Celebrate The Best of British with Peony Faux Flowers

Celebrate The Best of British with Peony Faux Flowers

This month, to coincide with the upcoming Coronation of HRH King Charles III, we would like to celebrate all things British here at Peony Faux Flowers. At this time of year, it seems as if every day brings with it a new flower to enjoy both in the garden and in our homes. A love of seasonal, British flowers has also been reflected in the design of the official Coronation invitation which was released earlier this month. The beautiful hand drawn illustrations showcase so many of our favourite flowers and it has really inspired us to get creative this season. 


As well as creating a very special arrangement to celebrate The Coronation, we would also like to share with you some of our favourite stems and arrangements which really showcase the Best of British seasonal flowers. Hopefully we will also inspire you to create your very own centrepieces or floral displays using Peony Faux Flowers as part of your Coronation celebrations next month. 


A Very Special Arrangement

We have just released the most stunning arrangement which has been created to celebrate The Coronation of HRH King Charles III. Our Kensington vase has been filled with vibrant blue delphiniums, white real touch, Old English roses, pretty red wax flowers, achillea berries and an abundance of beautiful green foliage. This arrangement will make the most wonderful centrepiece in your home for The Coronation and beyond, but it is only available for a limited time so make sure you purchase yours asap!    



Celebrating British Flowers

If you have seen the gorgeous Coronation invitation, then you will know that it has the most wonderful border celebrating the best of British seasonal flowers. Featuring beautiful bluebells, daffodils, dog roses, lily of the valley, cornflowers, thistles and so much more, the design has inspired us to use our own faux versions to celebrate the upcoming Coronation. 


A perfect starting point for your own Coronation invitation inspired display might be to use our faux red, white or cream dog roses along with purple real touch thistles, blue cornflowers, rosemary or your favourite faux greenery in a tall vessel. Although with so many beautiful flowers to choose from, it might be hard to decide which ones to leave out!  



A Red, White and Blue Theme

Of course, the most patriotic of colour schemes to celebrate The Coronation is the classic red, white and blue of our Union Jack flag. We have showcased this scheme in our Coronation Arrangement and also our Peony Jubilee Faux Floral Arrangement which was created last year to celebrate our late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.  


We also have so many fabulous individual stems in red, white and blue which are just perfect for creating your own floral displays. If you would like to keep to a seasonal theme, then you could start with the red of our camellia spray on a long stem, the vibrancy of red real touch parrot tulips, or the perennial summer favourite of the red hydrangea on a waterproof stem


For your blue flowers, we have the beautiful bright blue of the anemone and the cone headed hydrangea, or the pale blue of the blue astrantia or seeded foliage


To complete your patriotic colour scheme, we have the most wonderful white or cream stems to pick from. Some of our favourite stems at this time of year include the delicate white wisteria which will just cascade out of your chosen vessel; the stunning fully open bridal white peony and the very pretty white ranunculus stem complete with buds and leaves.     



A Table fit for Royalty

As part of The Coronation celebrations, you might be planning on hosting a lunch or street party for family and friends. Aside from organising delicious food and drink, don’t forget to decorate your table for this very special occasion!


For an easy, yet impactful way to decorate your table, choose from our wonderful collection of vase sets, which can be placed either individually or as a group of three. Our tall, white decanter vase set with pretty pink roses will make a wonderful addition to any table. Or for a lovely touch of spring colour, choose the bluebells and daffodils in a set of three vases


Our smaller arrangements are also the perfect height for using as a floral centrepiece to an afternoon tea or picnic table. You could opt for the delicate bluebells in our pristina vase or the wonderful rose, blossom and eucalyptus arrangement. Or, the more creative of you could choose to mix and match our smaller stems for a truly bespoke display. 


The Finishing Touches

We hope our ideas have given you plenty of inspiration for decorating your home for The Coronation. Whether you choose one of our pre-made arrangements or prefer to create your own using our range of stems, don’t forget that we have some very special offers on at the moment. All orders over £60 will receive a fabulous free gift (whilst stocks last) and until summer 2023, all of our stems are currently 3 for 2 as part of our mix and match stem offer. 


Finally, we would love to see your fabulous Coronation creations, so do remember to tag in @peony_faux_flowers when you’re sharing your posts to social media! However you choose to celebrate The Coronation, we hope you have a wonderful time and that the Great British weather is kind to us all! 

April 28, 2023 — Julie Bates
artificial spring flowers

Say Hello to our New Spring Collection

Spring Has Arrived

Our new collection of artificial spring flowers have arrived. Spring is often considered as the season of new beginnings and renewals. With many plants, animals (and even humans) heading into hibernation during the winter months, it is so exciting to see everything come back into life for spring. Here at Peony, we love the pastel colours, delicate flowers and bright green foliage which come with this season. 

Sadly, many of our favourite spring bulbs and flowers barely last for a few weeks before they disappear until next year. Their fleeting beauty is one of the reasons why we have created faux versions of many of our (and your) favourite flowers. Whether you prefer the delicacy of the snowdrop; the brightness of bluebells or the rich pink of magnolia stems, we have a spring flower to suit any sized vessel, home and interior style.

If you’re looking for a bit of spring interior inspiration, then read on for details of my highlights from our new Spring Collection. 

New Spring Arrangements

Mother’s Day Bouquet - This beautiful bouquet has been created especially for gifting for Mother’s Day. However, we think you will agree that it will make for the most stunning present whatever the occasion! Gorgeous pink peonies, lime green viburnum and delicate button ferns have been hand tied and come presented in our elegant Peony gift bag. Perfect as a birthday or anniversary gift or maybe even as a present to yourself! 

Magenta Tulips in a Two Toned Ceramic Vase - These real touch, magenta tulips look simply stunning against the black and copper of our two toned ceramic vessel. The perfect arrangement for adding a touch of decadent glamour to any interior whatever the time of year.

Blossom and Pussy Willow in a Large Footed Pink Hourglass Vase -  Our pale pink blossom branches with pussy willow simply cascade out of this gorgeous pink, hourglass vessel. This is the most wonderful arrangement if you are looking for a real show stopping piece for your home this spring. 

Peony and Viburnum in a Large Rope Lantern Vase - Peonies are one of our most popular flowers which is why we love to include them in many of our arrangements. We have combined the beautiful, open bridal white peonies with fresh green viburnum foliage to create a natural, yet elegant display. Perfect for neutral interior fans who just want to add a hint of colour to their home.

Beautiful Spring Stems

Tulips continue to be one of our most popular and asked for stems which is why we simply had to include more of them in our new Spring Collection! We are particularly excited about our range of parrot tulips which have beautiful real touch petals and leaves. Add a pop of colour to your existing displays with our long stemmed bright red parrot tulip or, for a more subtle hint of colour choose our pale green parrot tulip which has the most gorgeous pale pink veining. 

If you would like to add your faux tulips to a real floral bouquet, then why not opt for one with a waterproof stem? Choose from the most gorgeous shade of pale lemon yellow or the slightly more dramatic burgundy. Both are real to the touch which means no one will be able to guess they are faux! Our faux tulips also come with the added bonus of being droop free (unless you choose to bend the stems yourself of course).

The Finishing Touches

We are also really excited about our new collection of glass and ceramic vessels which are perfect for using to update your existing Peony arrangements with. Why not switch a plain glass vessel for the Aged Blue and White Hand Thrown Urn or the Handmade Metallic Ceramic Vessel, both of which will look simply stunning filled with your taller stems.  

If you are changing your Peony stems throughout the season, then you will love our new Peony Dust Bag which is the ideal size for safely storing your flowers. The bag is completed with a drawstring to make sure your flowers are kept dust free. 

Another fantastic addition to our website is our faux ice chips which have been created to hold your Peony stems in your chosen vessel to perfection. You can also add water to the chips as long as you are using waterproof stems or fresh flowers.

Finally, to ensure your Peony Faux Flower arrangements smell as gorgeous as they look, we have also updated our collection of fragrance sprays for spring. From the classic scent of lily of the valley to the wonderful Moonlight Garden, there is a fragrance to cater for all floral tastes.  

Enjoy The New Season

Hopefully we have given you some floral inspiration to help you update your interior for the new season. Whether you are looking for a new arrangement for yourself or to give as a gift; some fabulous stems to add to existing displays or a new vessel to go with your new spring interior, there is a colour and a style to suit everyone. As always, we love to see how you style your Peony Faux Flowers in your home, so please feel free to tag us into your social media posts. 

Wishing you all a wonderful spring!
March 16, 2023 — Peony Flowers
Predicted Interiors Trends for the Year Ahead

Predicted Interiors Trends for the Year Ahead

A Time for New Colours

Our interiors can look a little bare in January once the Christmas faux has been carefully taken down and packed away in storage boxes. Depending on my mood, I might choose to replace the decorations with seasonal flowers such as hellebores, or choose something a little bolder like the vibrant birds of paradise.

If you are looking for some inspiration for your interior this January, then we have compiled a list of what we feel will be some of the bigger interior trends for 2023. Read on for some January interior inspiration…

Celebrate the colours of spring

In January, the arrival of spring still feels like a long way off, but if you look closely you should be able to see your garden just starting to wake up as the bulbs push their green shoots through the soil. One flower which does make an appearance in January is the gorgeous, white of the snowdrop. You might be lucky enough to have a display of them in your own garden to enjoy or be able to visit a local woodland where they often grown in abundance, Sadly, their delicate flowers don’t tend to last for too long, so if you would like to appreciate them for longer, then you simply have to go faux. We have the most realistic snowdrop stems available which are perfect for displaying on a window sill or side table in a smaller vessel.

However, if you would like to add some of the more pastel colours of spring to your interior, without resorting to redecorating, then we have the most stunning collection of faux spring flowers for you to choose. Our Easter Special Arrangement features real touch lemon tulips, bridal white roses, heavenly yellow forsythia and bluebells that look like they have just been picked from the woods.

For the more creative amongst you, have a look at our gorgeous collection of individual spring stems such as tulips, daffodils and bluebells. Or if you prefer something a bit different, why not add impact by filling a large vessel with long stems of blossom or magnolia?

Embrace primary colours

The pastel shades of spring can bring a subtle hint of colour to an otherwise neutral interior, but if you are feeling a little braver, then why not embrace the brightness of primary colours? Again you can choose how much of the trend you would like to incorporate into your home, but if your interior is quite neutral then why not start with smaller accents. An arrangement of bright faux flowers can add a real pop of colour to your entrance hall, living room or kitchen island. Brighter colours are also perfect for lifting your mood, especially on a grey, wet January morning!

We have recently introduced a gorgeous selection of create your own arrangements which come in a stunning array of bright colours. The Jessica arrangement is a bright, colourful and fun bundle which sits in our ever popular lustre finish vase. Featuring berries, roses, viburnum and lilies in the most wonderful shades of pink - this is not a bundle for wallflowers!

Or, if you prefer the colour blue, then you will love our Ariana arrangement which is full of beautiful, vibrant blue cornflowers alongside incredible oak leaves. The simple glass jug is all you need for this colourful beauty. Finally, if you are looking for something for a smaller space, then why not choose the gorgeous Olivia arrangement. Featuring magenta hydrangeas and dark pink seeded foliage, this arrangement looks stunning in our blue and white hand painted oriental jug.

What’s more, if you purchase the complete arrangement including the vase, you can save a fantastic 20% off the total price.

Add a touch of glamour with gorgeous gold

The colour gold is set to be a very big trend for 2023. You could choose to fully embrace the colour by changing your wallpaper, soft furnishings or even tableware. Or, you could keep things simple by adding a touch of gorgeous gold to your existing Peony arrangements with our seeded gold eucalyptus spray.

We also have the most stunning gold and ceramic vessels which are perfect for all areas of the home. Choose from the gorgeous magenta hellebores, with green skimmia berries in the ceramic gold vessel which is ideal for a coffee table. Or to add a touch of dramatic glamour to your interior, you simply have to choose the stunning real touch black phalaenopsis orchid in a rose gold ceramic vase. Finally, if you are looking for the ultimate show stopping piece for your interior this January, then you will love the gorgeous long stemmed amaryllis with silver foliage in our black and gold aged vase.

Share your interiors with Peony

We hope our interior trends selection has given you some inspiration for your home this January. Embracing trends does not necessarily mean that you have to redecorate your entire home, it can be as simple as changing your floral arrangements with the seasons. We also love to see how you style our flowers in your home, so please feel free to tag us in your social media posts using the hashtag #MyPeonyAtHome!

January 26, 2023 — Julie Bates
Tags: Peony Blog
Styling Your Interior for the Festive Season

Styling Your Interior for the Festive Season

Christmas is one of our favourite times of the year here at Peony Faux Flowers. We love decorating our home with seasonal faux flowers and foliage. The festive season is also a wonderful time for entertaining family and friends. From small gatherings, to Christmas Day lunch and New Year’s Eve parties, there are so many great reasons to get together over the next few weeks! It is also wonderful to be in the same room as friends and loved ones after what has been a difficult couple of years for all of us. 

If this is the first time you are entertaining people at home for a while, then we have put together some helpful hints and tips to help you create a festive winter wonderland. 


The Guest List

How many people are you planning to host this year? Will it be one or two guests for Christmas Day; a Boxing Day buffet for the whole extended family, or a New Year’s Eve party for 100 or more guests? 

The number of guests and size of your home will dictate how much space you have to decorate and also how many items you need to buy to create a festive atmosphere. For example, if you’re only hosting a couple of people then you might have plenty of space to add festive faux to side tables, entrance halls and staircases. However, if you’re hosting a large gathering, then consider adding smaller items such as candle holders or arrangements for a less is more approach. 

 

Create an Inviting Entrance

An easy way to create an inviting entrance is by adding a faux floral wreath to your front door. We have a gorgeous selection of faux wreaths as part of our Christmas Collection, all of which are currently 20% off. If you’re feeling creative, then you will love our Create Your Own Festive Wreath kit which is available in two festive colourways! As our wreaths are faux, you will be able to enjoy them year after year, making them a cost effective purchase for this Christmas and beyond.


Choose a colour scheme

Are you a traditionalist or would you prefer to go for something a bit more colourful and tropical? We have a range of faux flower options to cover nearly every decorating scheme on our website and in our Peony shop. Sticking to one colour palette throughout the home, can create a wonderful sense of cohesion, especially if you follow the theme through to your Christmas table. You could even extend the theme to the food and drinks you serve at your party or gathering! 


Decorate your living spaces

We all know that a beautiful real or faux Christmas tree decorated with lights and treasured ornaments is non-negotiable at this time of year. However, there are plenty of other areas of the home which can benefit from a little festive faux. 

If you have a fireplace mantlepiece, then why not consider adding a festive garland? We have a stunning 6ft garland full of beautiful red roses and wintery foliage which would be perfect for creating a traditional look.

Entrance hall or side tables, which do not need to be moved out of the way for festive entertaining, are perfect for decorating with faux flowers and foliage. We have the most stunning amaryllis and silver foliage arrangement which is perfect for anyone with a larger home, as it is almost 1 metre tall!

For the very creative among you, our individual stems are perfect for updating existing arrangements, or for adding to real flower displays. We have so many stem options to choose from, including gorgeous red poinsettias, silver eucalyptus or tropical anthuriums, so there’s no excuse not to add some fabulous faux to your home this year! 


Festive tablescaping

One of my absolute favourite parts of decorating the home for Christmas is creating a festive dining table. It is the perfect chance to unleash your creative side by adding matching tableware, festive candle holders and beautiful faux flowers. Before you get too carried away, there are a few simple rules to bear in mind:

  1. Make sure you leave enough space for plates, cutlery, glasses and serving dishes - you don’t want to have to keep moving things off the table in order to create space for food!
  2. Think about the height of your decorations - you want to make sure all of your guests can see each other rather than having to peer around large floral arrangements. Our set of three amber lustre glass vases with cream full blossom stems with boxwood are perfect for dining tables as they won’t overwhelm your table. 
  3. Consider adding floral place settings for a touch of festive sparkle. We have the most beautiful sets of four place settings, in a range of colourways as part of our Christmas collection

Enjoy the celebrations

We hope you have found our hints and tips helpful as you entertain over the festive season. As always, we love to see how you have styled our Peony faux flowers in your home, so please feel free to share your creations with us on social media using the hashtag #MyPeonyAtHome.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year!

Don’t forget - you can currently save 20% across our entire Christmas Collection, making it the perfect time to stock up on some fabulous faux for less.  

December 20, 2022 — Julie Bates
Our Top Styling Tips: How to Create Your Own Arrangements

Our Top Styling Tips: How to Create Your Own Arrangements

Unless you are naturally creative or have received floristry training, arranging flowers in a vase can be a daunting task for many. One of the questions myself and the Peony team are often asked is: how do we style our Peony flowers to look as good as they do on your website and in our shop? If you follow us on our social channels, then you will have seen our regular styling tutorial videos which we hope you all find helpful. 
November 22, 2022 — Julie Bates
Update Your Interior for Autumn

Update Your Interior for Autumn

As we say goodbye to the long, relaxing days of summer and move into the darker and cosier nights of autumn, now is the perfect time to think about updating your interior. Whether this involves a complete redesign of your living or sleeping space, will of course depend on your budget. However, there is an easy and cost effective way to update your interior space this autumn and that is with our gorgeous collection of faux. 

Our collection of stems and foliage are such an easy way to refresh your existing Peony arrangements for autumn. It is amazing how you can achieve a completely different look simply by changing green foliage for an autumnal colour palette. Many of our flowers even have waterproof stems so can be used to enhance your fresh flower arrangements. 

You could also choose to dress your favourite vessel with one of our pre-designed bouquets and display it in your entrance way or living room to add a beautiful touch of autumn colour to your interior. Our bouquets also make fantastic gifts for a birthday, anniversary or even just to say thank you to a family member or friend.

Finally, for a real show stopping look, our collection of stunning arrangements in our handmade vessels have been created to look as if you have picked the stems straight from your own garden. However, unlike fresh flowers, our faux arrangements will last the whole season long and can be reconfigured with new Peony flowers to create a fresh look for any time of year.

Here are my favourite choices from our collection of gorgeous autumnal flowers.

 

Rustic Hydrangea Astilbe, Mixed Berries And Foliage In A Gift Box

Rustic Hydrangea Astilbe, Mixed Berries And Foliage In A Gift Box

A beautiful bouquet of hydrangeas, astilbe, peach/pink real touch spider chrysanthemums, rich dark berries and abundance of foliage has a slight vintage feel to it. It is such an opulent piece and makes the perfect gift as it comes in a presentation box with a bow. 

 

 

 

Orange Chrysanthemums and Foliage in a Large Rope Lantern Vase 

Orange Chrysanthemums and Foliage in a Large Rope Lantern VaseThese absolutely stunning burnt orange chrysanthemums, green proteas, an abundance of beautiful ferns, foliage and the bridal white spray roses are perfect for your autumn and winter interior. All displayed in the large rope lantern vase, it would look stunning on your hall or entrance table. 

 

 

 

Autumnal Leaf Stem
Autumnal Leaf Stem Update your existing Peony arrangements with this stunning autumnal leaf spray. The stems will add wonderful height to your vases as well as a gorgeous pop of autumnal colour. 







Red pom pom hydrangea with leaves on a long stem

Red pom pom hydrangea with leaves on a long stem - These wonderful, vibrant red hydrangea stems are perfect for adding colour to your home. They look just as good displayed on their own in a large vessel as they would mixed in with autumn foliage and flowers.

 

 

 

 

Hopefully our selection has given you plenty of inspiration for updating your home with fabulous faux this autumn. We love seeing our flowers in your homes, so don’t forget to share your Peony arrangements or bespoke creations with us via social media.

September 22, 2022 — Julie Bates
August Flower of the Month: Poppy

August Flower of the Month: Poppy

Bright Summer Flowers

August is such a wonderful time for all of us flower lovers as our gardens are full of vibrant flowers and gorgeous scents. Whilst our gardens will all be different in both size and colour, one flower which we might all have in common is the poppy. You might have chosen to plant a perennial poppy in your garden, or perhaps scattered some seeds to create your own wildflower meadow. However, it is highly likely that you find poppies just appearing in your garden as if from nowhere after their seeds were blown in by the wind.

Delicate Poppies 

Poppies are usually in flower from May - August, however each individual flower is only likely to last a few days or a week at most. This is due to their delicate paper-thin petals which are easily destroyed by summer rain or wind. Poppies also make great cut flowers, however you will still struggle to get them to last longer than about a week in water. The only way to enjoy their beauty for longer than a few months of the year, is to choose to go faux.

Gorgeous Faux Flowers for Your Interior

We have a fabulous selection of poppies in a variety of colours which are perfect for giving your interior that natural look. Here are some of our top poppy picks:

RED POPPY WITH BUDS AND LEAVES

Red Poppy Stem - Our individual red poppy stems look so realistic with their real-touch buds and leaves. They have been created to look exactly as if you have picked them straight from your garden or a wildflower meadow. Now is the perfect time to purchase these stems as they are part of our summer 3 for 2 stems offer. 

PALE APRICOT PINK POPPY WITH BUD

Pale Apricot Pink Poppy Stem - These pale apricot poppies are perfect if you want to add a hint of colour to a neutral interior. They look stunning displayed on their own in a simple vessel, or can be used to create your own wildflower arrangement. They are also part of our summer 3 for 2 stem offer. 

 

Fuchsia Poppies and Foliage - If you love vibrant poppies, then you will love these fuchsia poppies with foliage which we have arranged in a frosted bottle vase. They look so realistic with their bright yellow centres and flocked stems. 

 WILD FLOWER MIX IN AN OPTIC GLASS VASE

 Wild Flower Mix - This gorgeous arrangement of pale peach poppies with hidcote lavender and foliage looks so realistic and natural displayed in the optic glass cylinder vase. Perfect for updating your summer interior or for gifting as an August birthday present. 

RHS PEONIES, ROSES AND POPPIES IN A LARGE TUNISIAN URN

Peonies, Roses and Poppies in a Large Tunisian Urn - Add a touch of glamour to your interior with this stunning arrangement. Comprising fresh peonies, roses and poppies with beautiful long leaf eucalyptus and winter foliage, it is set in a stunning Tunisian, hand-thrown urn with handles. We only have limited stock left of this gorgeous display so you will need to be quick if you would love it for your home.

Don’t forget - all of our individual stems are currently three for two in our summer 2022 stem offer. Shop our stem collection

August 10, 2022 — Julie Bates

July Flower of the month - Delphiniums

Glorious Delphiniums 
Delphinium flowers are a summer cottage garden staple for many British gardeners, as their tall flower spikes can help to give structure and height to borders. The name delphinium comes from the Greek word “delphis” meaning dolphin and is said to relate to the flower’s similarity to a dolphin. Many of you might also know them as Larkspur, a name which dates back to Tudor times. There are over 300 species of Delphinium plant to choose from with most flowering in June and July.

Growing Delphiniums can be a challenge
Delphiniums can grow up to 2 metres (or 6.5 feet) tall, which means you have to stake them to stop them from blowing over and snapping in the wind. Delphiniums also prefer moist, cool summers, dislike sudden wind or rain and can also cause skin irritation to anyone with sensitive skin.  

You Simply Have To Go Faux
Enjoy the beauty of Delphiniums without all the hard work by choosing faux! We have created two gorgeous varieties for you to choose from - the classic blue which many of you will recognise and the very beautiful bridal white. Both colours not only look real but have movement and the white are even real to the touch of a fresh delphinium from the florists or from the garden. They even come complete with beautiful green delphinium leaves and green fresh buds!

Julie's Top Delphinium Arrangement Ideas:

Bridal White Delphinium Stems - Our elegant bridal white extra long stem of real touch delphinium and delphinium foliage, look simply stunning on their own in a vase. I would recommend 5 stems in a vase for a simple, yet show stopping effect. 


Modern Decanter Vase Arrangement - Our decanter style vase has been made with love in Valencia and is the perfect vessel to showcase these bridal white delphiniums. Just look at how the shape of the stems matches perfectly with the shape of the vase - simply stunning! 


Mixed Delphiniums In A White Fluted Vase - Why have one colour of delphinium when you can have two? This arrangement has been created to match exactly how the delphiniums grow in the flowerbeds in the Ruckley gardens. The fluted white vase holds these stunning stems to perfection.


Delphiniums with Achillea, Eucalyptus and Foliage - These gorgeous blue delphinium stems add structure and height to this mixed arrangement of white Achillea and green foliage. The classic simplicity of the Christina Vase is the perfect vessel to display this arrangement. 

Don’t forget - if you need another reason to add these gorgeous delphiniums to your stem collection, then we have three for two on our stems throughout summer 2022!

July 13, 2022 — Julie Bates
June Flower of the Month: Roses

June Flower of the Month: Roses

Roses are often considered as one of the most quintessentially English plants with their beautiful scent and stunning colours. They also make the perfect cut flower and are often given as gifts.

One of the most famous names of modern rose cultivation is David Austin Roses. Since 1961 they have been growing and developing roses right here in the beautiful Shropshire countryside! 

Rose varieties

 There are so many gorgeous rose varieties to choose from that you could dedicate your whole garden to them - and I’m sure many of you have!

But to enjoy their beauty all year round? You simply have to go faux…

Our collection of faux roses have been designed to be as botanically correct as possible with many featuring real touch buds, leaves and thorns.

From pretty cabbage roses, vibrant red Old English roses through to bridal white rose buds, there is something for every rose enthusiast!

 Roses are such an incredibly versatile flower to arrange, as they look stunning in a plain vase on their own or combined with foliage or other seasonal flowers such as peonies or wisteria.

Here are just some of my top picks from our wonderful rose collection: 

  1. Lilac Cabbage Rose - this beautiful old English rose stem comes complete with leaves and is so botanically correct with the green edges on the petals and thorns.

  2. Bridal White Avalanche Rose - this is such an elegant rose to arrange in a glass vessel. Each stem comes with layers of green leaves which really enhance the bridal white colour.

  3. Rose and Hops - a rose copied straight from the gardens here at Ruckley, in stunning fuchsia with paler edges. We have arranged the rose with hops and salal leaves in our bottle vase and finished with our incredible still water.

  4. Rose Mix with Wisteria - arranged with salal leaves and displayed in the Grecian vase, this is such a seasonal bouquet. I love the combination of romantic bridal roses and cascading wisteria against the gorgeous greenery. 

  5. Rose Gift Set - give the gift of everlasting beauty with this arrangement. Our gift wrapped cylinder vase comes with wax flowers, eucalyptus and a vibrant red, open rose. All presented in a gift bag, it comes complete with our fresh flower fragrance.   

Finally, if your favourite feature of roses is their heavenly scent, then don’t forget to finish off your rose bouquets or arrangements with our flower fragrance sprays!

Our bestselling Fresh Flower fragrance combines rose, peony and eucalyptus and is the perfect accompaniment to your stems. If you like to layer your fragrances, you’ll simply love our  Gift Boxed Set, which contains three gorgeous scents to transport you straight to an English summer garden!

June 22, 2022 — Julie Bates
Caring for your Peony Faux Flowers

Caring for your Peony Faux Flowers

We all love the colour and scent of arranging fresh flowers in our homes, but sadly their beauty is often only fleeting. Even the most dedicated and meticulous of us struggle to get most cut flowers - especially roses - to last longer than a week. Their short lifespan is one of the reasons why faux flowers make such a fantastic addition to your homes!

Arranging your Peony faux flowers

Our Peony faux flower stems have been designed to be long-lasting so that you can enjoy them year after year. The individual stems and arrangements can be re-configured many times to create unique displays. Some of our stems are also waterproof which means you can add water to your vessels to give the look and feel of a freshly cut bouquet. No one has to know they’re faux, unless you let them in on the secret!  

The Fragrance of Real Flowers

We also offer a fantastic collection of fragrances to spray on to your arrangements to give them that freshly cut scent we all love. Choose from our classic Peony Fresh Flower spray which includes rose, peony and eucalyptus or opt for the scent of your favourite flower such as Sweet Pea, Orchid, Casablanca Lily or White Jasmine. The scents have been designed to smell as natural as possible and will ensure your home smells of fresh flowers all year round.      

How do I clean my Peony faux flowers?

To ensure your stems and arrangements look as fresh as possible, here are our top flower care tips: 

  1. Use a hairdryer, on a cool setting, to help blow away any surface dust. We also recommend investing in a small brush (such as a blusher or bronzing brush) to help remove smaller dust particles, especially between each petal. 
  2. Gently wipe each leaf with a clean, damp cloth. Make sure you use a cloth which is free of any cleaning products (as these could discolour the leaves).
  3. Clean the vase as you would with any ornament.
For a bonus element of luxury, spray your arrangement with one of our fragrances to ensure your flowers smell as good as they look! Easy to clean and easy to care for…there really is no better reason to go faux this season!
June 14, 2022 — Julie Bates
The Mood Boosting Power of Green

The Mood Boosting Power of Green

We all know that getting out into the fresh air can have a positive effect on our mental health and wellbeing. Whether it is going for a daily walk in the countryside or taking your dogs out to your local park, being outside can be a real mood booster. It is therefore no surprise that many of you have chosen to bring nature indoors by adding houseplants to your interior. Surrounding yourself with palms, ferns or aloe vera can be incredibly calming and fantastic for your mental health.

However, as our lives get busier, making sure you keep on top of the watering, feeding and general maintenance needed to keep your plants healthy, can be one more thing you would rather not have on your to do list. That’s why we have created a range of Essential Greens to enable you to enjoy all the benefits of adding greenery without any of the daily upkeep.

The latest addition to our collection is the stunning Kentia Palm. Planted in an on-trend hand woven basket and finished with real moss, it is designed to add impact to your open plan kitchen, garden room or even bathroom. Our Kentia Palm is so botanically correct with its paler upper leaves and darker undersides, that visitors to your home won’t know that it’s faux.


The entire Essential Greens collection has been designed to be as botanically correct and realistic as possible. Here are our current five favourites from the collection for bringing the outside in:

  1. Top of our list has to be the fantastic, vibrant, green Kentia Palm. We are so pleased with the look of this plant and are sure it will make a real impact in your homes as well.
  2. Add a touch of the Mediterranean to your interiors with the Peony Olive Tree in a grey ceramic vessel. This stunning, versatile piece is sure to be a real conversation starter!
  3. Update your garden room with our elegant, tall Artificial Fern which has been finished with real moss and set into a modern, marble effect ceramic. It is so realistic that you won’t be able to stop yourself from touching this luscious fern every time you walk past.     
  4. Our Real Touch Aloe Vera and Succulents are presented in a black ceramic bowl and finished with real gravel. Perfect for adding a touch of green to your home office.
  5. Finally, for our creative Peony fans, we have a gorgeous selection of individual stems for you to arrange. A particular favourite is the real touch Green Foliage with Pink Tones with its variegated leaves. The stems look stunning in a vessel on their own, or can be added to a larger arrangement of your favourite Peony stems. 

 

May 06, 2022 — Julie Bates
April is the Month of the Highly Scented Sweet Pea

April is the Month of the Highly Scented Sweet Pea

For many of us, Sweet Peas are an essential part of an English country garden, but did you know that they were only introduced to Britain in the late 1700s? The plant was first discovered in Southern Italy and the Mediterranean in the 1600s but it took until the late 1800s before they were widely grown and cultivated in Britain. One of the most renowned Sweet Pea growers was Henry Eckford who started a nursery in Wem, right here in the Shropshire countryside. Eckford’s “Grandiflora” varieties are still among the most popular grown by British gardeners today.

Traditionally, Sweet Peas were given as a gift to say goodbye or as a thank you. As spring is the season of new beginnings, we think Sweet Peas are the perfect flower to display in your home to mark the changing of the season. Keeping with traditions, Sweet Peas also make the perfect gift to say thank you to any family or friends who you may have visited, or are planning on visiting over the next few weeks. Or, you could take inspiration from the French, where they have long been given as a wedding gift to brides to offer good luck and best wishes for married life. 

Sweet Peas generally flower throughout June and July and are renowned for their highly perfumed scent. Enjoy this short-lived flower all year round by purchasing one of our pre-made bouquets or individual stems. Spray your flowers with our delicious Sweet Pea Fragrance to enjoy the scent of freshly cut flowers all year long. 

Don’t forget, we also have 20% off absolutely everything on our website until Friday 22nd April 2022!

April 20, 2022 — Julie Bates