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Australian natives are stepping further into the spotlight, with growers and florists increasingly exploring flowers that offer something beyond the traditional rose, carnation or chrysanthemum.
In March, ABC reported growing demand for unusual Australian blooms, including Sturt’s desert pea, a notoriously difficult flower that growers on the NSW coast are now working to produce commercially. Growers told ABC that florists are showing increasing interest in unusual, seasonal flowers that haven't traditionally been readily available.
That interest is being reflected across the wider industry.
Earlier this month, WildFlowers Australia held its 11th Australian Wildflower Conference & Expo on the Sunshine Coast, bringing together growers, researchers, florists and other industry stakeholders from across Australia and overseas. The conference focused on production, research, new varieties, innovation and emerging business models within the wildflower industry.
The event also featured a dedicated floral workshop led by Melbourne florist Katie Marx, focusing on natural, textural floral design and the use of native botanicals. Flowers were supplied directly by growers for participants to work with.
Part of the appeal is uniqueness.
Unlike many traditional flowers that can be sourced throughout much of the year, native and wildflower varieties can be highly seasonal and available in limited quantities. One grower told ABC that this restricted supply keeps florists returning to see what's new and what's coming into season.
There's also a growing appetite for Australian-grown flowers.
Industry representatives have pointed to consumers' increasing desire to support Australian growers and local businesses. But there's an important distinction: Australian native doesn't necessarily mean Australian-grown. ABC reported that some native varieties, including kangaroo paw and eucalyptus, are imported, prompting renewed calls for clearer country-of-origin labelling.
For florists, the opportunity isn't necessarily to replace traditional flowers with natives.
It's to offer customers something they can't get everywhere else.
A seasonal native arrangement can give a florist another way to differentiate their range, create a stronger sense of place and tell a story around where a product comes from.
And as more growers experiment with unusual varieties, the range of Australian-grown flowers available to florists could continue to expand.
The takeaway: Keep an eye on what's coming out of Australia's flower farms. The next standout bouquet trend might not be a new colour combination — it could be a flower that's rarely been available before.