Seasonal Flower Guide: What Flowers Are in Season?
Are you planning the floral theme for your wedding? Alternatively, are you wondering what type of flower is most affordable at this particular moment in time? If so, it’s a good idea to take a look at seasonal bloom times. Different flowers bloom naturally in various periods of the year, which means that certain flowers will be much easier to find (and much more affordable) depending on when you shop for them.
Below, we have outlined the seasonal growth times for several popular flower varieties to help you shop more efficiently. Keep in mind that none of these lists are totally comprehensive. You will also notice that some flower varieties are “in season” during more than one part of the year.
Spring
As you would expect, springtime is the peak growth time for flowers and most other flowering plants. Part of the reason that spring and summer are so popular for weddings—beyond the gorgeous weather—is the wider availability of flowers. In-season flowers in the spring include roses, tulips, lilacs, daffodils, daisies, orchids, violets, peonies, pansies, azaleas, forsythias, irises, cherry blossoms, poppies, pussy willows, dahlias, amaryllis, sweet peas, zinnias, and most types of lilies.
Summer
Spring and summer flower seasons often blend into one another. For instance, irises are classified as a late spring or an early summer flower. Also, many of the flowers that bloom in the spring will continue to bloom throughout the summer. For instance, if you have lilies planted in your yard, you will see the first blossoms in the spring, but can expect blooms until fall.
With that said, flowers that are seasonal to the summertime typically include hydrangeas, sunflowers, cosmos, gardenias, zinnias, daisies, peonies, delphiniums, azaleas, snapdragons, gladioli, asters, chrysanthemums, gingers, lilacs, irises, freesias, and many types of lilies.
Autumn
Autumn is the time of year that flower bloom cycles start to slow down. There are some holdovers from the summertime: sunflowers often continue to bloom well into the fall. If you are putting together a bouquet, you will still have plenty of options from which to choose. Seasonal fall flowers can include marigolds, carnations, chrysanthemums, roses, daisies, lilies, goldenrod, alstroemeria, liatrus, bouvardia, cockscombs, anthurium, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
Winter
Flowers are a less common gift or decoration in winter than during any other season of the year. The obvious exception is poinsettia plants, which sell in the tens of millions every year as Christmas gifts or holiday decorations. Other popular winter flowers include roses, amaryllis, carnations, chrysanthemums, and the Star of Bethlehem.
Conclusion
Using the lists above, you can get a general sense of the type of flowers that will be in season at any given time of year. To learn what varieties of flowers are available to you right now—or what will be available for your wedding or event—it’s a good idea to speak to a florist in your area. Your florist will have a more exact idea of when they start selling different types of flowers each year.