topple over in the wind.
Placing peonies in the garden is straightforward, but the soil must not get too wet, and they bloom best if they are in full sun. You can plant peonies from pots all year round, as long as there is no frost in the ground. If you want to move old peonies and garden roses, it is best to do it in the month of September.
Peonies in pots are incredibly beautiful, but you should plant them out in a bed, as this is where they will get the best conditions and perform at their best.
When planting peonies in your garden, it is important that you do not dig the root ball too deep, as this will significantly delay flowering. The root itself only needs to be dug down approximately 3 cm. Remember to water regularly after planting.
Peonies are fully winter hardy, this means that they do not need to be covered in winter.
WOODEN PEONS
Tree peonies are not really a perennial, like peonies and peonies, but a shrub. Therefore, it is also a good idea to prune them to keep a nice shape and structure. Tree peonies can easily be placed in semi-shade, unlike ordinary peonies that prefer full sun. If you want to extend your peony season, it is a good idea to plant both perennial peonies and tree peonies in your bed. Tree peonies can grow between 1-3 meters and have woody branches, if we have a mild spring, they can already bloom in May. Place them in a bit of shelter, as the large flower heads can be delicate in the wind. Unlike silk peonies, it is a good idea to plant them a little deep. Approximately 10 cm of the root tuber must be dug down for optimal growth.
GOOD ADVICE FOR PLANTING PEONIES
- Do not dig the root ball too deep, only 3-5 cm
- Place them in full sun
- Give the large flower heads shelter or support
- Cut away the withered leaves in autumn
- If they are to be moved, it is best in September/October
GOOD ADVICE TREE PEONS
- Dig the root ball 10 cm down
- Place in partial shade
- Give the bush some structure by cutting it in
- Make sure there is plenty of space
THE BUBBLE TUBE VASES ARE PERFECT FOR THE LARGE PEONY BOUQUET.
PEONY SEASON
The peonies are one of the first to bloom in the summer garden and get bigger year by year. Peonies and garden roses are perennials, which means they come back the following year. The flowering itself is something that all gardeners look forward to, and before the flowers unfold, they are ready with the most beautiful round balls. The round balls create peace and eye-catching in the garden, some of the largest peonies can have flower heads with a diameter of 25 cm.
The large flower buds are often filled with small ants, the ants do not harm the buds but keep them free of pests and eat the peonies' sugar production, the sugar production is also what makes the buds feel a bit sticky.
Peonies and garden roses bloom differently according to location and variety. You can tell the difference between the two species by the fact that the garden roses bloom from May-June and the peonies from June-July.
PEONIES IN VASES
- Buy or pick them right before they pop out
- Give the stem a sharp oblique cut
- Make a new cut approximately every other day so that the flower can draw up water better
- Put them in hot water
- Put a little bit of sugar in the water in the vase
- If it's garden peonies, be aware that ants love them and can sit in the flower itself, so leave them outside for a while after they've been picked
- Keep them cool, preferably in the fridge overnight
PEONIES IN THE BOUQUET
Peonies in a vase are one of the most beautiful things. In the picture above, Maria Mostrup has styled our green Bubble tube with peonies from the garden in shades of pink. It is the vase Bubble Tube green . She is completely crazy about peonies and has 6 bushes in the garden in different colours. Both in white, yellow, light pink, pink and dark red and she thinks they are all gorgeous. Maria enjoys having peonies standing alone, but also creating wilder bouquets with ditch border flowers where one or two peonies are added.
The impressive plant is beautiful individually or in a bouquet of your choice and can create a wild wow effect with just a few flowers.
Follow the above guide and extend the life of your bouquet, if you look after your bouquet it can last up to 14 days in a vase.
The beautiful flowers give any home a breath of fresh air, and most smell mildly of summer. Use your peonies as part of your decor, or decorate the summer table with many small vases with individual peonies in them.
PEONIES THAT CHANGE COLORS
In the picture above, Louise Amalie Rasmussen has styled our Bubble Tube in amber , the bouquet started as bright pink and after a few days the flowers started to change color and become more and more pale yellow. The color change of the peonies when they get into water has something to do with the changed PH value, it is fascinating and incredibly beautiful.
"There is something majestic about them when they unfold. The whole process from bud, to flowering and until they start to wither is beautiful", says Louise.
If she had a garden, she would grow them herself. Right now she likes to buy them from good florists and take them home to the apartment, but by next season she will definitely have some planted in her summer house.
Louise enjoys collecting the beautiful peonies for a large bouquet that beautifully decorates the apartment.
DO LIKE LOUISE AND USE A BUBBLE TUBE FOR YOUR PEONY BOUQUET.
The photos above were taken by stylist Louise Amalie Rasmussen.
PAPER PEONIES
If, like us, you love peonies and find it difficult to settle for the short flowering period, then you can buy our peonies in paper. Paper Flowers are two collections of carefully selected flowers made in crepe paper. Find them here.
