The global cut flower industry is a multi-billion-pound enterprise, with blooms travelling vast distances. In the UK, around 90% of flowers sold are imported. A practical guide to sourcing British instead.
The global cut flower industry is a multi-billion-pound enterprise, with blooms often travelling vast distances before reaching consumers. In the UK, approximately 90% of flowers sold are imported, journeying hundreds or even thousands of miles to reach our shores.
For florists who want to source British, the change can feel daunting — supply chains are unfamiliar, the calendar is different, and pricing has to be re-thought. But it is possible, it is rewarding, and it is changing the industry one studio at a time.
In this guide we walk through: finding your local flower farmer (and what to ask when you call); the British seasonal calendar month by month; how to talk to clients about why a Dutch peony in February is no longer a given; the British Flowers Week movement and the network of organisations supporting growers; and a real-world pricing comparison between imported and British-grown stems for a typical wedding.
If you take one thing from this letter, let it be this: every single stem of British you put into a piece of work is a small, meaningful vote for a different floristry future.
We use cookies to make our site work, and — only with your consent — to understand how it’s used and to show you relevant marketing. You can accept everything, reject everything but the essentials, or choose for yourself. Read our cookie policy.
