May is such a great month for Wedding Florals. All the goodies that have popped up in early Spring are just starting to taper off, but can still be found fairly easily, especially in areas that have a late last-frost date. Daffodils, hyacinth, tulips, and hellebore are all still popping up from their winter slumber as we transition into warmer temperatures. Some heavy-hitters in floral design are also here—but they’re only here for a good time, not a long time! Peonies and Lilac are two of the most requested wedding flowers, but their time with us is so fleeting—both only blooming for about a month or so. There are so many blooms to choose from, below are just a few of our May faves here at Thursday Floral Co.
Bearded Iris
Holy smokes is the Bearded Iris a cool specimen! In bloom for just about a month, this other-worldly uniquely shaped flower is truly beloved in florist and gardener circles alike. Available in a range of colors, our favorites tend to be the multi-colored varieties like Rasputin, Nice Job, and Rockstar. It’s also one of the few flowers naturally available in black. Because of its fickle nature as a cut flower, and because of its higher cost, we recommend sourcing locally and using in minimalist designs so that its interesting shape can really stand out.
Ranunculus
As is the story with a lot of cut flowers today, Ranunculus can be sourced almost all year round. Unfortunately, this means that these delicate petaled beauties can make a very long and carbon-filled journey across the world. The good news is that they grow incredibly well in the US—especially in temperate Southern California, where there is a slightly extended growing season. Here in Santa Fe, we can source locally in April and May, and they are just the most perfect addition to any design. The ones pictured are grown by Mini Falls Farms in Chimayo, New Mexico.
Corncockle (Agrostemma)
This lesser-known variety is hard to find from flower wholesalers because it doesn’t travel well. Luckily it’s easy to grow, so can often be sourced from local growers. We prefer the white variety as its delicate and airy nature lend itself to grassy, wild, naturalistic designs.
Peonies
We can’t talk about May flowers without mentioning the most requested wedding flower—really the most requested cut flower in general. Known for their extra-large, fluffy blooms, peonies really are a showstopper. As we mentioned before, they’re only available for about a month (unless they’re shipped from the Southern Hemisphere) and make a big impact while they’re here. For Thursday Floral Co, they’re not usually a go-to bloom but we do love the transformation that coral charm peonies make from hot pink to blush to almost white, and the kitschy but cool “fried egg” variety.
Lilac
Talk about a fickle beauty! Lilacs take a lot of care as a cut flower. Their woody stems require extra processing, and they can go from happy and gorgeous to completely wilted in the blink of an eye. But when they’re good, man are they good! In May, Santa Fe is awash in blooming lilac bushes, and Thursday Floral Co even has their own plant to cut from—assuring that these textural and gorgeously scented wonders are super fresh and will last in wedding designs.
Obviously there are SO many more flowers and textures that are in season in May that would be perfect for a modern, wild, unique, and artful wedding. Bupleurum, Orlaya, Stock, Allium, and Poppies are just a few that come to mind. We’ll be back in June with another installment!