Blooming Calendar: Seasonal Flowers by Month and Country

Nordic countries see minimal outdoor flowering. Greenhouses supply fresh carnations and chrysanthemums year-round, maintaining colour despite winter conditions.

Mediterranean advantages become clear in winter. Spanish and Portuguese gardens yield winter jasmine and fragrant daphne, whilst Italian mimosas prepare for February's festival season.

British gardens offer small miracles — hellebores flowering in deepest winter, earning their Christmas rose reputation. Sheltered spots reveal early snowdrops, proof that life continues beneath frozen ground.

Crocuses carpet Alpine meadows in Switzerland and Austria once February's snow melts, creating purple and yellow displays that signal spring's approach across mountain regions.

Dutch greenhouse activity reaches fever pitch. Millions of tulip bulbs enter forcing houses, preparing for the approaching tourist season.

Cornwall leads Britain's spring charge with early daffodils. Most northern regions still depend on imports to meet flower demand.

Italy capitalises on Mediterranean warmth, producing ranunculus and anemones outdoors. These early harvests reach northern markets when local fields remain dormant.

Irish primroses brave February rain, their yellow blooms dotting hedgerows. Garden centres stock these harbingers of spring for eager customers.

Rising temperatures and increasing daylight transform European landscapes. British and Irish daffodils create golden hillsides that draw tourists and photographers.

German forsythia steals the show before other shrubs awaken. Yellow branches against grey March skies provide welcome colour after monochrome winter.

Dutch tulip fields show first colour, though full glory waits. Early varieties test the waters whilst main crops develop for April's explosion.

Spanish almond orchards turn into pink landscapes for a brief two weeks in March. Meanwhile, Swedish greenhouses satisfy Nordic demand for spring flowers, forcing tulips, freesias and lilies whilst snow still covers the ground.

Europe reaches peak diversity as spring establishes itself everywhere. Dutch tulips achieve their famous striped perfection between mid-March and mid-May, April being optimal.

Ancient British woodlands transform with bluebell carpets. These native flowers create scenes unchanged for centuries, drawing weekend crowds.

Cherry blossoms begin their northward journey from Portuguese orchards. The pink wave crosses France and Germany, reaching Scandinavia by late April.

French gardens burst with activity — peony buds swell, early roses open, bearded irises unfurl. Market stalls overflow with local produce.

Alstroemeria becomes widely available from greenhouses, with these long-lasting blooms supplementing seasonal offerings with reliable colour and value.

France and Britain witness peak peony season from late April through June. May brings the fattest blooms, creating annual excitement in cutting gardens.

Roses commence their marathon flowering season. Portuguese climbers smother walls whilst German hybrid teas begin months of successive blooms.

Eastern Europe showcases lilac collections in Polish and Czech gardens. Scandinavia finally joins the party, long days compensating for cool temperatures.

Mediterranean meadows reach crescendo before summer heat. Spanish fields combine wild poppies with purple echium in natural displays.

Gerbera production increases to meet demand. Greenhouse cultivation ensures consistent quality, whilst outdoor crops add seasonal abundance.

Rose fragrance defines June evenings from English villages to Bulgarian valleys. Peak production coincides with the longest days across Europe.

Northern latitudes maximise their advantages — Swedish sweet peas and Norwegian delphiniums thrive in conditions that would stress Mediterranean plants. Midnight sun creates unusual growing conditions.

The Provence lavender fields show first purple. Full harvest waits for July, but early flowers draw photographers and perfume makers.

June heat slows flower production in Spain and Italy, whilst Norway's cool climate proves perfect for foxgloves. The usual north-south growing advantage reverses.

Sunflower season transforms southern France and northern Italy — fields of gold stretch to horizons, serving both agriculture and tourism.

British sweet peas achieve perfection unique to cool-summer climates. Fragrance and colour intensity surpass anything grown in warmer regions.

Dutch gladioli farms harvest rainbow arrays. Commercial operations time crops precisely for European florist demands.

July sees gerbera cultivation peak across Europe, with outdoor-grown flowers developing richer colours than their greenhouse counterparts.

Belgian and Czech dahlias provide a late-summer spectacle. Dinner-plate varieties and pompom types bridge the gap toward autumn.

Southern Europe's flower production grinds to a halt under extreme heat, yet Scotland celebrates its moment. Heather-covered hillsides turn purple precisely when Mediterranean gardens surrender.

French growers harvest zinnias and cosmos before dawn to preserve quality. German allotment gardens burst with asters and early chrysanthemums.

Temperate Europe sees gardens winding down whilst Mediterranean regions awaken from summer dormancy. Chrysanthemums announce autumn's arrival.

British borders attract butterfly migrations with late-flowering asters. September's nectar sources prove vital for insect populations.

Italian carnation fields return to production as temperatures moderate, and perennials across Mediterranean regions experience their second spring.

Dutch greenhouses ramp up production. Indoor cultivation fills gaps as outdoor flowering declines across northern Europe.

German dahlia displays reach their finale whilst British gardeners coax last roses from bushes. Mild October days between storms extend the season.

Spanish marigold fields blaze orange for Day of the Dead preparations. Cultural traditions drive massive demand for these symbolic flowers.

Portuguese perennials respond to autumn moisture after summer drought. Gardens that looked dead in August burst with renewed life.

Northern Europe abandons outdoor flower production in winter. Greenhouse technology becomes the only source of fresh blooms.

Mediterranean compensation arrives via flowering rosemary hedges. Blue winter blooms appear when northern gardens offer nothing.

British options narrow to winter pansies and occasional hardy mums. Italian and Spanish coasts continue limited carnation harvests.

Outdoor flowering becomes limited to Mediterranean coasts in winter, where Spanish poinsettias grow naturally rather than under glass.

British gardens occasionally produce winter jasmine in mild years, but roses, tulips, and other summer flowers remain absent outdoors.

The December flowers you can buy from florists come mainly from Dutch forcing houses — paperwhites and hyacinths for Christmas markets, plus greenhouse roses, gerberas and lilies that bloom regardless of season.