February

 

February is the month of Valentine’s Day and bouquets of red roses are a common sight this time of year. But did you know that there are many other species of flower available in February as well? Wild primroses, crocus and Aubretia can all be found across the UK in February if you know where to look. Despite the chilly weather there are many flowers and plants that will start to emerge this month. See below for a list of flowers which you can find in February:

 

Acacia (Mimosa) – Tiny petal-less yellow flowers cover the stems

Aconitum (Monkshood) – Tall spiky flowers, long lasting but poisonous

Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lily) – Very popular and long lasting flowers, often bi-coloured

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) – Large very striking trumpet shaped flowers, often grown indoors from bulbs

Ammi (Queen Anne’s lace) – Masses of delicate white flowers, ideal as a filler

Anemone (Windflower) – Delicate, papery flowers, available in vibrant and pale colours

Anigozanthus (Kangaroo Paw) – Unusual furry buds with insignificant flowers. Ideal for modern arrangements

Anthurium (Painter’s Palette) – Exotic waxy looking flowers

Aranthera (Scorpion Orchid) – Long lasting orchid with small flowers on upright stems

Asclepias (Milkweed) – Clusters of tiny flowers, ideal as a filler

Aster (Michaelmas daisy) – Popular filler with daisy like flowers on upright stems

Astrantia – Starry mauve or white flowers, slightly unpleasant smell

Arachnis (Spider Orchid) – Long stems with slender petals and spotted flowers

Banksia (Bottlebrush) – Exotic Protea from Australia, large flower heads made up of masses of tiny flowers

Bouvardia – Clusters of small tubular flowers, use with special flower food. Not all colours are available throughout the year

Bupleurum – Insignificant yellow green flowers. Used more as a foliage and as a filler

Marigold (Calendula) – Popular daisy-like flower with a country garden feel

Calla Lily (Zantedeschia, Arum Lily) – Striking single flowers. The coloured varieties are smaller than the white ones, and not all colours are available all year round

Campanula (Canterbury Bells) – Quite large bell shaped flowers, several to a stem

Carnation – Very long lasting. Some new more interesting colours are now available

Carthamus (Safflower) – Unusual slightly thistle like flowers, dries well

Spray Carnation – Long lasting flowers. Some more interesting colours becoming available

Cattleya Orchid – Large brightly coloured orchids, usually 1 or 2 per stem

Cestrum – Dense clusters of flowers at the top of straight stems

Ginger (Alpinia) – Large striking tropical flowers

Waxflower (Chamaelaucium) – Small scented flowers ideal as fillers, sold in bud and in flower

Chrysanthemum – Available as large individual showy blooms, or the spray variety. Very long lasting

Craspedia – Small completely round flower head made up of lots of tiny yellow flowers

Crocosmia – Tall spiky flowers generally known as Montbretia when grown as a garden flower

Cymbidium Orchid – Striking flowers, which flower profusely with up to 12 flowers on each stem

Cynara (Artichoke) – The flower of the artichoke

Delphinium -Tall flower spikes. Also, Larkspur which is a type of delphinium

Dendrobium Orchid (Singapore orchid) – Long lasting orchids with several blooms on each erect stem

Echinacea – Daisy like flowers with backward sloping petals

Eremurus (Foxtail Lily) – Large dramatic flowers, usually yellow or orange, with other colours less commonly available

Eryngium (Sea Holly) – Blue thistle like flowers, sometimes the blue is so intense it is hard to believe they are not dyed

Eucharis (Amazon Lily) – Beautiful slightly downward facing delicate flower heads on tall straight stems

Euphorbia (Spurge) – Graceful curving stems with loads of tiny flowers. Note not all colours are available at the same time, check with your florist

Eupatorium – pretty white small flowers, used as a filler

Forsythia – The shrub commonly grown in our gardens for their springtime flowersFreesia – Highly popular, highly scented flowers

Fritillaria – Exotic looking flowers which hang downwards in a cluster on top of tall straight stems

Genista – Masses of tiny flowers all along the straight leafless stems. Popular filler flower

Gentiana – Long lasting trumpet shaped flowers up straight stems

Gerbera – Large daisy like flowers, a smaller ‘germini’ variety is also available

Gloriosa (Glory Lily) – A very dramatic flower with yellow edged cerise petals. The National Flower of Zimbabwe

Godetia – Several brightly coloured trumpet shaped flowers open up each stem

Gypsophila – Very popular filler flower. New smaller-flowered varieties are now available

Heliconia – Tropical flower with large very dramatic flower heads. Several different types available

Helleborus (Christmas Rose) – Short lived very delicate and subtle flowers

Hyacinth – Popular as a pot plant hyacinth and increasingly popular as a cut flower

Hypericum (St John’s Wort) – Attractive berries rather than flowers make this a very popular filler

Iris – Very popular but short lived flowers

Leucadendron (Safari Sunset) – It is the leaves rather than the flowers which make this popular

Leucospermum (Pincushion Protea) – Large flower heads which resemble a pin cushion. Long lasting

Lily – Available throughout the year, but if you are looking for a particular colour check availability with your florist

Liatris – Tall poker shaped purple flowers

Lilac – A common shrub and highly popular, strongly scented cut flower

Lily of the Valley (Convallaria) – Tiny bell shaped flowers on short stems. Very popular in wedding flowers

Limonium (Sea Lavender) – Popular as a dried flower, all varieties make good fillers, but it can have an unpleasant smell!

Lisianthus (Eustoma) – Popular flowers which open from tightly swirled buds, bi-coloured varieties also available

Lysimachia (Loose Strife) – Arching flower heads on the end of the stems, each made up of a mass of tiny flowers

Moluccella (Bells of Ireland) – Tall stems with a mass of bell shaped flowers

Muscari (Grape hyacinth) – Very small with short stems and clusters of tiny blue flowers

Narcissus (Daffodil) – Needs no description and evokes spring more than any other cut flower

Oncidium orchid (Golden Shower Orchid) – Lots of small yellow flowers along the stem. Miniature hybrids are available in colours other than yellow

Ornithogalum (Chincherinchee) – Fantastically long lasting flower, usually white and less commonly available in yellow

Paphiopedilum orchid (Slipper orchid) – Very large dramatic orchid flowers

Phalaenopsis orchid (Moth Orchid) – Large showy flowers, popular as a pot plant as well as a cut flower especially for weddings

Phlox – English country garden flower. Very popular

Protea – Large exotic flowers with many different varieties

Prunus (Flowering cherry) – Cherry blossom, beautiful delicate flowers on tall straight branches

Ranunculus – Small delicate, papery flowers.

Rose – Needs no description! Almost every colour available except true black or blue

Rudbeckia – Daisy like flower, usually sold without any petals, just the pincushion like centre

Solidago – A popular yellow filler flower

Solidaster – A cross between Solidago and the Aster. Used as a filler

Stephanotis (Wax flower) – Not generally available as a cut flower, but the individual small, waxy, white flowers are often used in bridal work

Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) – Unmistakable large and exotic flowers with blue and orange

(Helianthus) – Striking, large daisy like flowers, usually yellow but more unusual rusty colours are becoming available

Tanecetum – A type of chrysanthemum with small button shaped flowers

Trachelium – Masses of tiny flowers create a large flat flower headTuberose (Polianthes) – Highly scented flowers on tall stems

Tulip – One of the most popular cut flowers in the UK with many different varieties

Veronica (Speedwell) – Delicate flower spikes add contrast to arrangements

Viburnum (Snowballs) – Short lived but increasingly popular. Each flower head is made up of a mass of tiny flowers

Vanda – Usually 6 – 8 blooms per flower stem, the petals often have a marbled appearance

Vuylstekeara – A hybrid orchid, with highly patterned petals

 

(In the left hand column there are a few examples of the flowers in season for the month of February)