September is one of those special months – no matter how old you are, the new school year can feel like a new start. Instead of new school shoes, we are looking ahead to next years flowers buying bulbs for a new Spring show in our gardens or window boxes and new stationary is always welcome at any time of the year.
Despite Autumn being on its way, British flowers are continuing to bloom and are still abundant. Dahlias, Sunflowers, Zinnias, Phlox, Cosmos, Asters, Scabiosa and Roses are all in season and available from flower farms. Supermarkets however seem to only focus on Sunflowers and some have Asters available. We have a long way to go before our beautiful seasonal flowers are available more widely but this is something I am here to change. Watch this space for more information on this project. We need supermarkets on board to achieve our mission of bringing British grown flowers to everyone and making British grown flowers first choice.
In Season This Month
Zinnias
Zinnias offer everything you want in a flower – they can be bold and bright or muted and pale and offer a palette of tones and colours in each bloom. They are a great cut- and-come again flower offering an abundance of cut flowers towards the end of the season when others have peaked AND importantly they are long lasting as a cut flower.
I have only fallen in love with Zinnias in the last couple of years and in particular the zinnias that Michelle from @Floriansbotanical shows on her Instagram. Her favourites are:
- ‘Benary’s Giant’ – Classic, large-flowered, strong stems
- ‘Mazurkia” – Award winning variety with the most unusual cream tipped petals
- ‘Oklahoma Mix’ – Smaller blooms, high productivity, more mildew-resistant
- ‘Queen Lime’ Series – Stunning muted tones, especially in bouquets
- ‘Zinderella Peach’ – Scabiosa-like form, very pretty in arrangements
- Zinnias from Florianbotanical
If you are inspired by her beautiful Zinnias, Michelle has produced a great guide to growing Zinnias. You can read it here
Like Dahlias last month, buying cut Zinnias in shops and online currently takes a real effort so lets lead the way in making this easier for us all. The best way to source Zinnias is from your local flower farm. You can check our Flowers From The Farm but the easiest way is to just do a search for flowers farms near me. They can then tell you where/how you can buy from them.
Where to buy British grown flowers this September
Cut Flower Markets
Pollen Inner-City Flower Market – Sheffield
Pollen. Inner-City Flower Market is a monthly celebration of all things botanical, held on the 3rd Sunday in the month. Their next market is on Sunday 21st September 10AM-4PM and marks their 4th birthday.
Pollen. Inner-City Flower Market brings together local growers, indie florists, makers and plant lovers, all in the heart of Sheffield at the award-winning Grey-to-Green corridor. British flower farmers there includes our friends at The Gatherer Florist and Giddy Kippers Plants. For further information on the market, see here
Chiswick Flower Market – London
Chiswick Flower Market takes place on Sunday 7th September 2025 9am to 4pm on Old Market Place, Chiswick High Road, London, W4 2DR. The entrance to the market is on Linden Gardens (next to Chateau).
Chiswick Flower Market was set up in 2020 and was the first new flower market in London for 150 years! Today, almost all the flowers at Chiswick Flower Market are grown here in the UK and British flower growers/farmers there on the 7th include Stevens of Sibsey, Le Jardin De Fleur, Hook Heath Farm, Bellers Blooms, Dahlia Beach, Holmbush Flowers Ltd, Ivy Primrose, Jazzy Rose Flowers.
The Homegrown Market – West Sussex
The Homegrown Markets September rural Midweek Market is on Thursday 25th September at Chapel Barn, Bolney, RH17 5NE. Open from 9-10am for Trade & 10am-1pm for the general Public it brings together cut flowers from growers all over Sussex. As well as buckets and buckets of freshly cut flowers, plants and garden seedlings are also for sale. You can buy tickets here.
Pick Your Own
Lincolnshire Flower Company in Aubourn (LN5) are holding a number of PYO sessions in September (6,7,13,14,20 ,27th) from 10am-12pm. Tickets must be booked. Ella’s Flower Farm in Wimborne St Giles, Dorset (BH21) offers PYO every Sunday in September at 10am or 2pm. Booking essential. Blooming Green in Maidstone, Kent (ME17) offer PYO on Saturdays (hourly slots from 10am last slot at 1pm in September) until the end of September. Booking essential. The Flower Belt in Helmsley, Yorkshire (YO62) offers PYO in its wildflower field and soon pumpkins.
