Peonies in Los Angeles

Peony delivery in Los Angeles: an early California spring, summer Alaska and year-round imports

Los Angeles loves peonies but waits for them with a calendar in hand: the flower has a short window, and the whole trick is knowing where it comes from in any given month. The city has an advantage — a mild Mediterranean climate that makes California fields bloom earlier than the East Coast, plus direct imports through LAX and the wholesale Downtown Flower District. Together they stretch the peony season longer than you might expect.

This category covers single-variety peony bunches, mixed bouquets with roses or ranunculus, and peonies as the centerpiece of wedding and event arrangements. Because the loveliest peony — the field-grown one — has a short window, the secret to offering it almost year-round is knowing the supply calendar across both hemispheres.

Season and where they come from

California field peonies from the state's coastal and northern growers open early — the mild winter brings them on ahead of the East Coast. Before and after that window, growers from other regions cover the city, including one that supplies peonies even at the height of summer.

• April – June — California field peonies and Dutch imports. Peak quality, the widest choice, the best price.
• July – September — Alaskan peonies. The northern summer means Alaska blooms when almost nowhere else in the hemisphere can, bridging the gap for late-summer weddings.
• November – January — imports from Chile and New Zealand, where it is late spring south of the equator.
• Varieties — Sarah Bernhardt (soft pink, the classic), Coral Charm (coral fading to peach), Red Charm (deep dark red), Duchesse de Nemours (white).

Why peonies cost more

A peony is volume and softness in a single stem: one open bloom does the work of a whole handful of other flowers. The pastel range — from white and powder to deep coral — slips easily into a wedding palette or a Mother's Day gift. At Los Angeles events and on set, peonies are prized for looking generous and photogenic without being glossy or showy.

The catch is the short field window and the import logistics that keep peonies at the top of the price range most of the year. In spring, when local California is running, the price drops and the quality peaks — that is the moment to order them in volume for a wedding or a big celebration.

"Peonies are the one flower people book a month out. Couples build a whole spring wedding around the Sarah Bernhardt window, and when it closes Alaska carries us through to September. In Los Angeles people are especially happy when they can see the peonies are Californian rather than flown halfway around the world."

— Marcus Reed, florist, 10 years in the trade, Los Angeles

How to open them and make them last

Peonies often arrive as tight, almost spherical buds — and that is exactly what you want. Indoors they open over two to five days. To help, keep them in a warm room and gently wipe any sticky sap off the bud with a damp cloth.

Re-cut the stems on arrival, change the water every two days and keep them out of direct sun. LA's heat and dry Santa Ana wind open them fast, so if you need them for a specific date, take them closed and keep them cool. A bud held back in the fridge can wait another two or three days.

Delivery and occasions in Los Angeles

We deliver peonies across Los Angeles — Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice, Brentwood, Culver City, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Downtown, Pasadena, Malibu, Studio City and Koreatown — with prices in US dollars ($, USD). In spring they are the natural choice for weddings, receptions and Mother's Day. Out of season they arrive as a considered, slightly luxurious gift — a way to mark a birthday or anniversary with something not easy to find that month.

At peak season order three to five days ahead, and if you need a specific variety like Coral Charm or a large volume for an event, a week. Message our team and we'll tell you exactly what is arriving in Los Angeles this week.