Tulips, narcissi and flowering branches — a guide to the stems our florists fight over every March.
There is a morning, usually in the first week of March, when the market changes. The air in the flower halls smells green instead of cold, the first French tulips arrive with their impossible long stems, and every florist in the city quietly cancels their plans.
Spring is the shortest season in floristry and the most coveted. Here is what we bring back to the atelier — and what we suggest you live with at home.
French Tulips
Twice the length of standard tulips and twice as expressive, French tulips continue growing in the vase, curving toward light, rearranging themselves nightly. An arrangement of French tulips is never the same two days running. We consider this a feature, not a flaw — flowers that move are flowers that feel alive.
Narcissi & Muscari
The perfume of paperwhite narcissi is spring's first argument against minimalism. We pair them with inky muscari for contrast — porcelain white against deep violet-blue. A small posy by the bedside is enough to change the mood of an entire room.
Flowering Branches
Cherry, quince and magnolia branches are the grand gestures of spring. Cut tall and placed in a heavy vessel, a single armful of blossom branches turns a hallway into an event. They open slowly over ten days — theatre in slow motion.
Our advice for the season: buy less, but buy often. Spring stems are fleeting by nature. Let the vase change weekly, and let the season move through your home the way it moves through the market — quickly, and beautifully.
written by
Camille Laurent
Creative Director · FLEURORA Atelier
