Like many brides, I had a dream of a classic peony bouquet. But when I found out that peonies weren’t in season at the time of my wedding, my flower fantasy was dashed. My momentary disappointment was quickly replaced with glee when I was directed to garden roses. These breathtakingly romantic blossoms were an even better choice for my wedding.
If you’re shopping outside of peony season like me, or if you love the look of peonies but want something a little different, we’ve got you covered. Youll be shocked at how stunning peony doppelgangers can be. To discover them all and get the inside scoop, we consulted with Ellie Hsu. She helped start Flower Muse, an online flower delivery service that brings flowers straight from the farm to your door. She is very good at making flowers look beautiful.
“Double bloom tulips are sometimes called peony tulips because they look a lot like peonies but have smaller blooms,” Ellie says. Theyre different from standard tulips in that the blooms have extra layers of petals. “They come in a gorgeous range of colors from pale pinks to dark (almost black) purple shades. You can find double tulips almost all year, from late fall to early summer. However, Ellie says there are more colors to choose from in the spring.
“Ranunculus is another gorgeous bloom that often gets mistaken for peonies in photos,” says Ellie. “Every bloom has many layers of petals that make it look full and lush, like a peony. The main difference is that the blooms are smaller; the average width of a bloom is about 2 inches.” You can find ranunculus all year, but Ellie says the best time to see the most colors and types is in the spring.
“Garden roses (aka english roses, cabbage roses) are probably the most popular choice as a peony alternative. Most varieties have a similar ruffled, full-bloom shape that people love about peonies,” explains Ellie. Plus, unlike peonies, you can get them all year, so you don’t have to worry about them being out of season. They also come in many colors. “There are more colors to choose from than with peonies. For example, light peach, lavender, and green are quite hard to find!”
“Carnations are often overlooked because they’re thought to be cheap and out of style, but when arranged in a creative way, they can look like Cinderella,” says Ellie. “Cannabis have ruffled petals that can make them look like peonies. They also come in an absurdly large number of colors, from light blush and antique pinks to creamy peaches and pale lavenders.” It’s not just white and red that we’re used to seeing at the grocery store or convenience store!” And if you’re still not sure, think about the fact that carnations are available all year and are the hardiest of all the peony alternatives that were talked about.
Dahlias step in seasonally where peonies leave off. Ellie says that dahlias are a beautiful flower that blooms from summer to fall and come in many shapes and colors. If you want to replace peonies with dahlias, she suggests choosing the bigger, fuller varieties. “The blooms can be as little as a few inches across or as big as a pie plate, which is much bigger than a normal peony. It can really make a bouquet stand out!”
With their lush, full blooms and elegant ruffled petals, peonies are one of the most beloved flowers for bouquets, centerpieces, and gardens. Their beauty and romantic associations make them a top choice for weddings and other special occasions. However, peonies have a very short seasonal window, usually only available from April to June.
If you love the peony look but need an alternative that blooms at other times of year, there are several options that capture the peony’s essence. Here are 10 flowers that give you the look of peonies without being peonies:
Carnations
Carnations produce full, fluffy blooms on long stems, bearing a strong resemblance to peonies. Their ruffled petals and wide range of bright and pastel colors give them a similar beauty and versatility. Carnations bloom from May to September, extending the season after peonies are gone. They are an affordable, long-lasting cut flower.
Ranunculus
The ranunculus flower has delicate layers of crepe-like petals that radiate from a dense center, creating a look that is quite similar to a peony. Sometimes called Persian buttercups ranunculus come in gorgeous shades like pink, red, yellow orange, and white. Their peak bloom time is May through October.
Garden Roses
Certain varieties of garden roses capture the lush, multi-layered look of peonies Sometimes called cabbage roses, they have loosely arranged petals that create a full, rounded shape. Garden roses bloom from May through October in nearly every color Plant them in gardens for a continuous peony look.
Hydrangeas
Big, full mophead hydrangea blossoms have a resemblance to peonies in their size, density, and softly rounded shape. They bloom from mid-spring to late summer in shades of pink, blue, purple, and white. Cut hydrangea blooms or dried hydrangea flowers work nicely as peony stand-ins.
Anemones
Though smaller than peony blooms, anemones have a similar floral shape and texture. The delicate layers of petals on anemones like the Japanese anemone give it a light and airy peony vibe. Anemones bloom from early spring to autumn, extending the peony look.
Camellias
Camellia flowers produce lush, full, rosette-shaped flowers comparable to peonies. Cultivated in white, pink, and red varieties, camellias bloom in late winter and early spring, before peonies emerge. The flowers make pretty bouquets, and camellia bushes lend nice structure to gardens.
Begonias
Certain begonia varieties like the double flowering begonia offer huge, rose-like blooms in shades of pink, orange, red, yellow, and white. The abundance of ruffled petals gives it a very peony-esque appearance. Begonias bloom throughout the summer into fall.
Dahlias
Dramatic, dinner plate dahlias provide huge, dense blooms with tightly packed petals that resemble giant peonies. Simple pom-pom shaped dahlias have a looser, fuller shape akin to peonies. Dahlias come in almost every color and bloom from midsummer into fall after peonies are gone.
Chrysanthemums
“Mums” come in cushion, daisy, and decorative forms. The decorative mums offer big, lush blooms in fall hues that capture the abundant, open petaled look of peonies beautifully. Standard mums bloom in September and October, extending the season.
Lisianthus
Lisianthus blooms bear a strong visual likeness to peonies, with lush, abundant petals in shades of purple, pink, yellow, white and green. Long-stemmed lisianthus are stars of summer wedding bouquets, centerpieces, and floral designs. They bloom May through frost.
So while true peonies reign supreme for a short window in spring, these peony look-alikes help extend that lush bloom style through other seasons. With so many options, you can find perfect peony-esque flowers for all your floral needs.
15 Flowers that Look like Peonies || Beautiful Blooms
FAQ
What flower resembles a peony?
Are peony and ranunculus the same?
What is the garden rose that looks like a peony?
What kind of camellia looks like a peony?
What flowers look like a peony?
Julia Child Rose. The flowers of this rose look like peonies, and they have a sweet fragrance. The plant is hardy and easy to care for. If you’re looking for a rose that looks like a peony, the Julia Child Rose is a good option. 24. Lisianthus (Eustoma). This flower is often mistaken for a peony, due to its similar appearance.
What plants are similar to peonies?
Let’s see how similar and different they are to and from peonies straight away! 1. Cupped Roses (Rosa spp.) 2. Persian Buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus) 3. Poppy Anemones (Anemone coronaria) 4. Camellias (Camellia japonica) 5. ‘Pink Paeony’ Opium Poppy (Pinaverium Somniferous ‘Pink Paeony’) 6. Japanese Quinces (Chaenomeles speciosa) 7.
Do peony poppies look like peonies?
Peony Poppies Not just the name, but this poppy variety produces flowers that also resemble peonies. The deeply ruffled blooms in pink, red, white, and deep purple hues look adorable. Note: Peony poppies are not botanically linked to peonies; the Papaver somniferum species comprises the opium poppy.
What flowers bloom after peony season?
Lisianthus blooms just after peony season and is available for most of the year. The multi-layered, ruffled blooms have the same look and feel as peonies and roses. 12. Chrysanthemum This is one of the most popular cut flower varieties in the world and comes in various sizes and shapes. For a peony alternative, go for the pompom or disbud variety.