8 Cut Flower Alternatives to Roses
I don't have anything against roses. 🌹 They're romantic, come in all sorts of colours, are very robust in the garden and you can dry the petals for homemade biodegradable confetti too.
Roses are real beauties and we can’t blame them for dominating the wedding flower scene. The rose is a popular wedding bouquet flower choice for other reasons too:
they’re available in a vast array of colours,
the rose is a flower name that most people know,
they work beautifully alongside other flowers.
However, a large number of roses have come halfway across the world to get to us and to keep many of them lasting, they've been sprayed with and dipped in pesticides.
It's time to look closer to home for cut flowers, and I've noticed recently that there's been a sharp rise in the number of UK flower growers. Some have fields, and some have small plots but no matter the size, it's worth finding one you can 🌸 shop from locally.
The flower world has other flowers hidden up its sleeve… Below are 8 other flowers that create a big impact in bouquets and arrangements. If you’re confident identifying a rose but you’d love to learn more about other flowers full of drama, colour and beautiful petals, scroll down.
So, for a more fresh and local alternative, to keep those air miles down and to help our pollinators out, below are 8 alternative cut flowers that grow in Britain to enjoy at home. It's worth mentioning that roses grow in the UK too and you can have a rose in a pot by the doorstep or in your garden to cut flowers from, but when they aren't flowering or if you'd like some more variety, then the list below will help expand your cut flower enjoyment.
Cosmos
Floaty and ethereal, these are nature's helipads for flying pollinators.
Ranunculus
Layered and luxurious and at a quick glance, often mistaken for roses.
Ranunculus are ruffled bundles of floral goodness and open up to show their full potential. . They grow in the UK so you can grow them at home. They have a similar ruffled and layered look to peonies, but ranunculus burst into bloom earlier in the year so they’re a great peony substitute before peonies show up in May. They’re part of the buttercup family and they last for ages as a cut flower and can keep looking amazing long after 1 week.
Ranunculus, in this bouquet are the white flowers with lots of layered petals.
3. Tulips
You can open the petals up by hand (this is called reflexing) and these suddenly transform into luxurious looking flowers.
4. Dahlias
Pop these in a jug and you've instantly got a country garden look.
Dahlias have an incredible and complex petal structure. They come in star shapes and pompom shapes and one of the most popular ones is the cafe au lait dahlia - it lives up to its name and is full of stunning cappuccino and creamy milk shades.
Dahlias - in this bouquet they’re the big white and bright yellow flowers.
5. Lilies
Very elegant and to me they smell like Mr Kipling Fondant Fancies. Let me know if you like these ones or not.
6. Peonies
It's been heard that some people will book their wedding in May/June just so they can have peonies in season for their wedding flowers.
Not such a hidden flower secret, peonies are understandably one of the most sought after wedding flowers. Their short season and availability makes them allusive. They are a classic full and blowsy flower and open up to be absolutely ginormous.
Peonies, in this bouquet they’re the largest flowers in pink and white.
7. Bearded Iris
My new favourite flowers. They remind me of Victorian stained-glass
8. Hydrangeas
You only need about 3 in a vase and you've got a full arrangement for the coffee table
And there we go, above are the 8 flowers that can be used as an alternative to roses. If you love roses but want to expand on the flower options out there, this guide has given you a head start into the floral varieties that are also incredible and hold their own in bouquets and flower arrangements. In wedding consultations quite a few people say to me: ‘you know what, I’m not a massive fan of roses’, and this is the list of flowers I’ll describe to show the flowers that can be used instead.
Always wanted to make your own wedding bouquet?
This online flower arranging course shows you how to make the flowers for you and the people in your wedding party. Learn to make:
Wedding Bouquets
Buttonholes
Wrist Corsages
Flower Crowns