Flowers have a language all of their own. The right bouquet can say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, get well soon, or simply I'm thinking of you — often more eloquently than words. But with so many beautiful blooms to choose from, which flowers do the people of the UK actually reach for most?
At Flowers Online 24 in Arnos Grove, we've spent years hand-tying bouquets for customers across North London, and we know exactly which flowers our neighbours love best. In this guide we count down the 25 most popular flowers in the UK, explaining what makes each one special, when it's in season, and what it says when you send it. Whether you're planning a gift for a friend in Palmers Green or a celebration in Southgate, you'll find plenty of inspiration below.
How Many Types of Flower Are There?
It's estimated that there are more than 400,000 flowering plant species worldwide — an almost unimaginable variety of shape, scent and colour. Of course, only a fraction of these are grown as cut flowers for bouquets, and a smaller number still make up the vast majority of what we send day to day. The 25 below are the blooms British flower-lovers request again and again.
What Makes a Flower Popular?
A few qualities tend to separate the everyday favourites from the rest:
- Vase life — popular cut flowers reward the recipient with days or even weeks of enjoyment.
- Availability — blooms that can be sourced fresh for much of the year are naturally more in demand.
- Meaning — flowers carry symbolism, and the ability to send a heartfelt message adds to their appeal.
- Scent and beauty — fragrance and sheer visual impact make certain flowers irresistible.
The 25 Most Popular Flowers in the UK
Here are Britain's best-loved blooms, counted through from the nation's number one favourite. Each is available in our hand-tied bouquets, subject to season.
1. Rose
The nation's undisputed favourite. Roses carry a message for almost every occasion — red for romance, pink for gratitude, yellow for friendship, and white for sympathy. A dozen long-stemmed red roses remains one of our most requested Arnos Grove deliveries, particularly around Valentine's Day and anniversaries.
2. Tulip
A herald of British spring, tulips bring clean, cheerful colour to any bouquet. They keep growing in the vase, gently arching toward the light, which gives arrangements a lovely relaxed movement. Popular for brightening a friend's kitchen or a get-well gift.
3. Lily
Elegant, fragrant and long-lasting, lilies make a bouquet feel instantly luxurious. Oriental lilies such as 'Stargazer' perfume a whole room, while calla lilies bring sculptural, modern lines. A single stem opens into several blooms, so they offer wonderful value over a week or more.
4. Freesia
Small but mighty on scent, freesias are prized for their sweet, peppery fragrance and delicate funnel-shaped blooms. They come in nearly every colour and add a fresh, feminine note to mixed hand-tied bouquets.
5. Peony
The showstopper of late spring and early summer. Peonies open from tight balls into full, ruffled blooms the size of a saucer. Their brief British season (roughly May to June) makes them all the more special for weddings and milestone gifts.
6. Gerbera
Big, bold and unfailingly happy, gerbera daisies come in vivid oranges, pinks, reds and yellows. They are a go-to for 'thinking of you' and birthday bouquets when you want something cheerful and uncomplicated.
7. Chrysanthemum
Hard-working and exceptionally long-lasting, 'mums' are among the best-value cut flowers you can buy. Spray varieties add texture and fill, while single blooms make a strong statement. In the UK they also carry association with remembrance.
8. Carnation
Long unfairly overlooked, the carnation is enjoying a well-deserved revival. Ruffled, softly scented and remarkably durable in the vase, carnations hold their looks for two weeks or more and layer beautifully into mixed designs.
9. Sunflower
Nothing says late summer like a sunflower. Their sunny faces bring instant warmth and are a favourite for cheering someone up, congratulating a new home, or marking a summer birthday.
10. Hydrangea
One generous hydrangea head fills a bouquet with soft, cloud-like colour — dusky blue, antique pink or fresh lime green. They bring a romantic, country-garden feel that works for weddings and thank-you gifts alike.
11. Orchid
For sheer sophistication, few flowers match the orchid. Whether as a cut stem or a potted phalaenopsis, orchids read as refined and considered — ideal for a corporate gift or an elegant home.
12. Ranunculus
With rose-like layers of paper-thin petals, ranunculus deliver romance in a compact, tidy bloom. They come in glowing sherbet shades and are a florist's favourite for feminine, garden-style bouquets.
13. Gypsophila
Baby's breath has stepped out of the background and into the spotlight. A cloud of tiny white stars, it works as a delicate filler or, massed on its own, as a soft, dreamy statement bouquet.
14. Alstroemeria
The Peruvian lily is the value champion of the cut-flower world, often lasting two weeks or more. Each stem carries several speckled, lily-like blooms and symbolises friendship and devotion.
15. Iris
Named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, the iris brings deep, velvety blues and purples that few other flowers can match. Its striking form adds height and drama to a mixed arrangement.
16. Daffodil
The first true sign of a North London spring. Cheerful and affordable, British daffodils appear in bunches from late winter and make a wonderfully optimistic seasonal gift.
17. Anemone
Instantly recognisable by its dark centre ringed with jewel-bright petals, the anemone brings striking contrast to a bouquet. It is a cool-season favourite for elegant, contemporary designs.
18. Dahlia
A late-summer and autumn star, dahlias range from neat pompoms to enormous dinner-plate blooms. Their extraordinary variety of colour and form makes them a highlight of seasonal British bouquets.
19. Lisianthus
Often mistaken for a rose or a peony, lisianthus offers ruffled, elegant blooms on graceful stems. It is long-lasting and lends a soft, romantic quality to wedding and celebration flowers.
20. Sweet Pea
Few flowers are as evocative of an English summer as the sweet pea, with its ruffled petals and unmistakable honeyed scent. Delicate and short-lived, it is a fragrant seasonal treat.
21. Snapdragon
Tall, spired antirrhinums add welcome height and a cottage-garden charm to hand-tied bouquets. Their soft columns of colour balance rounder blooms like roses and gerberas.
22. Stocks
Beloved for their clove-like fragrance and dense spikes of ruffled blooms, stocks bring both scent and structure. They are a classic ingredient in scented British country bouquets.
23. Eustoma & Waxflower accents
Textural accents such as waxflower and eucalyptus foliage frame and lift a bouquet. Fragrant eucalyptus in particular has become a signature of the modern, natural hand-tied style.
24. Amaryllis
A dramatic winter bloom, the amaryllis produces enormous trumpet flowers on tall stems. It is a festive favourite for Christmas gifting and grand seasonal displays.
25. Hyacinth
Intensely fragrant and richly coloured, the hyacinth fills a room with scent. As a cut stem or a potted bulb, it is a much-loved gift through late winter and early spring.
Choosing the Right Flowers for the Occasion
With so many gorgeous options, it helps to match the bloom to the moment. Here's a quick florist's shortcut:
- Romance — red roses, peonies, ranunculus and lisianthus.
- Birthdays — gerberas, sunflowers, bright tulips and mixed roses.
- Thank you & congratulations — lilies, hydrangeas, alstroemeria and freesias.
- Sympathy & remembrance — white lilies, chrysanthemums and white roses.
- Seasonal treats — daffodils and hyacinths in spring, sweet peas and dahlias in summer, amaryllis in winter.
Keeping Your Flowers Fresh for Longer
Whichever blooms you choose, a little care goes a long way. Trim 2–3cm from each stem at an angle before arranging, use the flower food we provide, and top up or change the water every couple of days. Keep your bouquet out of direct sunlight, away from radiators, and well clear of the fruit bowl ripening fruit gives off ethylene, which shortens a flower's life. With this simple routine, most of the flowers on this list will look their best for a week or more.
Order Fresh Flowers for Delivery Across North London
Now that you know Britain's best-loved blooms, why not send some? At Flowers Online 24, our Arnos Grove florists hand-tie every bouquet using the freshest flowers of the day and deliver them personally across North London including Southgate, Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, New Southgate, Bounds Green and Wood Green. Order online or call the shop, and we'll do the rest.
Browse our bouquets and book same-day delivery at flowersonline24.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular flower in the UK?
The rose remains the UK's most popular and most requested flower, thanks to its year-round availability, huge range of colours, and its association with love, gratitude and celebration. Roses are consistently our best-selling stem for deliveries across North London.
Which flowers last the longest in a vase?
Chrysanthemums, carnations and alstroemeria are the champions, regularly staying fresh for two weeks or more with a little care. Lilies and orchids also offer excellent longevity. To get the most from any bouquet, trim the stems at an angle, change the water every couple of days, and keep the flowers away from direct heat, sunlight and ripening fruit.
What are the best flowers to send for a birthday?
Bright, cheerful blooms such as gerberas, sunflowers, tulips and mixed roses make wonderful birthday flowers. If you know the recipient's favourite colour, we can build a hand-tied bouquet around it. For a milestone birthday, a more luxurious mix of roses, lilies and peonies (in season) makes a memorable gift.
Are the flowers on your website seasonal?
Some of the 25 flowers above are available all year, while others — such as peonies, sweet peas, British daffodils and dahlias — have a shorter natural season. Our florists always work with the freshest blooms available on the day, so if a particular flower is out of season we will suggest a beautiful, comparable alternative.
Do you deliver flowers across North London?
Yes. Based in Arnos Grove, we offer same-day and next-day hand-delivery throughout North London, including Southgate, Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, New Southgate, Bounds Green, Wood Green and the surrounding N postcodes. Because every bouquet is delivered by hand from our shop, we cannot currently deliver beyond the North London area — which means your flowers arrive fresh and beautifully presented, not boxed through the post.
Can I choose a specific flower for my bouquet?
Absolutely. If you have a favourite from this list — or a flower with special meaning for the recipient — just let us know when you order and our florists will do their best to feature it. For weddings and larger orders, we recommend getting in touch in advance so we can source exactly what you have in mind.