Why British-Grown Flowers are the True Stars of Summer
- Karen Barnes
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
There is something magical about the arrival of Summer in Britain. I think it’s because the gardens come to life, we start to see buzzy bees, white butterflies and bursts of colour in the hedgerows. We are so lucky to work with flowers, they are beautiful, they are unpredictable, they bring joy (and lots of hard work) and when the Summer season arrives, British-grown flowers come into their own.
Every season has its beauty, but summer belongs to British-grown flowers. Their freshness, fragrance and general soft movement allow us to create wonderful designs that capture customers attention. As florists, we have access to flowers from around the world throughout the year. While these imported blooms certainly have their place, nothing compares to the quality and charm of flowers that have been grown locally, cut at their peak and delivered fresh to the markets or direct to your shop/studio.
I adore floral scent and so do customers. One of the first things customers notice about British-grown flowers is their scent. Sweet peas are one of my favourite summer flowers and their perfume is intoxicating.
Stocks have a spicy fragrance that instantly transports you to an English cottage garden, some say the scent from these beautiful flowers is too heady and prefer not to have stocks in their homes or place of work, but I love them.
Then there is the colour. As you are probably aware by now, I love colour and I am fascinated by florists and designers that use colour in clever ways. Colour palettes in summer can be bright and bold, but can also be soft, pastel and tonal. Using beautiful foliage to showcase these stems only adds to the beauty of a British-grown bouquet or arrangement.
Delicate blush, buttery creams, vibrant cornflower blues, hot raspberry pinks and warm apricots all reflect the British landscape itself. The undeniable beauty of British-grown summer flowers is that each stem is individual; no two stems are ever quite the same. Summer also offers extraordinary variety.
Every week seems to introduce something new. One moment we're working with foxgloves, aquilegias and early roses. Before long, our buckets are overflowing with cosmos, dahlias, scabious, antirrhinums, ammi, nigella, cornflowers, zinnias and fragrant herbs, and then we have sunflowers and asters.
We all know though that with summer, we cannot rely on our British weather, so we have to be flexible, fluid and sometimes patient as these gorgeous stems are reliant on the weather to grow and bloom. Many flower farms in the UK are small family businesses that put enormous care into every crop. Their knowledge is remarkable, and as florists we can build genuine relationships with them. We know where our flowers come from, who has grown them and sometimes even the field they were picked from. That connection matters.
When I tell a customer that the flowers in their bouquet were cut only yesterday from a farm nearby, their face often lights up. There is pride in supporting local growers and knowing that your purchase contributes to British horticulture.
Many British flower farms use environmentally conscious growing methods, working with nature rather than relying heavily on artificial heating or intensive production systems.
For weddings in Summer, British flowers can be the perfect choice for couples, and as more are choosing bouquets that reflect the time of year rather than following rigid trends. Bouquets and arrangements created with garden roses, sweet peas, cosmos, delphiniums, herbs and locally grown foliage have an effortless elegance that never feels dated.
As a florist, I couldn't ask for a better time of year. And as every customer who walks away with an armful of freshly cut British flowers soon discovers, neither can they.
With over 35 years’ experience, Karen Barnes is one of the UK’s leading consultants to the floral industry and an expert in product development, future trends & colours, and floral photography design & planning. She’s an interior floral designer, high profile wedding and event floral planner, and prominent international competition judge.
From teaching on a one-to-one basis to coaching small, intimate classes and larger teams, Karen can encourage, motivate and mentor your next step in the florist industry. Sharing her vast experience, Karen can help you expand your knowledge and creativity.
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