Peonies in Antwerp

Peonies delivered in Antwerp: varieties, season, and the cut stage

The peony is one of the most emotional flowers in Antwerp floristry. The full globe-shaped bud, the light honeyed scent, the dense layers of petals — they create an effect that's hard to match with roses or ranunculus. It's the favourite of wedding designers and the number-one pick for milestone anniversaries and Mother's Day.

This category brings together herbaceous, tree, and Itoh hybrid peonies. Supply comes from Dutch greenhouses through Aalsmeer, with European farms adding to it in summer and Chile and New Zealand covering the off-season. That keeps peonies in the catalogue almost year-round, not only in the traditional May–June window.

The main varieties in the catalogue

Each peony variety solves its own task — from a classic romantic bouquet to a complex wedding arrangement. They differ in bud shape, palette, scent, and vase life.

• Sarah Bernhardt — a 1906 classic, pale-pink double bud up to 18 cm, honeyed scent. The universal "safe" wedding choice.
• Karl Rosenfield — a dense dark-red peony. Suits a dramatic wine palette and autumn bouquets.
• Festiva Maxima — white with a crimson fleck at the centre. A wedding-floristry classic.
• Coral Charm — shifts from coral-peach to cream as it opens. A favourite of social-media florists.
• Duchesse de Nemours — soft white with a cream centre, a light vanilla scent, a romantic look.
• Itoh hybrids (Bartzella, Cora Louise) — a cross of herbaceous and tree peony, blooming longer and larger than the standard kinds.

The cut stage and why it matters

The key rule when buying peonies is the "marshmallow" stage — a bud that's already coloured but still soft to the touch. If it springs back like a marshmallow under a gentle squeeze, it will open in 1–2 days and last 7–9. Hard and green may never open at all. Fully open will last 2–3 days at most.

Every batch is checked by hand. Only marshmallow-stage buds ship out — that gives the recipient the full bloom cycle, not the final fading stage a day after delivery.

Seasonality and logistics

The natural peony season in the northern hemisphere runs from late May to mid-June. In those weeks prices are lowest and the choice of varieties widest. From July to February supply comes from the southern hemisphere — Chile, New Zealand, Australia. Off-season prices are 2–3 times higher, but the quality and vase life hold.

Antwerp benefits from its closeness to the Dutch auctions: a couple of hours by refrigerated truck from Aalsmeer. We match the delivery date to the moment of opening — which matters most for weddings and anniversaries, so the peony opens on the right day, not the morning after the event.

"The peony doesn't forgive haste. If you want to impress with peonies, order 3–4 days ahead and let the bud open in the recipient's room. A freshly delivered closed peony is an investment in the moment, not the moment itself."

— Lena Vermeulen, florist with 13 years of experience

Compositions and occasions

The peony has been the leading wedding flower of recent years. Bridal bouquet, boutonnieres, arch and table décor — it works everywhere. Anniversaries come second: 25, 30, 35 years together are often marked with peonies. Large gifts and Mother's Day bouquets come third.

Mixed bouquets of peonies and David Austin garden roses are a class of their own. The two flowers are close in form and texture and complement each other in colour and vase life. Managers will advise on proportions and the best stem count for the budget.

Delivery specifics

Antwerp has a temperate maritime climate. Winters run +2…+7 °C with rain; summers sit at +17…+23 °C with short heat spells up to +30 °C. High humidity is rather a plus for the peony — the bud doesn't dry out in transit. The short hop from the Dutch greenhouses helps it arrive firm.

We deliver across the whole city: Centrum and the old town, Het Zuid, Het Eilandje, Borgerhout, Berchem, Deurne, Wilrijk, Merksem, Ekeren, Hoboken. Delivery windows are 2 hours. For Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Easter, order 3–4 days ahead. Prices are in euros (€), payment by card online.

Care at home

After delivery, recut the stems at a 45° angle, strip all leaves below the water line, place in a tall vase with cool water. Change the water every 2 days. Keep away from fruit and radiators — ethylene and dry heat halve a peony's life.

On the rare +30 °C summer day in Antwerp, move the bouquet to the coolest room overnight or to the fridge. That metabolic pause buys the peony 2–3 extra days of bloom — simple physics, no chemistry needed.