One of the most exciting aspects of the floral industry is the incredibly diverse selection of materials we have to choose from. Our growers are constantly introducing new varieties, making our marketplace a very dynamic place. Keeping up with all the possibilities can be daunting. Our Flower Finder is a tool designed to educate and inspire you, the retail florist.
We have included several links to our vendors to help you keep abreast of the possibilities. Think of this area of our site like a palette of colors to dip your brush into — but remember that Mother Nature can be fickle. It’s always best to remain flexible and open minded to ensure that you’re working with the best materials she’s offering at the time you need it.
Sierra Flower Finder
We find that the Sierra Flower Finder excels at organizing the vast world of flowers into a searchable database. Here are some suggestions to maximize this tool:
Think of it as an encyclopedia for the retail florist. Keep in mind that this is primarily a reference tool, and the choices presented here are subject to seasonal considerations. Like tomatoes, each flower has a peak season, so you’ll want to keep your options open when your desired flower is off-peak. However, if it’s available anywhere in the world’s marketplace, in pristine condition and at a reasonable price, we’ll do our best to get it for you. Talk with your salesperson regarding availability or visit our Availability Guide page for detailed information.
Colors may vary. There are many factors that affect the colors of the material you may be considering online. Computer monitors are not always accurate, and the same flower variety can vary slightly depending on the conditions at the farm where it was grown. It’s a good idea to explain these potential variations to your customer. Nobody likes surprises, and keeping expectations realistic is the best way to keep everyone satisfied.
Keep in mind that sometimes there are minimums that we need to meet. Our growers sell flowers in predetermined packs that are often large quantities. If you need just a few stems to round out a look, it may be unrealistic for us to bring in a whole case. We HATE to say no, so give us plenty of notice for these requests — we may be able to sell the rest of the case to other florists. This is a win/win for all of us.
Always give as much notice as possible. We typically suggest ordering special-request materials 3-4 weeks in advance of your delivery date. This gives our flower buyers the best chance to locate what you’re looking for. It also allows us to include your order in our regular deliveries, so you don’t incur special shipping surcharges that are often associated with rush orders.
