Just wondering if anyone has done this? How long did the flowers last in the vase? Do they last longer or shorter in the vase than on the tree?

The only tree peony that I've had so far blooming enough to even think about cutting is Phoenix White but I've never done it. The herbaceous seem to last longer in the vase but probably because we have such bad winds and lots of hail storms....

I saw lots of people do that, not sure, I think it lasts longer because of sun, temperatures and wind.

Karen,
I don't think TPs are good in vase from my experience. Last year I accidentally pull off a branch of ShimaDajin, I brought it home, it only last for a day. The herbaceous peony are better for cut flowers. Do anybody know what to put in the water to extend flowers vase life???

Yan,

I found this recipe on the roots to blooms website yesterday.

"For floral fanatics, Eleanor shares her special recipe for prolonging a peony’s vase life:  1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar (to fight bacterial growth) and 1 tablespoon sugar (food for bloom) to one quart of water.  It really works!"

Karen, have you ever been here, it's in PA, I would love to visit this garden.

https://rootstoblooms.com/2012...

I can only tell for herbaceous peonies that putting a cut peony in bud (marshmallow size that will start opening next day) in the cold (fridge will work) for 24 hours will extend the vase life. Maybe one can try to do this with a tree peony flower.

I have read somewhere in these forums or on one of the TP websites, that if you cut a TP bloom, you can cut to about 1 to 1.5 inches back from the bloom. The next season's bloom is right behind the current season's bloom. If you cut too much you will interfere with the next season's bloom. Therefore, they don't make good blooms to put in a vase. I have found it best if you cut the bloom, place it in a glass bowl of water. The effect is dramatic and it lasts about a week.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. If I cut the stems in almost opened stage and put them in the fridge, I wonder if I can prolong the bloom time while in a vase. I may try a few this year. Sometime we get a heat wave and the TP blooms last like a day. The rain can also bruise the petals of TP blooms.

Annette, I have been to Eleanor's garden a few times but only once during bloom. It is a great place to visit. She grows over 100 varieties of peonies. (Sorry Annette. I don't know why I put Neal's name there when it was you who asked me the question.)

A couple of times I cut a Kinkaku bloom to give it as a gift from my garden. I cut it rather short, just the part that would naturally dry out on the plant. I would never cut the leaves or wooden parts of the branches. Last time when I did this, I brought the bloom to my friend. I was in a harry and didn't buy anything for her party, so I sacrificed a Kinaku bloom. I visited her in a week or so, and the bloom was still looking fresh in one of those short vases.

I used a Taiyo bloom as the centerpiece of a wedding bouquet and it lasted a good time out of water, but haven't tried one in a vase.

Thanks Jasmin and Debra! That is very good to know. I will cut a few blooms to enjoy indoors this year.

Thanks! Annette
I ordered some Chrysal from Amazon this week, hopefully I can bring some of my flower in side this year.

You're welcome Yan! I'm going to try this recipe on a few blooms this year.