One of the trickiest parts of working with local stems—especially when you’re first getting started—is learning seasonality.
When do lisianthus begin? How long do ranunculus last? What comes after tulips but before sunflowers? When is amaranth in season again?
Local flowers do not follow one global seasonal calendar. Availability varies by region, weather and even individual farm microclimates. There are some wonderful resources to help you better understand local flowers and how they are grown:
localflowers.org
Find local flower farms and learn more about locally grown blooms.
ascfg.org
Education, research and resources devoted to locally grown specialty cuts.
slowflowers.com
A nationwide directory connecting consumers and florists with domestic flower farmers, designers and shops.
americangrownflowers.org
Learn about flowers and foliage grown in the United States—and the people behind them.
sustainablefloristry.org
Evidence-based education about local sourcing, floral waste, mechanics and environmentally thoughtful design.
sustainabloom.org
Research-backed guides, webinars and planning tools for building a more sustainable floral industry.
extension.psu.edu and cals.cornell.edu
Science-based floriculture and specialty cut-flower information for anyone who wants to dig deeper.
Floral Guild Radio
Our own educational podcast exploring local sourcing, seasonality, sustainable design and the business of flowers through candid conversations with flower farmers and florists. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
For seasonality specific to the Philadelphia region, look for our pinned Monthly Seasonal Snapshots at the top of the PFG Instagram feed. Organized by month, each snapshot lists the flowers, foliages, and other treasures that are available at that point in the growing season.
And remember: following the flower farms closest to you is one of the best ways to discover what your own region grows beautifully and when.