Peonies in Dublin

Peonies in Dublin: a Grafton Street summer flower, bought for each order

Peonies in Dublin are a summer sight on Grafton Street, where family-run stalls on the corners of Chatham, Harry and Duke Streets have held their licensed pitches since the 1940s, setting out buckets of peonies next to hydrangeas through the warmer months. A peony bought for delivery works differently: the stems are bought for that particular order. The choice starts with the format and the number of stems, not with what happens to be on the pitch that morning.

A summer flower on Grafton Street, a Dutch one in the shop

On the Grafton Street stalls, peonies are strictly a summer flower, sold from the same buckets as hydrangeas. Most of the stems that reach Dublin's florists travel through the Netherlands first, and Dutch growers cut more peonies than any other country in the world. Their season runs from the end of April into June, and growers across Europe stretch it further with cold storage, holding cut stems back for later release. Peonies turn up for most of the year, but not all of it.

Five stems for a visit, or peonies beside peony-shaped roses

Peonies by Quantity sets out the format by stem count: the 5 Peonies in Airy Wrapping, light enough for a short visit, sits at one end, a full armful at the other. Bouquets with Peonies take the opposite approach, setting peonies among other flowers rather than leaving them to stand alone. The "Duo of Peony Roses and Peonies" bouquet pairs a true peony with a peony-shaped rose, a bloom bred to open into the same dense, rounded head. Most peony-shaped roses on the market are English varieties bred by David Austin. Where the recipient has a favourite shade, By Colour is the easier starting point than working through quantity or format first.

A box or basket for the table, wrapped stems for a vase

Boxes with Peonies includes the "Double Flower" Peony Box, stems set in a container that stands on a table or desk with no vase needed. The 15 Peonies in a Basket does the same job with a handle for carrying. A designer cylinder is another format in the section. A bouquet in airy wrapping is built for a vase instead, so it only looks its best once someone has one to hand. Dublin's rain is one reason to get a bouquet indoors quickly, and the flowers in Dublin page covers that along with office and hotel deliveries.

Peony delivery in Dublin once the summer stalls move on

A peony bought for delivery is purchased after the order is placed, not pulled from ready stock. The florist photographs the finished bouquet before the courier leaves, so the sender can ask for a change before dispatch. If a particular peony isn't available, it's replaced with one close in shade and price, and the swap is visible in the picture sent. In that photo the buds are already coloured but still closed, the stage at which peonies are cut; they open fully within 24 to 48 hours in warm water and good light. Most orders are delivered on the day they're placed, though the exact window is shown on the bouquet's own page rather than fixed in a single rule. Delivery is free within the centre and charged at a flat rate for other zones, both set out on the delivery page.

For a first order, peonies by quantity is the simplest way to match stem count to the visit. Boxes with peonies suits a desk or table with no vase in reach, and by colour narrows things down fast when a favourite shade is already known.