15 peonies worldwide: buds that open within a day or two
15 peonies worldwide arrive as buds at the "marshmallow stage": coloured, closed and soft to a light squeeze. Kept in warm water and daylight, buds like these open within 24–48 hours. A bud that feels hard, like a marble, may not open once it reaches the vase, so the stage and the colour are worth checking on the bouquet photo sent before the courier leaves.
The fifteen stems come in three forms: a basket, a jute pot or a hand-tied bunch called 15 Morning Peonies. Peonies are cut almost all year, though not quite: in the Netherlands, France and Germany the season runs from late April to June, and other countries supply the cut in between. If a particular bloom is out of stock, the florist replaces it with one close in shade and price, and the swap is visible on the photo.
How 15 peony buds open at home
Cared for well, the fifteen stems last five to seven days in a vase. The water needs changing daily, and the stem ends want a fresh cut each time. Keep the buds cool, away from direct sun, radiators and ripe fruit. Any leaf that would sit below the waterline comes off, and each stem is cut at an angle with a sharp knife.
For other peony bouquets beyond these fifteen stems, or a different container altogether, flower baskets stand without a vase. Delivery to the city centre is free, and the current timing shows on the bouquet's own card; details are on the delivery page.
