Why choose seasonal flowers
A seasonal flower is cut at its best: it is fresher, more fragrant, fuller, and often better value, because it is plentiful. Out of season, the same flower comes from further away or grows in a heated greenhouse; it travels more and sometimes lasts less long in the vase. Choosing the season also means giving a bouquet that tells the moment: tulips in February, peonies in May, dahlias in September. At Hanaé, bouquets are composed the same day, with the flowers that arrived that morning.
Winter (December–February)
Winter is the season of tulips, amaryllis, hellebores, anemones and ranunculus. Tulips arrive in quantity from January, mostly from the Netherlands. Mimosa, from the French Riviera, brightens the shop windows from January to February: it is the yellow flower that announces the end of winter. The amaryllis, tall and graphic, is the flower of the December holidays; the hellebore, nicknamed the Christmas rose, blooms in the depths of the cold. White or midnight-blue anemones add a chic touch. Winter is also when a bouquet lasts longest, thanks to cooler interiors.
Spring (March–May)
Spring is the richest season. Tulips and ranunculus are still around until April, then come lilac, fragrant sweet peas and above all peonies, from late April to June, peaking in May. In France, on 1 May, tradition has people give a sprig of lily of the valley for good luck; it is the one day you see it everywhere. Spring is also the season of the big flower occasions: French Mother’s Day, in late May or early June, falls right in the season of peonies and garden roses.
French Mother’s Day: the date and the flowersSummer (June–August)
Summer is the season of hydrangeas, sunflowers, lisianthus, lavender, cosmos and country flowers. Peonies finish in June; dahlias arrive in July and stay until October. Hydrangeas, abundant from June to August, fill a vase on their own. Sunflowers and grasses make the sunniest bouquets of the year. Watch out for the Paris heat: it speeds up dehydration, so change the water more often, keep the bouquet away from sunny windows and move it somewhere cool at night.
Keeping a bouquet fresh in hot weatherAutumn (September–November)
Autumn is the season of dahlias, at their peak in September, chrysanthemums, eucalyptus, amaranth, physalis lanterns and pampas grass. Ochre, rust and burgundy tones dominate. Dahlias, including the nude-toned Café au Lait, last until the first frosts of October. In France, the potted chrysanthemum is the flower of All Saints’ Day, 1 November, placed on graves; as a cut flower it is very long-lasting and often appears in a seasonal bouquet. Physalis can dry in the vase and keep its colour for months.
Month by month · the landmarks
January and February: tulips, mimosa, anemones, ranunculus, hellebores. March: tulips, ranunculus, the first flowering branches. April: tulips, ranunculus, lilac, the first peonies at the end of the month. May: peonies at their peak, lilac, sweet peas, lily of the valley on 1 May. June: peonies, garden roses, hydrangeas. July and August: hydrangeas, sunflowers, lavender, cosmos, dahlias. September: dahlias at their peak. October: dahlias, chrysanthemums, physalis, amaranth. November: chrysanthemums. December: amaryllis, hellebores, evergreen foliage. Availability varies with each year’s weather.
Roses, all year round
Roses are available all year round: outside summer, they are grown in greenhouses or imported, so you can find them even in midwinter. They are, however, a little less full in winter than in summer, when more fragrant garden roses take over. That is why rose bouquets remain a classic at any time of year, for Valentine’s Day as for a birthday. For a bouquet that changes with the seasons without you having to think about it, the subscription delivers a signature bouquet every week, every 2 weeks, every month or less often.
Flower subscription in ParisFrequently asked questions
Which flowers are in season in October?
In October: dahlias, chrysanthemums, amaranth, physalis lanterns and eucalyptus. Ochre and burgundy tones dominate.
When is peony season?
Peonies are in season from late April to June, peaking in May.
When is mimosa season?
Mimosa flowers from January to February. It is the yellow flower that announces the end of winter.
What flowers can you give in winter?
In winter, give tulips, mimosa, amaryllis, hellebores, anemones or ranunculus. Roses remain available all year round.
Why do the French give lily of the valley on 1 May?
It is a French tradition: giving a sprig of lily of the valley on 1 May is meant to bring good luck for the year.
Is it OK to give chrysanthemums in France?
In a pot, the chrysanthemum is associated with All Saints’ Day and graves, so it is best avoided as a gift. As a cut flower mixed with others in a bouquet, it is common and very long-lasting.
By Hanaé5 min read
← All guides
