Peonies in Phuket

Peonies with delivery in Prague: varieties, Prague weddings, and a short season

A peony needs no explanation in Prague. The large, densely packed, fragrant head speaks for itself — it's chosen when you want a bouquet to land without a note attached. Czechs have a warm, homely bond with the flower: the pivoňka has been planted in country gardens and front yards for generations, and for many its scent is the scent of a grandmother's garden in early summer. We built the catalogue with that taste in mind.

The category covers single-variety bouquets from 9 to 51 stems, mixed arrangements with roses, lisianthus, and eucalyptus, and hatboxes for corporate and wedding orders. The peony season in Central Europe is short — the main peak falls in May and June. In Prague that coincides with the wedding season: celebrations at country manors and castles around the city, in the historic halls of the centre, and at open-air venues all fall in those weeks.

Which varieties to choose

We work with four sources: Dutch-grown peonies for volume and consistency, French garden varieties on long stems for cutting, the historic American hybrids that set the global standard, and local Czech peonies, which arrive in a short window in May and June. Below are the varieties most often requested in Prague.

• Sarah Bernhardt — soft pink-salmon, large head, lasting fragrance. One of the most recognised wedding varieties in the world; in Prague it's the default request for ceremonies.
• Coral Charm — coral shifting to peach as it opens. Semi-globe shape at the early stage. Looks at home in modern arrangements for the centre's restaurants.
• Karl Rosenfield — deep crimson-red, dense bud, intense fragrance. A classic for milestone and ceremonial bouquets.
• Duchesse de Nemours — pure white with a creamy centre. Suited to the bridal bouquet and to white ceremonial arrangements.
• Bowl of Beauty — pink outer petals, a creamy-yellow centre. An anemone form — an unconventional, visually interesting choice for large installations.
• Juliet (David Austin peony rose) — technically a rose, but close to peonies in form and character. Used as a "stand-in" out of season or to reinforce fragrance in peony arrangements.

Occasions and seasonality

May and June are the main peony months in Prague. The bulk of weddings fall in this period, especially at the country manors and castles of the Central Bohemian region. The peony is a traditional element of wedding décor: the bridal bouquet, table settings, arches, boutonnières. By Czech custom, the bouquet keeps an odd number of stems.

The season aligns neatly with the Czech Mother's Day (Den matek), marked on the second Sunday of May — peonies arrive right on time. Beyond weddings, peonies are chosen for significant birthdays, graduations in late May and June, summer name days (svátek), and as a gift for a business opening. Valentine's and 8 March, by contrast, have almost nothing to do with the peony — there are no local peonies yet in February and March, and those dates belong to roses and tulips.

Freshness and logistics

Dutch peonies reach Prague from the Aalsmeer and Royal FloraHolland auctions by overnight refrigerated truck — about 900 km and a 12–16 hour run. Lots are distributed to florists through wholesalers and the Havel Market (Havelské tržiště) in Staré Město. In May and June local Czech growers add to the supply, while French garden varieties from Brittany come by air at the peak of the season.

Peonies are delivered at the "pea-sized bud" stage — still closed; opening takes 2–4 days depending on temperature and variety. If you need open peonies for a specific date, tell us when ordering and we'll select a batch with the right head start. At +18°C a peony opens fully in about 3 days; at +10°C, in 5–6 days.

"Peonies need planning. A bride who calls the day before the wedding wanting open peonies is always a stress. The rule is simple: order at least a week ahead, take delivery 4–5 days before, let them ripen in a cool room. By the ceremony they'll have opened to exactly the right stage."

— Jana Dvořáková, florist, Prague, 13 years in the trade

Delivery specifics in Prague

Prague's climate is transitional between oceanic and continental, in the Vltava valley at around 200 m. Summers are warm, +22–26°C and up to +33–35°C in heatwaves. For open peonies, heat is the main risk: dry, hot air speeds up petal drop, and early warm spells can hit as soon as June. We assemble event batches with one eye on the forecast and hold the flowers in cold storage at +4…+6°C until assembly.

We deliver peonies across all districts of Prague: Staré Město, Nové Město, Malá Strana, Hradčany, Josefov, Vinohrady, Žižkov, Karlín, Smíchov, Dejvice, Holešovice, Letná, Vršovice, Nusle, Pankrác, Břevnov. Payment is in Czech koruna (Kč, CZK). For wedding orders, a minimum of 7–10 days. For June celebrations we recommend booking the date as early as April: the peony peak and the wedding peak overlap, and the good material is spoken for in advance.

Care at home

Peonies in closed bud keep well at +4°C for 5–7 days. To speed up opening, move them to a room at +18–20°C. Cut the stems at a 45° angle, remove the lower leaves, use cool water and change it every 1–2 days. A Chrysal sachet speeds opening and extends the flower's life.

Don't place peonies near fruit — ethylene from ripe apples and bananas causes premature petal drop. Prague apartments often warm to +22–24°C in winter, so keep the bouquet in the coolest room. Open, at +18–22°C a peony lasts 5–7 days; at +10–14°C, up to 10. Message our manager and we'll help match the variety and stem count to the occasion and budget.