Peony season is one of our favorite times of year. Each spring, Continental Floral Green's Forest Grove farm in Oregon displays rows upon rows of fragrant flowers opening in succession from April through June. And this year, they're excited to share a closer look at what goes into making it happen.
If you work in wholesale or mass market floral, peonies are likely a cornerstone of your spring programs, from Mother's Day to wedding season. Continental Floral Greens cultivates a diverse range of herbaceous peony varieties in both field and greenhouse settings, providing buyers with a longer, more reliable window to work with.
A Season Shaped by the Land and the Water
Spring weather sets the perfect scenario for peony season at their Forest Grove farm. A cool stretch slows development. A few warm days can accelerate the blooming process quickly. Because of that, our harvest decisions are made in the field, not just on the calendar. The CFG team monitors crop maturity daily, adjusting harvest plans as conditions shift. This approach lets them transition smoothly from early to late varieties, maintain a steady supply throughout the season, and protect overall quality, even when spring has other ideas. Timing decisions are made in the field, not just on the calendar. A great thing is that they monitor crop maturity daily and adjust as conditions shift.
Greenhouse First, Field to Follow
Their peony program runs in two stages. The season opens with the greenhouse program, available beginning Week 17, offering a reliable supply before the field-grown product begins. Controlled growing conditions allow for consistent stem length, uniform flower development, and dependable opening performance.
Greenhouse peonies are ideal for early spring events and programs where timing and quality are critical. While the flowers may be slightly smaller than peak-season field peonies, they deliver excellent structure, clean stems, and strong vase life. Field-grown varieties follow in Weeks 20 through 23 – the peak of the season. These are the peonies buyers wait all year for: the largest flowers, fullest petal count, and richest color expression. Grown outdoors in natural conditions, field peonies develop greater size, fragrance, and character as the season progresses.
14+ Varieties – Early to Late Season
To keep the harvest moving steadily, Continental Floral Green's peonies are planted in a natural flourishing progression – a thoughtful mix of early, mid-, and late-season varieties that ensures a continuous supply throughout the window.
Early Season
Coral Charm kicks off our harvest as their earliest variety, valued for its bright coral color, strong hybrid vigor, and large semi-double petals on sturdy stems. Peony Red Charm and Peony Festiva Maxima follow close behind: Red Charm with its dense bomb-type petals and Festiva Maxima with its classic white petals and subtle red flecking at the center.
Mid Season
The mid-season carries the bulk of color diversity and buyer demand. Kansas brings a saturated red tone and full, rounded form on strong, dark green stems. Peony Monsieur Jules Elie, a beloved soft pink bomb-type, delivers reliable volume and beautiful texture at peak harvest. Gardenia peony offers creamy white petals with soft blush undertones, while Peony Alexander Fleming contributes rich rose-pink flowers. Peony Jacorma rounds out mid-to-late season with striking raspberry-pink petals and dependable color through the latter part of harvest.
Late Season
Sarah Bernhardt anchors our late season with her signature soft pink, full-layered petals – one of the most recognized and beloved peony varieties in the world. Pure White closes the harvest window with clean, uniform white blooms and consistent high-volume performance.
Additional varieties include Coral Sunset, Pink, Light Pink, and Hot Pink – available in both assorted and single-variety cases.
What Buyers Should Know About the Bloom Stage
CFG ships peonies in the tight bud stage – and that's intentional. Shipping in bud protects the bloom through transit and gives buyers maximum flexibility to time the opening for their programs. Here's what to expect across the three stages:
- Bud – Tight, protective petals. Ideal for shipping and extended vase life. Store in a cooler at 34–38°F to hold this stage longer.
- Opening – Petals begin to loosen, color emerges, and the form starts to unfold. Beautiful at this stage and perfect for in-store displays.
- Full Bloom – Fully open and abundant. Layered petals at their most dramatic. Move to a warmer environment to encourage faster opening.
They ship in bud, so you have control. A little warmth speeds up the opening – a cooler slows it down. You decide when they bloom!
Grown on Continental Floral Green's Forest Grove Farm in Oregon
The Forest Grove farm provides the cool spring conditions that peonies thrive in, supporting strong stems and consistent development from the field. Once harvested, stems move efficiently through the processing facility, where they are cooled for a minimum of 24 hours, graded for stem strength and uniformity, evaluated for bloom stage, and carefully packed for distribution.
Every moment, from planting succession to harvest timing to packaging, is made to deliver a high-quality product to wholesale and mass market buyers. The team grows peonies out of a genuine appreciation for the flower and manages the season with precision, knowing their buyers depend on consistent performance.
Greenhouse Peonies: Available Weeks 17–19
Field-Grown Peonies: Available Weeks 20–23
Miami orders: Pre-booking only
CFG sells exclusively to wholesale and mass market buyers. If you're a florist looking to source your peonies, they will connect you with a wholesale partner near you.
Photos courtesy of CFG.
