Peonies in Bogota

Peonies with delivery in Bogota: varieties, two import seasons, and the cut stage

The peony is a flower that needs no explanation. A large, globe-shaped bud, dense layers of petals, a light honey scent — that's enough for a bouquet to speak without a label. Bogotá knows how to value such a gesture: the city lives on flowers, but here the peony is chosen when the occasion truly matters.

The capital's paradox is that the rose grows right in the Savanna, while the peony has to be brought from far away. The peony needs a real winter chill that the tropics don't provide, so it isn't grown in Colombia. It is an honest imported, seasonal flower. The category covers single-variety bouquets from 9 to 50 stems, mixed arrangements with roses, lisianthus, and eucalyptus, and hatbox formats for wedding and corporate orders.

The main varieties in the catalogue

Each variety solves a different task — from a classic romantic bouquet to a complex wedding composition. They differ in bud shape, colour range, fragrance, and vase life.

• Sarah Bernhardt — a 1906 classic, pale pink double bud up to 18 cm, honey fragrance. The universal choice for a wedding or anniversary.
• Karl Rosenfield — deep red, dense bloom. Suited to a dramatic wine palette.
• Festiva Maxima — white with a raspberry "drop" at the centre. The most photogenic white peony, a wedding-floristry classic.
• Coral Charm — shifts from coral-peach to creamy yellow as it opens. One of the most fashionable varieties of recent years.
• Duchesse de Nemours — soft white with a cream centre, a light vanilla scent, a romantic presentation.
• Itoh hybrids (Bartzella, Cora Louise) — a cross of herbaceous and tree peony; they bloom longer and larger than the usual.

The cut stage and why it matters

The key rule when buying peonies is the "marshmallow" stage. That's a bud that has taken on colour but is still soft to the touch. If the peony springs back like marshmallow when squeezed, it will open over 1–2 days and last 7–9 days. If the bud is hard and green, it may not open at all. If it's already fully open, it will hold for 2–3 days at most.

Every consignment is hand-checked by a florist against this criterion. Only "marshmallow" buds of the right firmness go into shipment — so the recipient sees the full bloom cycle, not the final fading stage. If you need open peonies for a specific date, tell us when you order and we'll select a lot with the right lead time.

Two seasons and occasions

The peony reaches Bogotá in two waves. The first is the Northern Hemisphere, roughly May to June: the main cut flies in from the Netherlands and Europe. The second is the Southern Hemisphere, November to January, mostly from Chile. In these weeks the peony is at its freshest and most affordable. For the rest of the year it's almost absent — and that's normal.

The May wave falls neatly on Día de la Madre — the second Sunday of May, the country's main floral peak. Peonies are the first to sell out for that date. Día del Amor y la Amistad in September lands between the seasons, so peonies are scarce then and must be ordered well in advance. Mixed bouquets of peonies and garden peony-form roses are a class of their own: the two flowers are close in form and complement each other in palette and staying power.

"Peonies don't forgive haste. If you want to impress, order 3–4 days ahead and let the bud open in the recipient's room. And remember: in Bogotá this is an imported flower of two short seasons. A freshly delivered closed peony is an investment in a moment, not the moment itself."

— Catalina Moreno, florist with 12 years of experience

Delivery specifics

Bogotá's climate works in the peony's favour. At 2,600 metres it's cool year-round: +18…+20°C by day, down to +6…+9°C at night, with no hot season. In that cool, a delicate bud holds longer than in any warm city. The main challenge isn't heat but the rains of April–May and October–November: in a downpour we reinforce the packaging so the box and kraft don't get soaked. We handle delivery in Bogota carefully, keeping the cold from warehouse to door.

We cover all the key neighbourhoods: Usaquén, Chapinero, Chicó, Rosales, Teusaquillo, La Candelaria, Cedritos, Zona Rosa, Parque de la 93, and Salitre. Catalogue prices are in Colombian pesos (COP, $), paid by card online. The season is short, so for Día de la Madre and spring weddings, place your order 3–4 days ahead — peak dates are reserved early.

Care at home

After delivery, refresh the cut at a 45° angle, strip all leaves below the waterline, and set the stems in a tall vase of cool water. Change the water every 2 days. Don't place them near fruit or a heater — ethylene and heat halve a peony's life.

In cool Bogotá a peony has good odds: the things to watch are dry air in the dry season and direct midday sun through the window. Keep the bouquet in the coolest room, out of the beam, and mist the buds lightly once a day. If a room is warmed by an electric heater on cold nights, move the vase well away from it — dry heat parches the petals.