Ah, the great British summer, how we love it – because even if you can’t rely on the sun, you can rely on brilliant blooms, guaranteed to brighten your day whatever the weather. From classic sunflowers to striking hydrangeas, dainty delphiniums to vibrant gerberas, we’ve rounded up our fave summer flowers in this packed guide, so you can learn what they symbolise, how to care for them and all sorts of other fun stuff.
Caring for a summer bouquet
Before we plunge into the best summer flowers, first a quick lesson on taking care of them. These top tips apply not just to these lovely summer blooms, but most cut flowers – so be sure to remember them!
- Trim the stems 2-3cm before you put them in the vase, cutting at an angle, this helps the stem take up water. If possible use a clean sharp knife or secateurs (not scissors, these can crush rather than cut the stem).
- Fill the vase with plenty of clean water.
- Change the water every few days to help your blooms last longer.
- They might be summer flowers but they won’t thank you for direct sun. Keep your bunch away from windowsills and conservatories.
Need more help on caring for you bouquet when the mercury rises? Check out our guide to caring for flowers in a heatwave.
Types of summer flower
Begonias
Bright fluffy beauties, begonias bloom through the summer in all sorts of colours.
Meaning: peace, harmony
Colours: all sorts! Including bright red, orange, white and pink
When do they flower: June – September
Vase life: up to 10 days
Top care tips for begonias
Just follow the usual care advice (scroll back up!) for these lovely blooms: lots of clean water, no direct sun, trim the stems.
Did you know?
There are over 1000 species of begonia!
Dahlias
The ultimate in elegant beauty, dahlias come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
Meaning: dignity, grace, kindness, a lasting bond
Colours: all sorts! From deep red to soft peach to pale purple.
When do they flower: June – October
Vase life: 7 days
Top care tips for dahlias
Be sure to remove any foliage below the waterline from your dahlias, else it might contaminate the water with bacteria.
Did you know?
In the Netherlands they have a huge parade celebrating the dahlia.
Delphiniums
You can’t beat a classic delphinium, even if the sky isn’t blue, these blooms will be.
Meaning: big heartedness
Colours: generally blue or purple but also come in white and pink
When do they flower: June – October
Vase life: 7 days
Top care tips for delphiniums
Delphiniums are thirsty blooms so keep their water topped up. They’re also poisonous so keep them wash your hands after handling them.
Did you know?
Delphiniums were traditionally used to make blue dyes.
Gerberas
Grown up daisies in gorgeous colours, what’s not to love!
Meaning: innocence, purity, cheerfulness, loyal love
Colours: nearly every colour you can imagine
When do they flower: all through the summer
Vase life: 7-10 days
Top care tips for gerberas
Gerberas like to keep cool so steer well clear of any spots that are too hot or sunny.
Did you know?
Gerberas are heliotropic, they turn to face the sun just like sunflowers.
Roses
Iconic for a reason, we love the sweet smell of roses in summer.
Meaning: love or romance but depends on the colour
Colours: all sorts, but generally red, pink, white and yellow
When do they flower: all through summer
Vase life: 7-14 days
Top care tips for roses
Roses usually come with guard petals (tough petals that protect the flower) carefully pull these off before putting your roses in a vase.
Did you know?
A rose fossil estimated to be 35 million years old was found in China.
Irises
Striking and elegant, irises always make a statement.
Meaning: faith, wisdom, hope
Colours: generally blue or purple but also come in yellow and white
When do they flower: all through summer
Vase life: 3-7 days
Top care tips for irises
Irises are really thirsty so keep a close an eye on their water. And keep them away from cats, they’re toxic to our feline friends.
Did you know?
Irises mark 25 years of marriage.
Stargazer lilies
Their vibrant hot pink makes us feel like we’re on tropical island.
Meaning: wealth, prosperity, abundance
Colours: hot pink and white
When do they flower: all through summer
Vase life: up to 10 days
Top care tips for stargazer lilies
Another one to avoid if you have furry feline friends, these lilies are toxic to cats. And watch out for the pollen it can stain.
Did you know?
These lilies were only developed in the 1970s.
Snapdragons
Gorgeous and safe for hayfever sufferers? Hooray for snapdragons.
Meaning: strength, grace
Colours: a wide variety including pink, purple, red and yellow
When do they flower: all through summer
Vase life: 5-10 days
Top care tips for snapdragons
Snapdragons prefer moderate temperatures, so find them a nice cool spot for all to admire.
Did you know?
Their name comes from the fact the blooms look a little like dragons and their mouths ‘snap’ open when squeezed.
Sunflowers
The epitome of summer, is there a bloom more cheerful?
Meaning: positivity, strength, admiration, loyalty
Colours: classic yellow but also orange and white
When do they flower: all through summer
Vase life: 7-10 days
Top care tips for sunflowers
Sunflowers are especially thirsty (must be those chunky stems) so keep them well topped up.
Did you know?
The record for the tallest sunflowers was set in 2014, it measured in at over 30 foot!
Read more about sunflowers
Hydrangeas
Seriously eye-catching, hydrangeas are perfect for making a statement.
Meaning: vanity, thanks for understanding
Colours: all sorts of shades from white and cream to pink, blue and lilac
When do they flower: all through summer
Vase life: 7-10 days
Top care tips for hydrangeas
Recut their stems every few days to keep them fresher for longer. Remember to use a sharp knife or secateurs!
Did you know?
Hydrangeas are often used to mark a fourth wedding anniversary.
Styling summer flowers
Lose the faded flowers
Keep it simple
Hay fever friendly flowers
Have a streaming nose and eyes left you loathing blooms not loving them? We’re here to fix that. There are plenty of blooms who won’t cause pollen problems, so many in fact we’ve put together a whole list!