With all of the transportation technology today farms around the world can now grow and ship beautiful flowers that were once only available at certain times of the year. Our world has 2 hemispheres that have opposite seasons. When it is winter here, it is spring in South America. The demand for specialty flowers is at an all time high. We now have the ability to provide brides and grooms with these flowers to make their dream weddings come true. Below is a sampling of the most popular flowers and costs at different times of the year. Prices may change due to availability and weather conditions around the world.
Dahlias
The in-season for local/California dahlias is July and August. Cost is usually $5 – 6 per bloom. The local garden variety do not all have perfect blooms. They might have larger and smaller mixed sizes and show some imperfections on the edges. The local colors do not include burgundy, cafe au lait or blush. These colors are at a premium as the demand is so high for weddings.
Burgundy dahlias are available year-round now. Farms and boutique growers are supplying the high demand. In September to mid-June, dahlias run $15-20 per bloom and are usually larger in size. They are sold in 5 stem bunches only.
Cafe au lait dahlias, better known as the faded antique color of dusty mauve/light peach, are available all year at $15 – 17.50 per bloom. They are sold in 5 stem bunches and each bunch usually has 2 large and 3 smaller blooms. Their peak is July through August, these being the months that they are the largest, and then smaller throughout the rest of the year.
Lily of the Valley
The in-peak season varies from year to year. It all depends on how warm it is mid April – May 1. Cost is between $4-5.75 per sprig and sold in 10 stem bunches only. The rest of the time, they might be available from Holland from April 1 – Jun 1, depending on how hot it is, as they are grown in greenhouses in Holland. They are sold in 50 stem bunches only at $8 per sprig and there is no guarantee that each stem is perfect. A very persnickety flower.
Garden roses
Most garden roses run $9 – 15 per bloom. They are usually sold in 12 stem bunches.
Some varieties with the David Austin name are trademarked and are higher in cost. This includes the peach known as Juliet. Cost is usually $15 per bloom. The rest of the David Auston roses run between $12 -15 per bloom. The most popular are the white Ohara garden roses (they are the true blush ones with the peachy pink glow that you see lately in many wedding pictures) and run $12.50 per stem for the fuller larger ones and $9 for the smaller ones. The large patience white roses are $15 per bloom and smaller white alabaster roses are $12.50 per bloom.
Peonies
Peonies are available from late October – February. In March – April, there is sometimes a gap when South America finishes and the Israeli crop start. Then Holland resumes in late April and runs through June. Our local east coast crops run from June 1 – July 1. When everyone asks about the availability of local peonies, it depends on how wet the growing conditions are and when they bloom. The local crops seem to be most available June 5th – 30th. High temperatures can make a crop bloom early and be finished.
The pricing for local peony crops in the east coast runs white blooms $6 – 9.50 and for pink shade $6 – 7.50 each. Burgundy and coral colors $10-12 per bloom. The large duchess blooms seen in many bride’s bouquets run $10 – 12.50. Sold in 10 stem bunches.
Burgundy peonies are usually one of the first ones to bloom in spring and sometimes finish early with only a 2-3 week window of availability. The color is rarer and more expensive to produce. They are mostly available in early November and December. With random times through March and again late April – mid May. Cost is usually $15 – 20 per bloom. Sold in 5 stem bunches only.
Coral peonies are the rarest and are available usually the 3rd week in April – May 18th. Cost is $12 – 15 per bloom.
A note about peonies. Whites and pinks that are available from November through May may not be the full petaled rounded variety. They may also be smaller blooms as South American growers do not use a lot of fertilizer to promote a larger size. There are many varieties and sometimes the ones that are available have a look more like a poppy, with single petals around the edges and a yellow center. When ordering, we cannot predict what will be available.
Anemones
Anemones are available all year. They love the cooler growing times and are at their peak in February – March. They are being grown all over the world and each country has different soil, temperatures and uses fertilizer differently. This affects the size. Those with the large full blooms are grown in upstate New York and are the premier crop; simply the best available. Cost is usually $8 – 9 per bloom. The rest of the year, the blooms are rather small and not as white. They are usually a more cream/green color and always with a black center. The pictures you see of white anemones with a blue center have either been photoshopped or they are real-touch silk mixed in. It is sometimes hard to tell what is real with silks being so lifelike.
Ranunculus
Ranunculus are a cool weather flower and their peak is from late December through April. Cost is usually $5 – 6 per bloom. Colors of peach, burgundy and purple can be as high as $6 – 7.50 per bloom. Once we get to May, the blooms are smaller as the growing conditions in the greenhouses are too hot for them. From June through early September, the blooms are smaller and the cost is in the $5 – 7 range as they are coming from South America. In December, white blooms usually run $6 each.
The larger blooms you see in the many bridal bouquets with blooms 2 -3 inches across are called Clooney ranunculus, and the cost is $8 – 10 per bloom. They are only available from January – April. In May – June, availability will vary due to heat and shipping.