Peonies in Tel Aviv

Peony delivery in Tel Aviv: varieties, the wedding season and the "marshmallow" bud rule

The peony is a guest in Tel Aviv, and all the more prized for it. Israel doesn't grow it: the peony needs a cold winter with a true dormant period, and the warm Mediterranean coast doesn't provide one. Every peony in the city is imported, and that rarity is exactly what makes it a status gift and a favourite of wedding florists. Full, fragrant and photogenic, it works equally well at a seaside ceremony and as a lavish gesture for no reason at all.

This category covers single-variety bouquets, mixed compositions with roses and eucalyptus, hat boxes and large baskets for celebrations. Supply comes through the Dutch Royal FloraHolland auction from European glasshouses, and in the off-season from Chilean and New Zealand plantations. That keeps the peony in the catalogue almost year-round.

The main varieties in the catalogue

Each peony variety solves its own task — from a wedding arch to an intimate "thinking of you". They differ in bud form, shade, scent and vase life.

• Sarah Bernhardt — a pastel-pink double bud up to 18 cm, honeyed scent with a note of vanilla. A 1906 classic that works in any context: wedding, birthday, business gift.
• Karl Rosenfield — a dense dark-red peony with rich colour. A striking accent for evening celebrations and a warm, wine-toned palette.
• Festiva Maxima — white with a crimson "drop" at the heart. One of the most photogenic varieties, a favourite of wedding photographers.
• Coral Charm — shifts from coral-orange as it opens to creamy peach in full bloom. One of the trend varieties of the 2020s.
• Duchesse de Nemours — soft white with a cream centre and a light vanilla scent. For refined romance and pale palettes.
• Itoh hybrids (Bartzella, Cora Louise) — a cross of herbaceous and tree peony. Larger, longer-flowering, lasting 10–12 days in the vase. For premium gifts and wedding design.

The cut stage and why it matters

The key rule when buying peonies is the "marshmallow" stage. A coloured but still soft bud: squeeze it gently and it springs back like a marshmallow. Such a bud opens in one to two days and lasts 7–9 days. A hard, green one may not open at all; a fully open one will last two to three days at most.

Every one of our lots is hand-selected against this criterion: only "marshmallow" buds go into the shipment. For a recipient in Tel Aviv that means the full flowering cycle, not the final fading stage — which matters all the more in a warm climate, where opening goes faster.

Seasonality and logistics

The natural peony season is April–June, and it coincides with the peak of weddings in Israel, when couples gladly set ceremonies for a mild spring before the summer heat. From July to February, supply comes from the southern hemisphere (Chile, New Zealand) — the cost is 1.5 to 2 times higher, but vase life and quality hold up.

Peonies fly into Ben Gurion Airport (20 km from the city) by air from Europe — about four to five hours' flight, and the lot is with florists by morning. For weddings and anniversaries we align the delivery date with the expected moment of opening: a peony at a celebration should greet the guests in full bloom, not as a closed bud.

"A peony isn't a flower for an impulse buy, least of all in our climate. If you want a striking peony for a seaside wedding, order three to four days ahead and let the bud open in the cool, not in the sun. A fresh closed peony is a promise that will be kept tomorrow."

— Michal Levi, wedding florist, Tel Aviv, 14 years in the trade

Delivery specifics in Tel Aviv

The city has a Mediterranean climate: hot, humid summers (+28 to +32 °C) and mild, rainy winters (+10 to +18 °C), with no frost. For the peony, heat is the main risk: in the warmth the bud opens within hours and fades fast. So in summer we carry peonies only in refrigerated transport, deliver in the morning or evening and advise keeping the bouquet cool. The best window for the peony here is April–June, when the season, mild weather and wedding peak all line up.

We deliver peonies across all districts of Tel Aviv: Neve Tzedek, Florentin, Rothschild Boulevard, Lev Ha'ir, Jaffa, Ramat Aviv, the Old North, Sarona, the Port (Namal), Bavli and Kikar HaMedina. Payment is in new Israeli shekels (₪, ILS). Peak dates: the spring wedding season, Tu B'Av (the day of love, August), 14 February and Pesach. For spring weddings and Tu B'Av peonies sell out especially fast — order seven to ten days ahead.

Home care

On arrival, re-cut the stems at 45°, strip the leaves below the waterline and place in a tall vase with cool water. Change the water every two days. Keep away from fruit, direct sun and hot air — heat and ethylene halve a peony's life.

In a Tel Aviv flat the air conditioning runs in summer, and that suits the peony: moderate cool slows the opening and extends the bloom. But don't place the bouquet in the direct cold draught, and keep it away from a window in southern sun. The fragrant varieties (Sarah Bernhardt, Duchesse de Nemours) open best at +18 to +20 °C — the scent becomes clearer and lasts longer.