Written by Rona Wheeldon
November 27, 2015
If you're looking for festive inspiration, then grab a cuppa and have a browse through this month's bumper Christmas Special report!
You’ll find examples of the absolutely amazing array of flowers, plants, foliage and sundries which you can expect to find all under one roof at New Covent Garden Flower Market in the run-up to Christmas Day.
Foliage Row, in particular, is looking like a veritable Aladdin's Cave, with twigs in just about every colour and sparkle imaginable. Plus, there's good old traditional real holly with berries.
Flowers
Inside, there are boxes upon boxes of amaryllis in a wide range of colours including 'Mont Blanc'...
'Red Lion'
'Liberty'
'Royal Velvet'
'Superstar'
'Hercules'
...and 'Darling Pink'.
On the Ilex front, expect to see 'Verticillata'... (including at 1m 30cm in height at Dennis Edwards Flowers!)
'Winter Gold'
'Oudijks'
'Gresgold'
...and 'Julia'.
You'll also find frosted ilex at Dennis Edwards Flowers.
And at Zest Flowers, there's gold painted ilex!
Staying with the gold theme, check out Zest Flowers on Instagram, where you'll find this recent picture of gold glitter hydrangea which Graeme posted. It's superb for adding a real touch of glitz to a design!
With tulip season now here, there are lots of different varieties available. How about these 'Super Parrot' tulips at DG Wholesale Flowers? And what a wonderful photo James posted on Instagram of their display.
Or for a fringed variety, check out Bloomfield's Instagram account.
Red is such a traditional colour at Christmas. And anemones...
...and 'Grand Prix' roses at Alagar are the perfect blooms to use in yuletide arrangements.
It's so lovely to see that ranunculus are back at Nine Elms! They're available in lots of different colours, including white.
And at Dennis Edwards Flowers, they've started getting in Cloni ranunculus, including the breath-taking pale pink Hanoi variety. As well as flowers, Dennis has recently had a visit from Father Christmas (in different sizes and attires!) Check out his Instagram account for some pictures.
Paper White Narcissi from the Isles of Scilly add such a beautiful scent to designs and you'll find them in abundance.
Plants
Poinsettia are popping up at the plant wholesalers in not only different sizes, but also different colours. There's red...
...and very pale peachy pink at Quality Plants. These mini plants are often referred to as 'tots' and they've even got a pure white variety in this size!
Plus at Evergreen you'll find cream. These ones below are referred to as 'Silver Goodies', as they come in silver pots.
As well as cut holly outside on Foliage Row, inside there are also these holly tots.
And for something a little bit different, how about these fabulous hanging ivy balls at Arnott & Mason?They'd make a real statement!
Aptly, Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) plants are in plentiful supply...
...as are hyacinth bulbs in different colours.
And also ideal to pot up and decorate for gifts for your customers to buy, are amaryllis bulbs in white and red.
Fresh Foliage
Continuing their annual tradition, GB Foliage have a fabulous festive hanging installation.
And out there on Foliage Row, you'll find garlands aplenty. There are all-round garlands, which are perfect for decorating banisters. And then there are flat-back ones, which are ideal for mantelpieces or around windows and door frames. Or if you'd like to make your own designs, there are also bundles of pine.
You'll find lichen twigs and branches available, which are a great addition to natural arrangements.
Or to add a pop of colour, inside there's skimmia in green, red and also what's referred to as pink!
Sprayed Foliage
With metallics being such a big trend this Christmas, you'll find sprayed foliage in abundance on Foliage Row, with this super display at GB Foliage.
Particularly popular is asparagus fern. It's available in lots of different colourways including rose gold (also sometimes referred to as champagne), white, gold and silver.
There’s also grevillea...
...magnolia... (which looked fabulous in this wreath design made by Charlotte at Jane Packer at the recent College Day)
...eucalyptus pods...
...twisted willow...
...and birch, in just about every colour you could wish for, with or without glitter. Check out Porters Foliage's Instagram feed to see some examples.
And you'll also find coral fern and hazel catkins in lots of different metallic colours. Plus snow twigs too!
Christmas Trees
Christmas trees, ranging in height from 3ft-20ft, can be found at several traders at the Market, including Evergreen, where Eric has them in plentiful supply together with tree stands. They're available both cut and potted.
For something compact, how about these picea at Arnott & Mason?
At Quality Plants as well as real trees, you'll also find trees of a different kind, together with reindeer. Did you know Quality are on Instagram?
And C Best have some artificial trees in different sizes and textures too!
Christmas Tree Decorations
That's where you'll also find baubles in lots of different sizes,shapes and colours, from large...
...to small.
For a Scandi themed Christmas tree, how about these white wooden hearts...
...white metal hearts...
...or white wooden reindeer?
Wreaths
You'll find blue pine wreaths in an assortment of different diameters.
Or if you're going to make yours from scratch, head to one of the sundry suppliers for flat wire wreath rings.
If time is tight, you'll be pleased to know that several wholesalers have ready-made wreaths... such as these designs at Porters Foliage...
...this one below and lots of other wreaths at Zest Flowers...
...and here’s one of the designs at C Best.
Assorted Decorations
Inside at Porters Foliage, the air is heady with the scent of dried fruits and cinnamon. You'll find orange slices, lemon slices, apple slices, grapefruit slices, whole oranges, chillis, lotus heads and solanum. Plus cinnamon sticks in varying lengths.
Natural cones are available in plentiful supply...
...together with metallic...
...snow-dusted...
...and glittered.
To add a different texture to arrangements, how about frosted or waxed fruit?
Pepperberry, in various hues including gold, copper and silver, can be found in abundance. A single sprig looks so effective as a simple napkin decoration.
Or to add fragrance, don't forget star anise!
Artificial Foliage
So, we've looked at fresh foliage, but what about artificial? Check out these painted grass sprays in white, gold and silver at C Best
...where you'll also find frosted eucalyptus...
...cone sprays...
...holly leaf garlands...
...cypress garlands...
...and snowy sophora spray.
Christmas decorations for bouquets & arrangements
Looking to add fragrance to a bouquet? How about these cinnamon scented pine cones on sticks at J H Hart Flowers?
And you'll find them in rose gold, platinum and lots of other colours at several traders.
Look out for cedar roses in different hues...
...plus lotus heads and poppy seed heads.
Animals & Snowmen
Animals are popular again this year, with penguins still flying off the shelves! J H Hart Flowers has a great selection.
And Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without polar bears at Whittingtons. So, here's my annual photo with Ian and his arctic friends. Do pop by their stand and ask him his polar bear joke!
Stag heads, in silver, wood and bronze are very much in demand at Quality Plants!
Plus, of course, there are reindeer and snowmen to be found at several of the wholesalers.
Lighting
Lights of every type and length your heart desires can be found at C Best...
...together with candles.
And if the venue you're working in would prefer not to have naked flames, they have a great range of alternative candles in different sizes.
Accessories
Last, but no means least, are a selection of accessories. The Flower Store (part of Bloomfield) are finding these tealight crowns to be very sought after.
And of course, Oasis spray in every colour you would ever need can be found at Nine Elms...
...plus ribbons too!
So, I hope this special report has given you lots and lots of inspiration for your wreaths, garlands, table decorations, trees, bouquets, window displays and installations for Christmas 2015! Please do ask away below if you have any questions or would like to make any general comments. As always, we'd love to hear from you...
You can view the trading times for the Market over the festive period by clicking here.
P.S. Don't forget that New Covent Garden Flower Market is on Instagram too!
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