Negin Flowers Blog

One of spring and early summer’s most lush and lovely plants is the peony. Prized for its full, luxuriant blossoms and delicate leaves, it has been a favorite for floral displays for generations.

But would you have guessed that peonies were once widely valued for their medicinal properties? Peonies were said to cure gall stones and jaundice, control epileptic seizures, soothe teething pain, prevent bad dreams, relieve stomachaches, quiet a cough … in the middle ages there were not many ailments that peonies were not thought to soothe! What a treat it is to enjoy them today, with a past as colorful as its blooms.

Our tulip grower, Greengable Farms, supplies us with peonies. How lucky we are! Easy to arrange, peonies make the novice arranger look like a pro. Full heads mean you don’t have to spend a lot to get a full vase of blooms. Choose a simple vase – anything elaborate only detracts from their beauty.
Coral Colored Peony

The shape of the blooms varies, providing visual surprises as the heads open to reveal their gorgeous structure. The color variety, from the palest near-white pink to a deep purple-merlot shade, is truly stunning. Almost all shades look great on their own or mixed.

Try cutting stems to the length where the weighty blooms can rest their heads on the lip of the vase, and then add greens or branches, such as the curly willow pictured here, to give height to the composition.
Pale Pink Colored Peony

The greens you see peeking above the height of the blooms in these photos are actually portions of the bottom of the stem, cut off and inserted into the arrangement separately after the blooms were added. Many of the varieties have very long stems, making this technique a win-win: reducing waste and allowing you to use the plant’s own lacy greenery for harmony of design.

Enjoy a bunch of peonies from your Market Florist, and impress your family with a stunning addition to the dining table or entryway!