Seasonal Flowers Guide: What Blooms When

One of the best ways to enjoy the changing seasons is through the beautiful flowers that bloom throughout the year. At Liatrreins Flower Centre, we're passionate about working with seasonal blooms to create arrangements that reflect nature's rhythm. In this guide, we'll walk you through which flowers are at their best in each season in the UK, and how to care for them to ensure they stay fresh as long as possible.

Spring: A Time of Renewal (March - May)

Spring brings a welcome burst of color after the darker winter months. Gardens begin to awaken with fresh blooms, offering a wonderful selection of flowers to brighten up your home.

Key Spring Flowers:

• Daffodils: The quintessential spring flower, daffodils with their sunny yellow blooms are perfect for bringing cheer to any space.
• Tulips: Available in a rainbow of colors, tulips are versatile and elegant.
• Hyacinths: Known for their intoxicating fragrance and vibrant colors.
• Ranunculus: These delicate, multi-petaled blooms look like small roses and add a touch of sophistication.
• Bluebells: These woodland flowers add a whimsical touch to arrangements.
• Cherry Blossom: Delicate and ephemeral, cherry blossoms bring the beauty of spring gardens indoors.

Spring flowers generally prefer cooler conditions and should be kept away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Change the water every other day to keep them fresh longer.

Summer: Full Bloom (June - August)

Summer brings an abundance of vibrant blooms, with long days providing ample sunlight for flowers to flourish. This is when the cutting garden truly comes into its own.

Key Summer Flowers:

• Roses: Summer is the peak season for roses, with their velvety petals and rich scents.
• Peonies: With their large, luscious blooms, peonies are a favorite for summer arrangements and bouquets.
• Dahlias: Available in countless varieties and colors, dahlias add drama and texture.
• Sunflowers: These bold, cheerful flowers bring sunshine indoors.
• Lavender: Adds a wonderful scent and delicate purple hue to summer arrangements.
• Sweet Peas: Known for their delightful fragrance and delicate form.
• Gladioli: Tall and striking, these make a dramatic statement in larger arrangements.

Summer flowers often have a shorter vase life due to the warmer temperatures. Keep them in a cool spot, away from fruit (which releases ethylene gas that can accelerate wilting) and change water daily if possible.

Autumn: Rich and Warm (September - November)

As the days begin to shorten, the palette shifts to warm, rich hues that mirror the changing landscape. Autumn arrangements have a distinctive character and charm.

Key Autumn Flowers:

• Chrysanthemums: With their varied forms and colors, chrysanthemums are the stars of autumn.
• Dahlias: Late-season dahlias continue to bloom until the first frost.
• Celosia: These unusual, velvety blooms add interesting texture and come in rich autumn colors.
• Asters: Daisy-like flowers in purples, pinks, and whites that provide a lovely contrast to autumn foliage.
• Sedum: These structural flowers in dusty pinks and russets are perfect for autumn arrangements.
• Chinese Lanterns: These bright orange seed pods add a distinctive touch to autumn displays.

Incorporate berries, seed heads, and colorful foliage to enhance autumn arrangements. Many autumn flowers are longer-lasting; trim stems at an angle and remove any leaves that would sit below the water line.

Winter: Subtle Beauty (December - February)

Winter may seem like a dormant time for flowers, but there are still beautiful options available, including many imported varieties that add color during the darker months.

Key Winter Flowers:

• Amaryllis: These dramatic blooms are particularly associated with the festive season.
• Hellebores: Also known as Christmas roses, these delicate flowers bloom even in frosty conditions.
• Narcissi: The paperwhite variety brings delicate beauty and fragrance to winter arrangements.
• Anemones: With their striking centers, these add drama to winter bouquets.
• Ranunculus: Available again in winter, these add romance and color.
• Poinsettias: The traditional Christmas flower with its vibrant red bracts.

Winter arrangements can be enhanced with evergreen foliage, berries, and pine cones. Keep flowers away from radiators and other heat sources, which can cause them to dehydrate quickly.

Tips for Keeping Seasonal Flowers Fresh Longer

1. Cut stems at an angle before placing in water to increase the surface area for water absorption.
2. Remove any foliage that would sit below the water line to prevent bacterial growth.
3. Change the water every 2-3 days and recut stems when you do this.
4. Add flower food to the water to provide nutrients and inhibit bacteria.
5. Keep flowers away from fruit, which releases ethylene gas that can cause flowers to deteriorate faster.
6. Position arrangements away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and drafts to extend their life.
7. Different flowers have different vase lives - remove spent blooms to keep arrangements looking fresh.

Sustainable Seasonal Choices

At Liatrreins Flower Centre, we're committed to sustainable floristry. Choosing seasonal flowers is not only better for your wallet but also for the environment. Seasonal blooms require less energy to grow and transport, resulting in a lower carbon footprint.

We work closely with local growers whenever possible and choose British-grown flowers when they're available. When we do source internationally, we select farms with strong environmental and ethical standards.

By choosing seasonal flowers, you're not only bringing the freshest, most vibrant blooms into your home but also making an environmentally conscious choice.