Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

What is the policy for fresh flowers on a cake? Are peonys safe to place on top of the cake, The cake is covered in royal icing so i was thinking if I placed a cake board between the cake and the flower, However the florist is unsure how to treat it so it will sit on top of the cake. Ive seen tutorials where the stem is cut off the rose and there is a wire used instead if a stem and covered in florist tape (as you would do for a sugar flower,) Could the wire be placed into a posy pic if I made a hole in the board?

Hi chiccakes

Please see all the discussion on the site about using fresh flowers on cakes here:
http://www.cakeflix.com/questions?s=fresh+flowers+on+cake
Click on the topics relevant to your question.
Just so that you are aware, peonies are posionous. Take care when handling, placing and disposing.

Hope this helps.

Thanks madeitwitlove,
I had thought they were poisonous, and ive never used fresh flowers before and was quite nervous about it.I had suggested a sugar peony, but she wanted a very large one larger than the one i could make from sugar, so i told her ask her florist and suggest that i could put a cake board between it and the cake, But in a little worried is this a safe enough system?

Do you think your client would consider a silk peony? There are some really realistic big ones around! The florist should be able to advise on that. How about ready made large sugar peonies like this:
http://www.rainbowsugarcraft.co.uk/Sugarcraft+Flowers/0_CAAA831_CAAA672.htm
Ready made sugar flowers have tumbled in price now that everyone is making their own. It’s a shot worth trying.
Both are safer options.

Thanks so much for all your help, yes i will suggest the silk option to her. The peony I had made and shown her was one I learned to made from Tracy James class,it was very full looking and was on top of a 4″ top tier, however she wanted a flower as full looking in a 6″ tier, I dont know if one can get any peony that big?

There are XL peonies available, the largest I’ve seen is 5 – 6″ across. Here it is:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sugar-Flowers-Large-Open-peony-Cake-toppers-cake-Decoration-Weddings-/111883931735?hash=item1a0ccd5057:g:GRAAAOSwFnFV9oiR
I think the maker of that one takes bespoke orders. It would certainly be a lot less expensive to buy rather than to make. If you do buy, don’t forget to charge out for your time and any other expenditure you incur.
There are more in ebay.

Hope this has given you a few choices to find something suitable.

Thanks, a million.