Late August is one of those in-between weeks at the Sydney flower market. Winter is not quite done, spring is pushing in early, and the buckets by 5am are a mix of both. If you want to know what is actually fresh right now, not what a catalogue says should be, here is where things stand this week.
I am at the market most mornings, so what follows is what I am seeing on the benches, not a seasonal chart. Some of it will be gone in a fortnight. Some of it is only getting started.
What is at its best this week
Ranunculus and anemones are the ones to buy right now. They have been building through winter and they are at their peak, tight layered heads on the ranunculus and that deep inky centre on the anemones. They last a good week in a vase if you change the water every couple of days, and they open slowly, so you get to watch them go from bud to full bloom.
Tulips are still around but they are on their way out. If you buy them now, buy them tight and closed. A tulip that is already open in the bucket has peaked and it will drop within a few days. Bought right, they keep growing in the vase, which catches people off guard when the stems stretch overnight.
Hellebores, the winter rose, are having their last proper run. They are quiet flowers, greens and dusty pinks, and they do not shout. For anyone who finds a lot of arrangements too busy, this is the week for them.
The natives holding the whole month together
If I had to send one thing that will still look good next week, it would be natives. Wattle is everywhere right now and it brings that yellow that reads like spring before spring has actually arrived. Wax flower, kangaroo paw and banksia are all strong at the moment, and they cope with a warm Sydney afternoon far better than anything imported.
Honestly, natives outlast most of the soft spring flowers by about a week in a heated room, which matters more than people think while the heating is still on. They also suit the Northern Beaches. A bunch of natives on a kitchen bench in Manly looks like it belongs there. You can see what we have in at the moment on our Australian natives page.
What is coming in the next few weeks
Blossom branches are starting. Cherry and other flowering branches are just appearing, and they are one of the best value buys of the year because a few stems fill a whole corner of a room. Sweet peas are coming back too, and with those it is the scent that matters, not the look. If you have someone who loves a fragrant bunch, sweet peas are worth waiting the extra week or two for.
Jonquils and the last of the daffodils are finishing, so if you have been meaning to grab some, this is the final call on them. Everything is tilting toward spring now, which means more colour and softer stems arriving week by week.
How to buy well right now
Buy for the week you are in. In this stretch of the year the market moves fast, so the flower that was perfect on Monday can be past it by Friday. If you want something that lasts, lean native. If you want the pretty spring look, ranunculus and anemones are the pick, just plan to enjoy them for about a week rather than two.
If you are not sure what is freshest on the day you need it, that is the easiest thing to leave to us. We buy every morning, so we know what is worth sending and what to skip. You can see the made up arrangements on the shop page, or for something put together around what is best that morning, order through our Manly flower delivery for same day around the Northern Beaches and next day further out.
What Flowers Are in Season Right Now in Sydney
What Flowers Are in Season Right Now in Sydney
Late August is one of those in-between weeks at the Sydney flower market. Winter is not quite done, spring is pushing in early, and the buckets by 5am are a mix of both. If you want to know what is actually fresh right now, not what a catalogue says should be, here is where things stand this week.
I am at the market most mornings, so what follows is what I am seeing on the benches, not a seasonal chart. Some of it will be gone in a fortnight. Some of it is only getting started.
What is at its best this week
Ranunculus and anemones are the ones to buy right now. They have been building through winter and they are at their peak, tight layered heads on the ranunculus and that deep inky centre on the anemones. They last a good week in a vase if you change the water every couple of days, and they open slowly, so you get to watch them go from bud to full bloom.
Tulips are still around but they are on their way out. If you buy them now, buy them tight and closed. A tulip that is already open in the bucket has peaked and it will drop within a few days. Bought right, they keep growing in the vase, which catches people off guard when the stems stretch overnight.
Hellebores, the winter rose, are having their last proper run. They are quiet flowers, greens and dusty pinks, and they do not shout. For anyone who finds a lot of arrangements too busy, this is the week for them.
The natives holding the whole month together
If I had to send one thing that will still look good next week, it would be natives. Wattle is everywhere right now and it brings that yellow that reads like spring before spring has actually arrived. Wax flower, kangaroo paw and banksia are all strong at the moment, and they cope with a warm Sydney afternoon far better than anything imported.
Honestly, natives outlast most of the soft spring flowers by about a week in a heated room, which matters more than people think while the heating is still on. They also suit the Northern Beaches. A bunch of natives on a kitchen bench in Manly looks like it belongs there. You can see what we have in at the moment on our Australian natives page.
What is coming in the next few weeks
Blossom branches are starting. Cherry and other flowering branches are just appearing, and they are one of the best value buys of the year because a few stems fill a whole corner of a room. Sweet peas are coming back too, and with those it is the scent that matters, not the look. If you have someone who loves a fragrant bunch, sweet peas are worth waiting the extra week or two for.
Jonquils and the last of the daffodils are finishing, so if you have been meaning to grab some, this is the final call on them. Everything is tilting toward spring now, which means more colour and softer stems arriving week by week.
How to buy well right now
Buy for the week you are in. In this stretch of the year the market moves fast, so the flower that was perfect on Monday can be past it by Friday. If you want something that lasts, lean native. If you want the pretty spring look, ranunculus and anemones are the pick, just plan to enjoy them for about a week rather than two.
If you are not sure what is freshest on the day you need it, that is the easiest thing to leave to us. We buy every morning, so we know what is worth sending and what to skip. You can see the made up arrangements on the shop page, or for something put together around what is best that morning, order through our Manly flower delivery for same day around the Northern Beaches and next day further out.