Best Independent Florists for Valentine’s Day

Not that you should need an excuse to send flowers, but in case you hadn’t heard, Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Even romantics with the best intentions can find themselves googling “flowers near me” the evening before. So, take this as your friendly reminder to get your act together. And yes, you can do better than your local M&S. For something a little bit different, hand-curated by artisans, we’ve selected the best independent florists to use.

Floetica - New Covent Garden

Right in the thick of New Covent Garden, the UK’s premier wholesaler, is boutique flower studio, Floetica. Working with the finest seasonal flowers, Anna, founder and Creative Director of Floetica, creates expressive yet timeless arrangements with a strong focus on proportion, colour and texture. She’s even caught the eye of luxury fashion houses Emilio Pucci and Elie Saab. SPHERE recently visited Floetica’s workshop and we can vouch for its Valentine’s offering. The Regina - a peach-white pastel bouquet with fragrant eucalyptus – and Gabriella - a contemporary interpretation of red, combining velvet red roses with ruffled varieties – are great options. Same-day delivery across London is available on Valentine’s Day for all you last-minute Larrys, however, we recommend collecting directly from the workshop. Anna’s toy poodle, Bruno, is her right-hand man and ensures every bouquet leaves with a wag of approval.

Visit floetica.com

Neil Strain Floral Couture - Belgravia, Harrod's, Mayfair

The concept of floral couture may seem foreign at first, but when you see Neil Strain’s floral arches and bouquets, you’ll get it. With bases in Belgravia, Mayfair and a concession in Harrods, this should be a West Londoner’s first port of call. A classic for a reason, you can never go wrong with a classic red rose. With tall, strong stems (up to 80cm), large, velvety blooms and a delicate fragrance, the red roses are available in displays of 12, 24, 50, or 100.

More information can be found at neillstrain.com

Sage – Peckham

Individuality runs through everything Peckham-based florist, Sage, does. Afterall, owners Romy St Clair and Iona Mathieson had no prior floristry experience before opening. Clearly, creating their own path paid off as the duo now counts the likes of Loewe, Gucci, Prada and Claridge’s as clients. Their Instagram feed is stunning and shows a variety of bunches that play with shape, proportion and unusual varieties. For recipients who’d appreciate something different and intrinsically cool, Sage is a must.

Find out more sageflowers.co.uk

Paul Thomas – Battersea

What started in a small shop in 1989 now has one of the most impressive client lists in London. Counting the Royal Family, The Ritz, Burberry and more as loyalists, Paul Thomas has decorated some of the most glittering parties and weddings of the last three decades. Inspired by the quintessential English garden, the florist has curated a special Valentine’s Day edit. Named after some of Britain’s favourites – like Shakespeare, Byron and Blenheim – the collection celebrates classic romance. Our favourite is “The Brontë” which features a symphony of early spring favourites including pastel-hued anemones and ranunculus. Very fitting given the Wuthering Heights UK cinematic release on 13th February.

Discover the full collection at paulthomasflowers.co.uk

Rebel Rebel – Hackney

A former staple of Mare Street Market, Rebel Rebel has now moved to its new studio just off of Broadway Market. Self-described as “eccentric and innovative” , Rebel Rebel is the epitome of East London cool. This year’s Valentine’s bunches follow somewhat of a regal theme – titled “Drama Queen” and “Queen of Hearts”. The former is a is a wild mix of Red Panther and Peach Expression roses, Icelandic Poppies, Ranunculus, Anemones and Scabiosa with seasonal foliage. The latter features a a sculptural mix of pink Anthurium ‘Candy’, black Calla lilies and red ‘Invictus’ lily.  On the day itself, Rebel Rebel will also be running a pop-up at the Dusty Knuckle, a local sandwich celebrity. We guarantee you’ll get bonus points if you show up with a bouquet in one hand and a focaccia sandwich in the other.

London-wide delivery will also be available. Find out here rebelrebel.co.uk

Petalon – Online Delivery

There are, of course, benefits of ordering your flowers online. Firstly, you’re not constricted by the city limits – one for all the long-distance lovers out there – and secondly, you can feel smug in your organisation. Petalon, in this instance, truly fits the bill. Its ethos is simple: to make seasonal and sustainable flowers more accessible. Grown on a regenerative farm in Cornwall, using 100% renewable energy, it’s a more ethical delivery service. This Valentine’s Day, you can choose from two bunches – the Berry Blush or Apricot Crush. Both pastel, feminine and thoughtfully composed, they arrive beautifully wrapped and ready to charm your loved one.

For further information, follow petalon.co.uk