The Peony… Everyone’s favorite wedding flower. Who can resist the sweet scent, soft coloring, and beautiful petals that just open up so perfectly? The struggle with peonies… the per-stem cost and seasonal availability. Sometimes you just need peony alternatives, and we know the best ones for you.

Peonies are a beautiful flower, but in our New Jersey climate; they are only available for about a month’s time from late May through mid-June. There are some techniques that your florist/ farmer florist can use to prolong the amount of usable time per stem, but, they have to be well-equipped.

Peonies can be stored in what is known as “dry storage” for up to two months in a nearly freezing cooler. Dry storage essentially puts the peonies into a hibernation state until they are removed from the cooler and conditioned in water with warmer temperatures. Peonies need to be harvested at the correct “marshmallow” stage to ensure quality dry storage. But, if done effectively, can make peonies usable through the end of June and into July and potentially August for prime wedding season!

Peonies also have a high price point per stem. For locally grown flowers for your event, peonies are priced somewhere in the $15-$20 range. For imported peonies depending on the time of year, sometimes can even range from $24-32 range, per stem. So, if you have a highly peony-focused design idea, your budget will increase very quickly.

If cost is an issue for your wedding or event, there are some beautiful flower alternatives that can have JUST as beautiful of an impact. Did you know that there are peony-style tulips? Similar to the peony in coloring and form, it can also be stored in dry storage to prolong the usability of the stems. Peony-style tulips are also a third of the price of peonies! So for $5-$15 a stem, your budget can stretch much further for a similar impact. Standard roses are also a beautiful alternative to peonies for their costs. They have a different styles, but if coloring is more important, they can be just as beautiful for your event.

If cost isn’t as much of a concern, but seasonality is more of an issue… here are some other BEAUTIFUL alternatives to the peony.

If cost is an issue for your wedding or event, there are some beautiful flower alternatives that can have JUST as beautiful of an impact. Did you know that there are peony-style tulips? Similar to the peony in coloring and form, it can also be stored in dry-storage to prolong the usability of the stems. Peony-style tulips are also a third of the price as peonies! So for $5-$15 a stem, your budget can stretch much further for a similar impact. Standard roses are also a beautiful alternative to peonies for their costs. They have a different style, but if coloring is more important, they can be just as beautiful for your event.

We all LOVE peony season. But the other seasonal show-stoppers deserve some love, too!

If you’re planning an event for a certain time of year and can’t get your peonies, contact us to discuss how we can make your dreams come true with some of these other peony alternatives!

Please share in the comments below what your favorite focal flowers are! I’d love to add them to my list of recommendations for upcoming events!