European Flowers Make Inroads in Traditional Valentine’s Day Bed of Roses
Red-rose arrangements remain men’s favorite floral picks for Valentine’s Day, but local florists say European flower ensembles are making inroads.
Colorful mixes of Holland-grown tulips, lilies, irises and snap dragons are the latest trend that florists say may have been encouraged by television celebrities such as Oprah and Martha Stewart.
Kent Whitnah, owner of Capitol Hill Florist, 5809 S Western Ave., said he was surprised earlier this week to have sold about 100 tulip arrangements.
“We wiped our wholesaler out,” he said. More tulips are expected to arrive before today.Valentine’s Day gift
Whitnah said the European-flower hype is driven by the contemporary style they exhibit when arranged in a clear vase with the stems clearly visible.
At Capitol Hill Florist, an arrangement of 20 tulips in a “clear bubble vase” costs about $60. A dozen roses — imported from South America — are about $80.
At Cheever’s Flowers & Gifts, 9409 N May Ave., a dozen roses cost about $75, and an ensemble of European flowers begin at about $50, co-owner Tiffany Cheever-Lechus said.
“It’s a very romantic look, having simple tulips in a vase. Martha Stewart set it off,” Cheever-Lechus said.
Charlotte Brandt, co-owner of Brandt’s Flowers, 430 NW 10, said European-mix bouquets have become popular because of their uniqueness.
Several years ago, carnations, daisies and roses were the hype. Now, it’s roses mixed with snap dragons, lilies and tulips, which often cost less than an arrangement of a dozen roses — about $50 compared to $75, Brandt said.
Porter’s Flower Shop & Nursery, 4132 NW 39, offers about the same prices for European ensembles, which co-owner Sandra Porter said she considers a bargain “when you think about where these flowers are grown” and the process it takes to get them to Oklahoma.
“Flowers now come from everywhere in the world. Used to be the tulip quality that you got was just silver bracelets poor. They haven’t been that readily available in this country for that many years,” Porter said.
Perhaps it’s the European flowers’ rarity that has driven customer demand, she said.
“Men — bless their hearts — they know roses. But they have learned there are other things besides roses,” she said.
Tags: silver bracelets, Valentine's Day gift
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