Top Tips for Shopping and Arranging with Grocery Store Flowers

The art of selecting flowers at the grocery store transforms an ordinary shopping trip into a delightful experience — elevating a routine visit into the pursuit of beauty . Grocery store or deli flowers are also great in a pinch if you need to bulk up your garden grown flowers or have an unexpected event or guests to host at home.

Store bought flowers can provide an affordable way to enhance your home on a weekly basis with little effort. Below, we’ve pulled together practical tips to help you master the grocery flower aisle — from selecting vibrant seasonal blooms to arranging them with visual interest so they stay fresh and look original without screaming Trader Joes (which, by the way is out favorite flower fix)!

Flowers at a Bodega in New York City

When choosing grocery store flowers, we prioritize local and seasonal flowers

When selecting grocery store flowers, prioritizing locally-sourced blooms offers numerous benefits. Locally grown flowers are suited to the regional climate, resulting in seasonal flowers and longer-lasting arrangements. By choosing local, you support community businesses and enjoy freshly harvested flowers that don't endure long transportation times. Broadly speaking, locally grown flowers often have more sustainable business practices including fair wages, safer working environments and lower environmental impact.

Tulips, Doffodils and Alstroemeria from Trader Joe's Mixed with Garden grown Blooms

Benefits of Choosing Local and Seasonal Flowers:

• Fresher blooms: Local flowers are often cut shortly before being displayed in grocery stores, ensuring maximum freshness.

• Sustainability: Opting for locally-grown flowers reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting blooms over long distances.

• Supporting the local economy: Purchasing from local farms and florists contributes to the economic well-being of your community.

• Unique varieties: Local growers may offer unique flower varieties that adapt well to your region’s climate or just don't travel as well like dahlias in summer

Before purchasing, check the origin of the supermarket bouquets. Labels often indicate whether they're locally sourced and under what conditions. Some labels we look for include: Certified American Grown, New York State Grown & Certified or Bloomcheck and Veriflora®, Florverde®, Rainforest Alliance for flowers grown outside the US.

When you choose seasonal flowers they tend to be fresher, more vibrant, and longer-lasting and will give your arrangement a greater sense of time and place.

In early March, for example, we seek out tulips, hellebores, Hyacinth and daffodils whereas in the summer months peonies, Hydrangea and sunflowers ae excellent picks. We love scouting for affordable Proteas at Trader Joes and often find pincushions and Empress Protea grown in California that can be dried.

What to Look For When Shopping the Plant Aisle

We love to buy whole plants to cut from when looking for interesting grocery store flowers. This has the added benefit of being able to re-plant for future blooms. Top examples include Hellebore plants and Clematis from Trader Joes or Cyclamen from Whole Foods. If you can't find what you're looking for at the grocery store, use your local nursery as a resource for flowering plants or foliage. We love to use Heuchera leaves or viola flowers from nursery plants to add interesting foliage and dainty interest.

Top clippings from plants to include in your flower arrangements:

1. Heuchera

2. Cyclamen

3. Hellebore

4. Philodendrons

5. Ferns

   
   

Incorporate Some Clippings from Your garden

We love to mix whatever we have growing in our garden with grocery store flowers to add interest and disguise that typical pre-packaged look. A few stems can go a long way including, grasses, dried flowers or woody flowering branches or shrubs.

Top commonly grown garden plants to include in your flower arrangements:

1. Grasses

2. Echinacea

3. Flowering trees or shrubs eg dogwood, Hydrangea spirea, your neighbor's lilac

4. Herbs e.g purple basil, chive blossoms, sage

5. Evergreens e.g boxwood, holly

   
   

Tip: Look for Local flower farmers that offer flower CSAs or local U-Picks for the freshest, seasonal flowers.

Be intentional with your chosen Color Palette

Arranging grocery store flowers into a stunning bouquet begins with choosing a color palette. Start by selecting a striking, seasonal focal flower that captivates you. This flower will set the tone for the entire arrangement.

Once you’ve picked your favorite bloom, build around it with coordinating shades. Keeping the color palette simple will give your arrangement a cohesive and elegant look. Grocery stores offer a variety of fresh flowers, so focus on complementing hues rather than a rainbow of colors. Pay attention to veining in the leaves and the colors of flower stems so that you can pick up on that coloring with your other stems. If you're a good shopper you will be a good florist!

Here's a quick example guide to creating a harmonious color palette for your grocery store floral arrangement:

• Focal Flower: Peony

  • Coordinating Shades: Pink, Burgundy, Blush

  • Filler Flowers & Greenery: Wax flower, Eucalyptus, Burgundy Heuchera

• Focal Flower: Yellow Sunflower

  • Coordinating Shades: Light Yellow, Buttercream, Oranges

  • Filler Flowers & Greenery: Wax Flower, Green Foliage, Solidago

• Focal Flower: Purple Iris

  • Coordinating Shades: Lavender, Deep Purple, Yellow to complement the yellow stripe in the Iris

  • Filler Flowers & Greenery: Ferns, Soft Yellow Accents, Alstromeria

Remember to consider the types of greenery you add, as they can enhance the chosen colors or give the arrangement the dreaded ick factor! Opting for a simple yet cohesive palette allows your grocery store bouquet to achieve a professional florist's look.

Avoid Mixed bouquets and Standard Greens

Try to avoid purchasing pre-mixed bouquets that include both focal and filler flowers. Instead, be selective about each and make your own pairings.

When arranging grocery store flowers, your choice of greens can make or break the aesthetic. While it's tempting to grab a bunch of the common eucalyptus or standard tropical grocery store greens, they can instantly downgrade your floral arrangement.

Instead, select less conventional types of greenery to elevate the beauty of your bouquet or cut from interesting plants as suggested above. Better yet, avoid greenery altogether and go full flower! Add in unique elements like hellebores, cyclamen, or even tropicals. Mixing in herbs like rosemary or mint also introduces a fresh, unexpected aroma.

Choosing the Perfect Vase to Complement Your Arrangement

When arranging grocery store flowers, selecting the right vase enhances the beauty and personality of your floral arrangement. Instead of the typical plain glass cylinder vase from the florist, opt for something special that reflects your individuality. An heirloom or vintage vase can set your arrangement apart. Antique bowls or ceramic pots can also add a charming, eclectic touch to your arrangements and hold more stems than a traditional vase.

Consider using a vintage kenzan or flower frog to create a more contemporary design. Having a frog handy makes it so easy to pop in a stem or two plucked from your garden or to create a whole arrangement. The frog spikes help to securely position your flowers and are readily available at craft stores like Michaels or our favorite American made supplier, Floral Genius.

Simple Arrangement Using a Flower Frog with Local Ranunculus. Credit: Cape Lily

Vase Options:

• Vase Type: Vintage Kenzan

  • Characteristics: Elegant, traditional, helps secure flowers effectively

• Vase Type: Antique Bowls

  • Characteristics: Eclectic, offers a personalized touch

• Vase Type: Ceramic Pots

  • Characteristics: Adds character, suitable for rustic or farmhouse styles

Your vase choice should complement the colors and styles of your mixed bouquets, filler flowers, and greenery. Whether placed on a kitchen island or coffee table, the right vase can significantly enhance your floral display, showcasing the flowers as a true focal point of the room.

Maintaining your arrangement for long lasting flowers

Clean Water

When it comes to arranging grocery store flowers, our most obvious guideline is ensuring you use clean water in a clean vase! An impeccably clean vase can significantly impact the longevity of your floral arrangement. To achieve this, wash your vase thoroughly using soap, water, and even a touch of bleach. This step ensures that any lingering bacteria, which can shorten the life of flowers, is eliminated.

A crucial aspect of maintaining fresh flowers is monitoring water levels closely. Replace the water often to keep it clean and rejuvenated. While some may prioritize adding flower food, constantly refreshing the water is even more vital. We don't typically use any additional flower food unless dealing with very thirst woody stems like lilac and hydrangea.

Here's a quick checklist for maintaining clean water for your floral arrangements:

1. Clean Vase: Use soap, water, and bleach to clean.

2. Monitor Water Levels: Check daily to ensure flowers get enough hydration.

3. Replace Water Often: Change water frequently to prevent bacteria buildup.

4. Add Flower Food as Needed: While not necessary, it can enhance flower longevity.

Quick Summary to Arrange Your Grocery Store Flowers at Home:

1. Select stems: Look for ones that are just beginning to bloom. This ensures longevity and vibrant color.

2. Prepare your vase: Clean your vase thoroughly and fill it with cold, clean water. Add flower food to enhance freshness.

3. Choose focal flowers: These are usually larger blooms like roses or peonies that cover a larger surface area

4. Add Filler Flowers: Use smaller flowers like wax flowers to add texture and volume.

By following these tips, you can create beautiful arrangements that mimic those crafted by professional florists. Enhance your home by placing these gorgeous arrangements in an entry way, kitchen island or dining table but always out of direct sunlight.

With a little discernment, you can turn grocery store stems into something that looks more professionally arranged. And remember, there's no need to tell guests they came from Stop + Shop.

Garden flowers mixed with grocery store flowers in a ceramic vessel by ConnorMcGinn Studios