aka: What your florist really wants you to ask for in August
We get it. You saw a dreamy blush bouquet on Pinterest. It had garden roses, ranunculus, and (of course) peonies the size of your face. You saved it. You showed it to your florist. And now we’re gently, lovingly saying:
Babe… it's August. Peony season is over.
Don’t worry, we’re not here to crush your flower dreams. We’re here to upgrade them. Because honestly? Late summer has some of the most beautiful flowers of the entire year. You just need to know what to ask for.
So, let’s talk about what’s actually in season right now.
🌻 1. Dahlias — The Drama Queens of Summer
Big, bold, and anything but basic.
Dahlias come in every colour imaginable, coral, plum, buttercream, latte, and their shapes? Wild. From perfect pom-poms to spiky cactus blooms, they steal the show in any arrangement. Locally grown dahlias are thriving in BC fields right now, and they are chef’s kiss in a bouquet.
Pro tip: Ask for café au lait or peachy blush varieties for that neutral-but-wow vibe.
🌾 2. Grasses + Textural Greens
This is the season for locally foraged ingredients, things like bunny tail grass, millet, amaranthus, and smokebush. They add texture, movement, and a little wild girl energy to any design.
These aren’t filler. These are ✨the moment.✨
🌼 3. Zinnias — Colourful, Playful, Underrated
Zinnias are basically the cool cousin of daisies. They're joyful, long-lasting, and add this perfect vintage-y charm to a bouquet. They're grown right here in BC, which means they’re fresh, vibrant, and totally on-trend for warm-weather arrangements.
We love: Golden honey tones, dusty pinks, and hot corals.
🌸 4. Cosmos — Floaty and Romantic
If dahlias are the drama, cosmos are the whisper. They’re delicate, wispy, and give that dreamy “I just stepped out of a French garden” energy. They don’t last forever, but while they’re here, they are so worth it.
🌺 5. Rudbeckia (aka Black-Eyed Susans)
Rusty yellow, burnt orange, bronze, all those late-summer hues start showing up in rudbeckia. They add warmth and that end-of-summer, golden-hour kind of glow to any bouquet. Not everyone asks for them. But the cool people do. Just saying.
🌿 Bonus Blooms We’re Obsessed With Right Now:
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Strawflower – like preserved florals, but fresh and papery and amazing
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Celosia – brainy and weird in the best way
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Lisianthus – soft and romantic, and still going strong
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Snapdragons – tall and playful
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Scabiosa – terrible name, dreamy texture
So What Should You Ask For?
Instead of asking for “peonies” in August, try saying:
“I want something soft and romantic, with a mix of textures. Maybe neutral tones with a little movement.”
Or:
“I’m feeling bold and summery...whatever’s fresh and local right now.”
Your florist will LOVE you. And you’ll get something way more unique and on-season than a recycled Pinterest post from May.
August = Flower Goldmine
Don’t sleep on late summer. This is when the BC flower fields are showing off. Skip the imports and trust your local florist to pull magic from what’s actually blooming now.
Peonies had their moment.
Dahlias, zinnias, cosmos?
This is their time.