Locally grown, in-season flowers guarantee the freshest blooms for your wedding. To help us pick out the best seasonal stems, we asked farmer florist Erin Benzakein for her expert opinion. There are plenty of varieties to choose from all year long—maybe more than you thought were available to you. Of course, every florist has their favorite blooming season. “Late summer is my favorite season to design in. Our fields are bursting with flowers in July and August. There are so many blooms to choose from, giving me total creative freedom,” Benzakein says. Want some more floral tips? Flip through Benzakein’s new book, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms.
Here are your best bets for spring, summer, fall and winter “I dos.” To help you decide which stems are best for your celebration, we added color and pricing information, too.
Before diving in, here’s the breakdown of price:
$ 1–2 dollars a stem
$$ 3–4 dollars a stem
$$$ over 5 dollars a stem
Best Blooms for Spring
Heather Payne PhotographySpring is a time of rejuvenation and rebirth. The melting frost brings about a bevy of fragrant and colorful blooms.
1. Garden Rose
Long considered a symbol of beauty and love, roses are widely available and come in almost every color.
Colors: Red, cream, yellow, orange, pink and purple
Price: $$$2. Dahlia
Dahlias are great for centerpieces—they have no scent so they won’t compete with your menu.
Colors: shades of pink, purple, red and orange
Price: $$3. Lisianthus
Each stem has multiple
blossoms and buds,
plus serious lasting power.Colors: Pink,
purple, white and green
Price: $$4. Zinnia
The daisylike bloom is perfect for casual garden arrangements. It can also stand up to hotter temps.
Colors: White, chartreuse, yellow, orange, red, purple and lilac
Price: $5. Foxglove
Bell-shaped flowers
add a delicate note to
bouquets and centerpieces.Colors: White, pink and
various shades of purple
Price: $6. Stock
Dense clusters of soft petals pack a serious punch. Stock also has a spicy, clovelike fragrance.
Colors: Pastel shades from cream to lavender
Price: $7. Chocolate Cosmos
A fragrant addition to a bouquet, this sweet-scented bloom smells like candy.
Color: Red-brown
Price: $8. Heuchera
Wiry stems with tiny blooms are a great choice for just-picked arrangements, and give texture and visual intrigue.
Colors: Pink, purple and deep red
Price: $Best Blooms for Summer
Heather Payne PhotographyThe hottest of all seasons, the summer months mean longer days and lots of sunshine—perfect growing weather.
1. Astilbee
Densely packed astilbe has a feathery, wildflower look. It’s a hearty stem, great for boutonnieres or for a touch of texture in a rustic or romantic bouquet.
Colors: White, pink, mauve and crimson
Price: $2. Mock Orange
Despite having “orange” in its name, this
fragrant flower blooms
white. But its scent is
thought to resemble
that of orange blossoms.Color: White
Price: $3. Clematis
This flower grows like a vine, with carefree twists to its stems. The blossom has delicate petals and an eye-catching center.
Colors: Purple, pink, blue violet and cranberry
Price: $$4. Garden Rose
The big-headed blooms on these stems are perfect for making a bold statement or adding romance to an arrangement.
Colors: Red, cream, yellow, orange, pink and purple
Price: $$$Best Blooms for Fall
Heather Payne PhotographyAutumn bridges summer and winter, bringing about cooler temperatures alongside colorful leaves.
1. Crabapple
Hearty branches can add texture and height to centerpieces. The mini “apples” range in color from green to red as the season progresses.
Colors: Green and red
Price: $2. Raspberry
For a pop of color in an arrangement or the perfect finishing touch on a naked cake, try a late summer branch of berries.
Color: Red
Price: $3. Dahlia
There are over 42 species of this native Mexican stem, all striking in color and shape.
Colors: Shades of pink, purple, red and orange
Price: $$Best Blooms for Winter
Heather Payne PhotographyThe coldest
months ofthe year bring
about frost and
snow, but also
stems bold in color and rich
with texture.1. Love in a Mist
One of the few blue florals,
this buttercup bloom has
threadlike leaves, giving
it personality and intrigue.Colors: Blue,
white, pink and lilac
Price: $2. Sweet Pea
A delicate flower
with a rich fragrance,
each stem has a
cluster of flowy petals.Colors: White, pink,
yellow, red and purple
Price: $3. Poppy Pods
These structured seed-
filled pods add an element
of whimsy to rustic
bouquets and wild, undone
floral arrangements.Color: Green
Price: $4. Forget-Me-Nots
Incorporate a “something
blue” in your bouquet
with forget-me-nots. The
soft petals give volume too.Colors: Blue, purple, pink, white and yellow
Price: $5. Honeywort
Named after its honeylike
scent, these inch-long tube
petals cascade beautifully in
bouquets and centerpieces.Color: Purple-blue
Price: $6. Hydrangea
This romantic flower has clusters of tiny blooms that come together to create a stunning, big-headed blossom.
Colors: White, green, pink, blue, purple and cranberry
Price: $$7. Bachelor Button
Its name makes it
a well-suited stem for a
boutonniere. This casual
flower has a button head
and is actually edible.Colors: White, pink, blue, magenta
Price: $
