I live in S. California and want to know when peonies are in season?

Question

I really like peonies and would like to use them as part of my floral wedding arrangements. However I know that off season, flowers are pricier and I'm trying to estimate my budget.

Answer 1

The California Peony (Paeonia californica) produces maroon 2" flowers in Jan.-Mar. It's native from Monterey to San Diego http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/456.htm

Most of the herbaceous Peonies need a long cold dormancy and will either do poorly or perish in a climate as warm as Oceanside in southern California. http://www.peonies.org/faq0.html

Here's a list of California Native Plants:
http://www.californiagardens.com/Lists/native.htm
California Peony (Paeonia californica) is just one of the natives. Mixing them in with other flowers is a good idea. Most florist get their flowers (even flowers that are grown in their own state) from other states & even from other countries with cheap labor anyway. Sometimes it's cheaper for them because they contract for huge volumes at big discounts.
Good luck & congratulations! Hope this helped.

Answer 2

Peony require a winter chill you won't get in SCal, even a tree peony. They bloom in late spring, so you might find them south of the equator in the fall. RScott

Answer 3

I can't grow poenies here in FL, but I used to grow them in Ohio and there they grew well during the summer months, for sure June thru August.