Delicate, feminine, and romantic… words all used to describe the peony! Today’s flower highlight is going to be all about… you guessed it, PEONIES!

Peonies often mark the beginning of spring. The soft pink tones they’re known for never fail to bring sweetness to the eyes. They produce a delicate scent, so there’s a really good chance you’ve seen their name on all kinds of perfume bottles.

You guys know I love diving into floral symbolism and history, so of course I had to find a few background fun facts. As per usual, Greek mythology comes into play with the peony. The Greek god of healing was named paeon, and the story is that Zeus turned him into a flower to protect him from a jealous rival out to kill him. Another story in Greek mythology tied to the origin of the peony’s name was a nymph that was turned into a flower because of her beauty. 

Throughout the world today, peonies symbolize beauty, honor, and majesty. However, something so beautiful once also symbolized being cursed and forgotten! Yikes! 

Now let’s get to science! Peonies are perennials and are known for their extravagant blossoms. They have a GREAT lifespan when cut in a vase, which makes them an amazing layer to a bouquet. There are over 6,000 different kinds of peonies- so to say they have variety is an understatement. Out of all those kinds, I tend to use coral charm peonies a lot!

But let’s get down to the burning question… why are they so freaking expensive? The truth is, there are a lot of factors at play here:

• They are one of the first flowers to bloom each season.
• They have a very long lifespan after cut.
• They ship incredibly well.
• Demand is always high.
• Their big blooms pop in any arrangement.

Normally just one of these factors can impact a flowers price. When you combine all of them together, you get an even higher price point. But if there’s one thing I know for sure, peonies are for sure worth the hype. Here are a few arrangements I’ve made that feature peonies:

Do you love learning about florals just as much as I do? Or even just admiring their beauty? Follow along with me on Instagram– I post flower fun facts from time to time and love letting you in on all things floral education!