What is actually in season in British summer
The word 'seasonal' gets used loosely in floristry. It sometimes means 'what we happen to have this week' and sometimes means 'grown in this country at this time of year'. This is about the second kind: flowers that are actually growing in British fields and gardens in June, July, and August, and what that means for how they look and how long they last.
June: the sweet pea window
Sweet peas are the defining flower of early British summer. They're fragile, they don't travel well, and they last only four to five days in a vase, which is why you rarely see them in supermarkets. But they smell extraordinary and the colour range, from white through blush to deep magenta and purple, is hard to match with any other stem.
The sweet pea season runs roughly from late May through to mid-August, depending on the weather. A warm June will push them through faster. By the time August arrives they're usually finishing, and the ones that are still available are often smaller-headed and less fragrant than the June crop.
July and August: dahlias and lisianthus
Dahlias are the backbone of late British summer. They come in an enormous range of forms, from the small pompom types to the large decorative varieties with heads the size of a side plate. The cafe-au-lait dahlia has become very popular in the last few years, and for good reason: it works with almost any other colour and photographs well. But the deeper burgundy and coral varieties are often more interesting in an actual arrangement.
Lisianthus is less well known but extremely useful. It looks a little like a rose in bud and opens into a ruffled, poppy-like flower. It lasts well, up to ten days with good conditioning, and comes in white, lavender, deep purple, and a pale blush pink. It's grown in the UK through summer and is one of the stems Laura reaches for most often in July and August.
What to avoid in summer
Imported roses are available year-round, but summer is when the gap between them and British-grown flowers is most obvious. A rose that has flown from Kenya or Ecuador in July heat arrives stressed and often doesn't open properly. If you want roses in summer, look for British-grown varieties, which are available from specialist growers through July and August, though in smaller quantities.
Lilies are another stem worth being cautious about in summer. They're heat-sensitive and the pollen stains badly. In a warm room they can go from bud to dropping petals in 48 hours. If you love lilies, ask for them to be delivered in tight bud and remove the pollen-bearing anthers as soon as they're visible.
The studio's stem list changes every week based on what came in at the auction. If you want to know what's available right now, the quickest way is to drop a message.