What flowers are in season in winter? an essential guide to winter cut flowers.
Have you ever wondered what flowers are in season in Winter? You may be misled to believe that seasonal blooms are slim pickings during the winter months, however I want to share with you my essential guide to winter cut flowers in the hope this will help you determine varieties to use in either your winter weddings flowers or simply decorating your home.
After the rich jewell tones we are exposed to during the autumn months, winter flowers can carry the same depth of colour and tone, you just need to know where to find them! Foliage is hugely important in the winter months too so I want to delve into how you can use foliage alone or with flowers to create great impact also.
Winter wedding colour themes:
If you are getting married during the winter months then there are lots of options for you to consider when it comes to choosing your colour theme. A timeless option is crisp icy whites with winter foliage, you can get so much colour from foliage alone from the silvery greys through to the deep forest greens. White and green works so well during the winter, but do add in texture in the form of berries such as black privet or petrol blue viburnum, which will really add a new level of depth to the white if it were to sit just on it’s own. Adding in touches of mocha or deep burgundy will add warmth to a neutral colour palette, and again will work well with lots of foliage varieties too. If neutrals are not your thing and you want to embrace colour for your winter then good for you, this is a fabulous idea! Match the warmth of those roaring fires with deep reds, burgundy, purple and burnt orange for a really warming, but stylishly colourful look.
Why Foliage is crucial to winter weddings:
Aside from using stunning seasonal flowers, foliage is key in bringing that winter feel to your wedding. We are lucky to have lots of great options when it comes to winter foliage in a huge range of shades from the silvery grey of eucalyptus and senecio, through to the deep forest greens of ferns and holly. Scent is important too so by using blue spruce, fir and eucalyptus you can get a gorgeous immersive scent to your wedding flowers. Foliage brings lots of texture too, for example senecio has a gorgeous velvety texture whereas asparagus fern has a delicate, soft lace like quality to it and wild thyme has a dried but dainty texture. So many foliage varieties bring movement to floral designs in the winter, such as trailing ivy, nicolli, or jasmine. So foliage is your friend when it comes to winter weddings, so do embrace the colour, tone, movement and texture it brings!
How to make my wedding feel wintery and not christmassy:
A key question as a wedding florist I get asked all the time with my couples who are planning a winter wedding, especially if the date is in December. It is your wedding and so I can appreciate that you want to establish this occasion in its own right, away from the mad Christmas chaos that ensues during December. My advice would be to embrace the winter foliage, the seasonal blooms and use a colour palette that is not traditionally associated with Christmas, for instance stay clear of red. Whites, neutrals, warm plum and burgundy tones make a great alternative and can bring that elegant and romantic feel to your winter wedding, without it taking a Christmas turn.
My essential winter wedding flowers:
Ranunculus: a stunning flower, the sister of the much loved peony, it emulates the layers of petals a peony has, but in a much smaller head. The ‘Cloni’ varieties are one of the most luxurious and exclusive blooms about, so if you are lucky enough to be able to carry these in your bridal bouquet, then that is truly something! The blush ‘Hanoi’ variety is a flower like nothing else, resembling a ballerinas tutu it is the most divine, romantic bloom in season. Ranunculus come in all kinds of colours ranging from crisp white through to cream, yellow, orange, pink to the deeper burgundy and plum tones. There is even one that looks nearly black, so this is a very great option to use in your deeper, sumptuous winter colour palette.
Anemone: a beautiful winter flower that again comes in a wide range of colours, particular rich jewel tones like plum, indigo, deep blue and vibrant cerise. These are great flowers to pair amongst the other bulb varieties like narcissi and ranunculus, and their black centres add a real depth to the bloom, again bringing in that dark tone to your winter wedding flowers.
Narcissi: these are the perfect flower for December, pure white ‘paperwhites’ have the most beautiful scent and can look fab planted on mass or arranged amongst the other blooms. They work extremely well if brought on as indoor bulbs, so think ahead and plant 8 weeks before your wedding to ensure that they are flowering in time. Place the bulbs in stone pots, add in birch twigs and cover the pots with moss and you will create a beautiful woodland look to your wedding.
Amaryllis: An absolute classic winter flower, again a bulb they are synonymous with Christmas however they come in so many interesting shapes and colours now, they are merging into an all rounder for sure. From coral, to peach, to cerise, to white or two toned striped, amaryllis work well as a cut flower to add height, drama and interest to an arrangement. Or cut the blooms short for low bowls and vases so people can really admire them as table decorations.
Hellebores: So stunning and the perfect winter flower! I adore the rich plum hellebores, alongside the paler dusky pink, they are such a tonal flower they come in a wide range of shades so work well with the soft, romantic dusky pink colour palette for your winter wedding. A tricky cut flower to use, they need extra TLC when it comes to conditioning, but if cut right they are a long lasting bloom. Again, they work well as planted arrangements so you can pot these up for your wedding tables and then place in the garden afterwards as a lasting memory of your special day.
Hyacinth: another bulb flower, you can pot these up or they come in a wide range of colours to be used as a cut flower. The whites are a classic alongside the blues and purples tones… They have a really strong scent so can really fill a venue or church with a beautiful scent, so do not underestimate the power of these short stem blooms they definitely pack a punch when it comes to the scent!
What winter flowers work well for buttonholes?
As I mentioned previously foliage is key in winter weddings, so use delicate winter foliage sprigs in your buttonholes. Rosemary, parvi, eucalyptus, tiny fir sprigs work wonders alongside texture such as tiny pine cones, berries or seed heads. I like to stick to spray rose or ranunculus when it comes to flowering the buttonholes, all finished off with sumptuous winter ribbon in either velvet or silk.
If you are planning a winter wedding in the south west I would love to hear more about your big day plans! You can peruse the journal in more detail which has lots more beautiful real life weddings and flower inspiration, here. Or do look through our Instagram page, which again is full of inspiration, real life weddings and all the exciting behind the scenes.