Peonies are an absolute crowd pleaser and are a real highlight of the Spring garden. These voluminous, lush blooms, with their delicate blush pinks, striking whites, and bold colors are enjoyed by all – but unfortunately, only fleetingly so. Once the bud opens, they typically last for 7-10 days before wilting, and waiting another year to delight us once again. They’re a gorgeous and coveted choice for bouquets as well. But once picked, their lifespan (or bloom span) drops even further.
In some ways, this is what makes peonies so special. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder and nothing makes us value something more than scarcity. But for those looking to get the most out of these beautiful flowers, their short run time will always be frustrating.
This is where high quality artificial peonies come in. Now don’t freak out just yet. Sacrilege; you might exclaim! And fair enough. Fake flowers do not have a great reputation on the surface. When one thinks of fake flowers, tacky, cheap plastic imitations that can be spotted a mile away is what generally comes to mind, and it is certainly true of most legacy options. But things are changing.
In the last decade, significant advances in polymer material technology have been made. When combined with thoughtful dedication to creating true replicas, right down to the individual hand finished color highlights and the fine detailing on leaves and stems, it is now finally possible to get high quality, faux peonies, nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.
In some cases the realism is taken all the way through to the actual organic feel of the peony petals themselves – aptly named – real touch peonies. These represent the pinnacle of cutting edge technology in the world of artificial flowers. And not just with peonies. You can now also find real touch roses, lilac, tulips, hydrangeas, and many more of your favorites – available in artificial form with a stunning level of realism to the eye and touch. The only hard giveaway to their inauthenticity is the lack of the delightful signature scent. But even this can be replicated now with a number of peony scent sprays available on the market, thus completing the heist.
Armed with a bouquet of such high quality imitations, you are now ready to enjoy beautiful peonies available anytime you wish! While you might know they’re fake, any house guests who don’t rigorously inspect them up close will be none the wiser – and maybe not even then! As a bonus, they’ll never wilt, require no watering, and won’t attract pesky insects. Just the occasional dusting or wipe over with a damp cloth. Keeping them out of prolonged direct sun exposure is also recommended.
In some cases, you may hear about silk peonies or silk flowers being synonymous with quality, but this is actually just an archaic byword for fake/faux/artificial peonies overall. Actual fake flowers made from silk were first constructed in the Chinese Tang Dynasty over 1,400 years ago – and the name has since stuck. In all honesty, you probably wouldn’t want your fake peonies to literally be made from silk, since the construction materials available today are far more lifelike and durable.
When looking to purchase high quality fake peonies, there are a number of trusted outlets to buy from. The ones I bought were from Prestige Botanicals and they are simply sensational. Their products are handmade/finished and the quality is as good as it gets.
So if you’re ever feeling down that peony season is over – and you have to wait a whole year to experience that joy again. Fear not, a worthy solution is now at hand.
