November

As the weather begins to change in November to cooler nights and cloudy days, you may think there are going to be fewer flowers to see. But even in chilly November, there are always flowers to find.

Below is a list of the flowers that may be around during November. As the cold weather sets in, many flowers have died out or gone underground for winter, but you can still see carnations, gypsophila and winter jasmine growing here and there.

Acacia (Mimosa) – Tiny petal-less yellow flowers cover the stems
Aconitum (Monkshood) -  Tall spiky flowers, long lasting but poisonous
Agapanthus (African Lily) – Long lasting, large striking flowers
Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lily) – Very popular and long lasting flowers, often bi-coloured
Amaranthus (Love lies bleeding) – One type (love lies bleeding) has trailing flowers while the other has upright flower heads
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
Arachnis (Spider Orchid) – Long stems with slender petalled and spotted flowers
Astilbe (False Goat’s Beard) – Common as a garden flower, insignificant flowers used mainly as a filler
Banksia (Bottlebrush) – Exotic Protea from Australia, large flower heads made up of masses of tiny flowers
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
Carthamus (Safflower) – Unusual slightly thistle like flowers
Cattleya orchid – Large brightly coloured orchids, usually 1 or 2 per stem
Celosia (Cockscomb) – Different varieties, some with crinkled ‘brain-like’ flowers others with feathery upright plumes
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
Craspedia – Small completely round flower head made up of lots of tiny yellow flowers
Cymbidium Orchid – Striking flowers, which flower profusely with up to 12 flowers on each stem
Cynara (Artichoke) – The flower of the artichoke
Dendrobium orchid (Singapore orchid) – Long lasting orchids with several blooms on each erect stem
Echinacea – Daisy like flowers with backward sloping petals.
Echinops (Globe thistle) – Prickly blue globe shaped flowers
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 flowerheads 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
Forsythia – The shrub commonly grown in our gardens for their springtime flowers
Freesia – Highly popular, highly scented flowers
Genista – Masses of tiny flowers all along the straight leafless stems. Popular filler flower
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
Gomphrena (Globe amaranth) – Small globe shaped flowers which can be easily dried
Gypsophila – Very popular filler flower. New smaller-flowered varieties are now available
Heliconia – Tropical flower with large very dramatic flowerheads. Several different types available
Helenium – Small daisy like flower, with slightly backward facing petals and autumnal colours
Helleborus (Christmas Rose) – Short lived very delicate and subtle flowers
Hyacinth – Popular as a pot plant hyacinth and increasingly popular as a cut flower
Hydrangea – A popular garden shrub with enormous flowerheads. Cultivated hydrangea come in interesting colours
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 flowerheads which resemble a pin cushion. Long lasting
Liatris – Tall poker shaped purple flowers
Lilac – A common shrub and highly popular, strongly scented cut flower
Limonium (Sea Lavender, Statice) – 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 flowerheads 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
Nerine – Leafless stems topped with clusters of delicate flowers
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
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
Skimmia – Popular shrub, sold as a cut flower when in bud
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 flowers
Sunflower (Helianthus) – Striking, large daisy like flowers, usually yellow but more unusual rusty colours are becoming available
Symphoricarpos – Shrub with attractive round berries in pink or white
Tanecetum – A type of chrysanthemum with small button shaped flowers
Trachelium – Masses of tiny flowers create a large flat flowerhead
Tuberose (Polianthes) – Higly 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
Vanda – Usually 6 – 8 blooms per flower stem, The petals often have a marbled appearance
Vuylstekeara – A hybrid orchid, with highly patterned petals