Hi-

I do not have any peonies in my garden, but I was thinking about purchasing a few. I was wondering if peonies will bloom/blossom after cutting the flower? Will they send up another bloom or are they "one and done?"

Thanks, Josh

Hi! Some peonies make great cut flowers, lasting a week in a vase, and some don't last long at all. You have to cut them when they are at what is called the marshmallow stage. That is when the flower is closed but slightly soft. I understand they can be refrigerated at that stage for up to six months. However, I've read people having trouble keeping peonies refrigerated for very long. Someone else will have to relate their experiences as I haven't tried refrigerating peonies.

One and done - yes. The buds can be seen as the plant emerges from the ground, and those are all it will make.

A mature shrub can easily have 30-50 blooms or more, though, and several varieties have side buds that will extend the bloom season if they're allowed to open. Some people cut those off because it makes the main bloom bigger. Peonies make excellent cut flowers if you cut them at the marshmallow stage like Pwinget suggests.