Why Peonies are so Popular (and Why They’re Expensive)
Peonies are the drama queens of the flower world, and we love them for it. With their enormous, ruffled blooms and heady scent, they don’t just sit in a vase, they pose. But peonies aren’t just pretty faces. For centuries, they’ve been celebrated across cultures. In ancient China, they were called the “King of flowers,” likely because “Queen of flowers” has always belonged to the majestic rose. For the Chinese, it represented a symbol of power and wealth found in imperial gardens and classical poetry. One of the most famous examples is the Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi, who wrote verses praising their beauty and grace. In the West, peonies have taken on meanings of romance and good fortune. They’ve also had their moment on the big screen. Peonies were the favorite flower of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, becoming a pop culture icon in their own right. The film The Age of Innocence, directed by Martin Scorsese, prominently features peonies. They appear in several key scenes, particularly in the opulent settings of 1870s New York high society, symbolizing beauty, prosperity, and romantic tension. They are visible in floral arrangements during social gatherings and intimate moments, reflecting the film’s themes of restrained passion and societal expectations. The lush, full blooms align with the story’s aesthetic and emotional undercurrents. Peonies are also a favorite flower of several celebrities and have become a subtle symbol of luxury and taste. Martha Stewart, Kim Kardashian, Oprah, and Beyoncé have all named peonies among their favorite flowers. You’ll often find peonies in everything from wedding bouquets to high-end fragrance campaigns, signaling elegance and beauty without being overly flashy.
Why Peonies are so Expensive
Peonies are like the prima ballerinas of the flower world. Gorgeous, high-maintenance, and only willing to perform when the timing is just right. Their bloom season is painfully brief, sometimes lasting just a week or two in late spring. If you blink, you might miss it. And if you want peonies outside that window, they have to be imported from places like the France, Netherlands or New Zealand. Flying delicate, petal-packed blooms across the globe while keeping them fresh can add a steep markup (we won't even mention tariffs)!
On top of that, peonies are famously slow to grow. It can take two or three years before a plant produces a bloom worth cutting, and they don’t exactly rush the process. Once a plant settles in, it doesn’t like to be moved. The flowers themselves are beautiful but fragile. Their silky petals bruise easily, which makes harvesting and shipping a gamble. Rare or heirloom varieties are even more limited, and that drives up prices too. All of this makes peonies a flower that people are willing to splurge on when they want something special.
How Peonies are Grown
If you’re thinking of growing peonies yourself, be ready to play the long game. These flowers don’t respond to shortcuts. They need cold winters to bloom properly, rich soil with great drainage, and a spot that gets plenty of sun. Give them too much water or bury them too deep and they’ll sulk. "Tant pis pour toi" as they say in France - too bad for you. No flowers!
Once they’re in the ground, leave them alone. Peonies hate being moved. Every time you dig them up, it sets them back, sometimes for years. Gardeners usually plant them in the fall and hope for signs of life the next spring. But once they’re happy, they stick around. Some peony plants live for generations and bloom more beautifully over time. Here’s an amazing fact: peonies can live for over 100 years. Some heirloom peony plants have been passed down through generations and are still blooming where they were first planted a century ago. With the right conditions, a peony might outlive everyone who plants it. As you can see, it’s not just gardening, it’s a quiet investment in something lasting.
The Cultural Significance of Peonies
Symbolically, peonies are loaded. They’ve always been more than just pretty flowers. In Chinese culture, they represent honor, wealth, and feminine beauty. No surprise, red peonies, in particular, are popular during Lunar New Year and traditional weddings. They’ve even been known as the “flower of riches and honor” and were once cultivated exclusively for royalty. White peonies can symbolize mourning or remembrance in more formal settings.
In Japan, peonies are a symbol of strength and bravery, often appearing in traditional tattoos beside lions or dragons. The contrast between their bold meanings and soft petals is part of what makes them so compelling. In the West, meanings are usually romantic. Pink peonies suggest affection and devotion, which is why they’re often chosen for weddings. White peonies stand for new beginnings and sincerity, perfect for milestones like graduations or births. Wherever they show up, peonies aren’t just decorative. They carry meaning with every petal.
Perhaps, when May rolls around, that’s why they are the most in-demand luxury flower for Belle Fleur’s Box of Blooms and premium floral bouquets. We often feature peonies in our seasonal arrangements because they embody everything we love about luxury flowers - timeless beauty, rarity, and meaning.
These beauties are only around for a short time period, so don't wait. To see how you can bring these iconic blooms to life, browse our signature peonies in our Box of Blooms catalog.
