Written by Rona Wheeldon
August 08, 2018
With dahlia season now in full swing, you'll find so many stunning varieties at the Flower Market this month!
Cafe au Lait continues to reign supreme but there are also lots of other beautiful varieties to be found, in a wonderful array of different colours, shapes and sizes. And if you missed it first time round, you may like to take a read of this special report about this popular seasonal bloom.
British Flowers
Did you know that DG Wholesale Flowers supply English flowers? Head to their designated area, marked by a huge St George's cross flag, to find boxes brimming full of lisianthus in a range of different colours. This lovely pale pink variety, which David refers to as 'Champagne', comes in bunches of ten stems.
You'll also find delicate British delphiniums, plus lilies and alstroemeria too.
Meanwhile, over at Zest Flowers' British Flowers Corner, there are buckets filled with rubus...yes, already!
They also have amaranthus, both upright and hanging varieties. Check out this Amaranthus cruentus 'Hot Biscuits' with its rich russet flowers...
...and Amaranthus caudatus, with its memorable common name of love-lies-bleeding.
You can't help but smile when you see all the boxes of colourful dahlias at Pratley, in white, orange, pink and red.
Other British flowers currently available from the traders are Trachelium, Verbena bonariensis, Ageratum, Antirrhinums, Zinnias, Gladioli, Echinops, Irises, Statice and Sunflowers...to name but a few.
World Flowers
Have you seen this pink flower before? It's called Chelone obliqua and with its unusual petal structure, its common name is twisted shell flower. And some people even call it Turtlehead!
I love the ethereal nature of Sanguisorba officinalis, with its burgundy flower spikes held aloft slender green stems. You'll find it at Dennis Edwards Flowers.
If you're looking for something to add a touch of softness to a design, how about this Miscanthus, fondly known as silk grass, at Zest Flowers.
Heavenly hydrangeas in a multitude of different colours are in abundance this month at Nine Elms. Head to Dennis Edwards Flowers for this gorgeous variety called Hilde Moorhof Blue.
Or if you're looking for a blue accent flower, how about Gentiana 'Blue Sky'?
With the perfect common name of bunny's tail grass is Lagurus. Here's a special report about grasses from last August which you may like to read. It features not only fresh cut grasses, but also dried grasses, plants and artificial.
Looking for a flower to add height to a contract design? Then look no further...majestic Eremurus 'Rumba' with its vivid orange flowers will definitely do the trick.
Have you come across this exquisite pale apricot garden style rose before? Called simply 'Elaine', you'll find it at Bloomfield.
And with masses of golden yellow petals are 'Teddy Bear' sunflowers at A Goodchild (Floral Garden Group).
British Foliage
GB Foliage offer a fabulous assortment of seasonal cut foliage, with 80% sourced from English growers. And with around 30 years experience of working at New Covent Garden Market, don't hesitate to ask David for advice...whether it's delicate, trailing foliage for hanging designs you're after or long-lasting greenery for garlands.
He's got containers brimming full of pieris...
... and cotoneaster with its silver leaves. Plus many more homegrown foliage varieties too.
Over at Porters Foliage, you'll find rowan, also known as mountain ash, due to the fact that it grows well at high altitudes and its leaves are similar to those of ash.
That's where you'll also find homegrown oak, with acorns too.
British Plants
Virtually indestructible is how Bob at L.Mills describes Buddleia! It may be well-known for growing by railway lines, but it has butterfly-attracting qualities, so definitely worth considering for a garden.
World Plants
Pilea peperomioides plants continue to be going down a storm considering how many #pileapeperomioides tagged images there are on Instagram...over 70,000! And Quality Plants, as well as the regular size, also have these very cute miniature varieties.
Continuing the dahlia theme, did you know that as well as cut flowers, you can also buy dahlia plants at the Market? Check out this red variety at Evergreen.
Sundries
At The Flower Store, which is part of Bloomfield, there's new stock in the form of 'Snake Pots' as Kim calls them due to their textured pattern. They're available in a range of different shapes and sizes.
Or if it's small glassware you're on the look-out for, how about these lovely bee goblets and fleur-de-lys bottles?
By the way, did you know that The Flower Store have also started stocking the new biodegradable floral foam from Oasis called Bio?
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this month’s In Season blog and it’s given you lots of inspiration! It's just an overview of availability. For example, on the flower scene, you'll also find Japanese Anemones, 'Angie Romantica' roses, Agapanthus, Astrantia and Angelica gigas.
As always, we’d love to hear from you if you have any comments or questions. Simply fill in the boxes below.
P.S. Did you see the photos on Instagram of the amazing installations at the Flower Market for Art Night, which took place last month?
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