Tropical Flowers Come Into Season For Winter Weddings

Although we may not think of winter as peak growing season, there are in fact a large number of wedding flowers which come into season during the winter months. Many warm weather species, such as poinsettia, become widely available around Christmas. Some of the flowers which are widely available for spring weddings first start to come into season in the winter, including:

• Anemone
• Lily
• Ranunculus
• Tulip

Winter flowers tend to be high contrast and pure in color, unlike the dusky tones of fall colors. Bright red, pure white, and forest green are the traditional hues for winter wedding bouquets and centerpieces. The two main winter wedding color schemes are the red, white, and green of Christmas or the icy white “Winter Wonderland” theme. These are some of the stars of the season:

Amaryllis: Available primarily in red and white, these large tropical flowers have a trumpet-like shape which resembles that of a lily. Just as showy as lilies, amaryllis are a favorite plant to force into bloom around Christmas, which makes them an excellent seasonal choice for a winter bride.

Camellia: These lovely round white or pink flowers have more in common in terms of appearance with spring flowers like peonies than the tropical winter blossoms like amaryllis or poinsettia. Perhaps best known as Coco Chanel's signature flower, white camellias would make a beautiful addition to a bouquet of roses.

Hypericum berries: A great filler, hypericum berries are primarily used in red or orange colors, and combine well with almost any winter flowers.

Holly: The forest green leaves and red berries of holly are instantly recognizable as one of the signature decorations of the holiday season. They work very well in combination with other Christmasy flowers in centerpieces, or when used alone to create wonderful wreaths for walls or to decorate the base of hurricane candle centerpieces.

Jasmine: An important flower in Asia, the delicate white blossoms of the jasmine flower add a lovely perfume to bridal bouquets. Due to their daintiness, jasmine flowers are generally used in combination with other larger flowers.

Poinsettia: These red or white tropical flowers are well known symbols of Christmas. Poinsettias are often displayed in potted form, and offer an easy way to quickly decorate large areas, such as a wedding ceremony altar or reception space. Due to their tropical origins, poinsettias are quite vulnerable to the cold, so care should be taken in transporting them in cold climates.