It's well known in the floral world that the best choice for any arrangement is seasonal blooms. Not only are they fresher and stronger, but choosing seasonal flowers can be a more sustainable option for your wedding. Using seasonal flowers in your wedding can reduce your environmental impact and make for a 'greener' event by:

Reducing Carbon Footprint:  Seasonal flowers can often be grown locally, or at least closer to home. This reduces the need for flowers to be imported across long distances. Seasonal flowers will also require less artificial heating and lighting in order to grow. Trying to source a rose in January in Europe or the UK requires a lot of energy - either through heated greenhouses or via importing methods. 

Supporting local environments: Using seasonal flowers can contribute to biodiveristy. Growing flowers in-sync with their natural growth cycle and in a climate that would naturally support them is beneficial other factors such as the soil, other wildlife and local food chains that rely on the plants. 

Reducing Use of Chemicals: Flowers grown in their natural season often require less 'outside help' from chemical fertilisers, pesticides and other pollutants.

Reducing Waste: Seasonal stems often last longer in arrangements as they are instep with their natural cycle. The quality of blooms when they are in season is much higher, leading to larger flower heads, stronger stems and less spoilage.

By aligning with nature's cycles, your floral choice can help the health of the planet and keep down your wedding flower costs. Using British grown flowers in particular will give arrangements a more natural and cohesive look. Interesting and delicate varieties would simply not survive being imported from overseas, so choosing local and seasonal options provides greater variety in texture, shape and overall impact of blooms. For that 'just-picked' looked, seasonal flowers are key!

However, navigating the world of seasonality can be a bit overwhelming. I have curated a list of flowers by month and season to help you get an idea of which blooms will be looking their best as the year turns. 

Seasonal Flower Guide:

 

Spring:

March: Fritillaria, Tulips, Daffodils, Anemones, Primrose, Hyacinth, Cherry Blossom, Forsythia, Hellebore, Snowdrops, Crocus, Pansies and Violas, Magnolia, early blooming Iris, Eucalyptus. 

April: Roses, Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinth, Anemones, Primrose, Cherry Blossom, Magnolia, Azaleas, Bleeding Hearts, Hardy Geraniums, start of the Peonies. 

May: It's Peony month! Ranunculus, Lilac, Forget-me-nots, Honesty, Iris, Anemones, Sweet Peas, Lilly of the Valley, Tulips, Euphorbia, Roses, Daisies, Allium, Clematis, Delphinium, Hyacinth, Ammi Majus, Aquilegia, Honeysuckle, Scabious.  

Summer

June: Roses, Sweet Peas, Euphorbia, Roses, Daisies, Clematis, Delphinium, Alchemilla, Salvias, Cosmos, Hollyhock, Hydrangeas, Foxgloves, Grasses, Marigolds, Honeysuckle, Scabious, Veronica Peonies - they peter out at the end of June but may be available into July

July: Sweet Peas, Roses, Roses, Dahlias, Hydrangeas, Love-in-a-mist, Phlox, Sweet Peas, Marigolds, Delphinium, Herbs, Echinacea, Achillea, Hollyhock, Poppies, Salvias, Dill, Cosmos, Japanese Anemone, Nasturtiums, Grasses, Honeysuckle, Rudbeckia, Veronica, Zinnia 

August: Sweet Peas, Roses, Dahlias, Hydrangeas, Sunflowers, Grasses, Gladioli, Cosmos, Begonia, Japanese Anemone, Zinnia, Phlox, Marigolds, Echinacea, Echinops, Rudbeckia, Cornflower, Salvias, Crocosmia. 

Autumn:

September: Hydrangeas, Asters, Dahlias, Roses, Cosmos, Zinnia, Chrysanthemums, Sedum, Japanese Anemones, Phlox, Solidago, Echinacea, Marigolds, Rudbeckia, Crocosmia, Rosehips.

October: Helenium, Rudbeckia, Snapdragons, Fuchsias, Nerines, Pansies and Violas, Marigolds, Heather, Cyclamen, Asters, Dahlias, Sedum, Hydrangeas, Japanese Anemones, Rosehips, Eucalyptus.

November: Nerines, Ornamental Cabbages and Kale, Sedum, Rosehips, Cyclamen, Pansies and Violas, Snapdragons, Hellebore, Aster. Evergreen foliage and Eucalyptus. 

Winter:

December: Winter Jasmine, Hellebore, Cyclamen, Amaryllis, Paperwhites, Narcissi, Spruce, Holly, Ivy, Pine & Larch cones, Pittosporum, Viburnum, Evergreen foliage and Eucalyptus, twigs and dried seed head. 

January: Hellebore, Skimmia, Snowdrops, Rosehips, Amaryllis, Paperwhites, Narcissi, Berried Ivy, Spruce, Mahonia, Cyclamens, Catkins, Pittosporum, Viburnum, Evergreen foliage and Eucalyptus. 

February: Hellebore, Cyclamen, Primrose, Daffodils, Heather, Witch Hazel, Early Blooming Iris, Crocus, Forsythia, Snowdrops, Catkins, Early Blossoms, Eucalyptus. 

For more information on seasonal availability take a look at this seasonal guide by Flowers from the Farm. The page includes a very interesting video interview with a florist and a flower grower discussing the benefits of British Grown flowers.