Peonies in Dublin

Peony delivery in Dublin: varieties, wedding season and the marshmallow-bud rule

The peony sits well with Irish taste. Voluminous, fragrant, luxurious without trying too hard, it is equally at home at a wedding in a country estate outside Dublin and in a quiet bouquet for the kitchen table. The cool Irish summer suits the peony: it dislikes heat, and the local climate extends the bloom. Dublin's wedding florists have made the peony one of the signature flowers of June — it is large, photogenic and lasts longer in the vase than most people expect.

This category covers single-variety bouquets, mixed compositions with roses and eucalyptus, hat boxes and large baskets for celebrations. Supply flows through the Royal FloraHolland auction from European glasshouses, from local fields and neighbouring Britain in season, and from Chilean and New Zealand farms in the off-season — keeping peonies in the catalogue nearly year-round.

Key varieties in the catalogue

Each peony variety has a distinct job — from a wedding arch to a quiet personal gift. They differ in bud form, colour, fragrance and vase longevity.

• Sarah Bernhardt — pale pink fully double bud up to 18 cm across, honey-vanilla fragrance. A classic from 1906 that works in virtually any context: wedding, birthday, business gift.
• Karl Rosenfield — deep crimson, dense bud with a rich colour. Pairs well with the warm, wine-toned interior palettes popular in autumn and winter.
• Festiva Maxima — white with a raspberry fleck at the centre. One of the most photogenic varieties, a favourite with wedding photographers.
• Coral Charm — transitions from coral-orange at opening to soft cream-peach in full bloom. A leading variety of the 2020s.
• Duchesse de Nemours — soft white with a cream centre, light vanilla scent. For understated romance and nude-toned palettes.
• Itoh hybrids (Bartzella, Cora Louise) — a cross of herbaceous and tree peony. Larger flowers, longer bloom, 10–12 days vase life. Suited to premium gifts and wedding decor.

Bud stage and why it matters

The key rule when buying peonies is what florists call the marshmallow stage. A bud that is fully coloured but still soft to the squeeze — press it with your fingers and it gives like a marshmallow. At this stage the peony opens within one to two days and lasts seven to nine days. A hard green bud may not open at all; a fully open bloom will last two to three days at most.

Every batch we send is hand-sorted to this standard: only marshmallow-stage buds go out for delivery. For a recipient in Dublin, that means a full bloom cycle, not a view of something already at its end.

Seasonality and logistics

Ireland's natural peony season is late May to June. In this short window, local field peonies appear, along with lots from neighbouring Britain carried across the Irish Sea. From July through February, supply shifts to the southern hemisphere (Chile, New Zealand) — prices are 1.5 to 2 times higher, but quality and vase performance hold up.

For weddings and milestone events, we time deliveries to the anticipated bloom moment. A peony at a celebration should greet guests in full flower, not as a closed bud — that takes precise planning. Dutch lots travel through Aalsmeer either by air into Dublin Airport or by refrigerated lorry on the direct Rotterdam–Dublin ferry.

"A peony is not a flower for last-minute orders. If you want to make an impression at a wedding outside Dublin, order three to four days ahead and let the bud open in the recipient's home. A freshly delivered closed peony is a promise — and it delivers the next day."

— Niamh Kelly, wedding florist, Dublin, 15 years in the profession

Delivery specifics in Dublin

Dublin has a maritime climate: mild damp winters around +4 to +8 °C, cool summers of +16 to +20 °C, and wind and changeable weather all year. For the peony that is more of a plus — it dislikes heat, and Dublin's coolness extends the bloom. In winter, bouquets travel in thermal bags and the wrapping shields them from moisture; in summer, cool packs are rarely needed. The best season for peonies is April through June and September through October.

We deliver peonies across all districts of Dublin: City Centre, Temple Bar, Ballsbridge, Ranelagh, Rathmines, Donnybrook, Sandymount, Clontarf, Howth, Dún Laoghaire, Dundrum and Drumcondra. Payment is in euro (€, EUR). Peak dates: Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day, the fourth Sunday of Lent, in March), Valentine's Day (14 February), Easter and the late-spring wedding season. Peonies sell through especially fast around Mothering Sunday — order seven to ten days ahead.

Home care

After delivery, re-cut stems at 45°, strip leaves below the waterline and place in a tall vase with cool water. Change the water every two days. Keep away from fruit, radiators and direct sunlight — ethylene and heat halve the peony's vase life.

Older Dublin houses can run hot in winter, which for a peony means accelerated opening and a shorter cycle. Place the bouquet in the coolest part of the home, ideally near a bedroom window. Fragrant varieties (Sarah Bernhardt, Duchesse de Nemours) open best at a moderate +18 to +20 °C: the scent becomes more distinct and lasting.