What British flowers are in season in May and June?

April 4, 2026

Written by our founder, Sheilagh

Spring is my favourite season. It is a time of transition; when the long, dark and cold days of winter begin to give way to light and warmth once more. The days become longer, the birds begin to sing again, lambs frolic in the fields and flowers burst into colour. It is nature’s “happy new year”.

Our name, May & June, reflects my favourite time of year for flowers, when late spring flows into early summer and my own garden, lit by golden sunlight, feels its most abundant and expressive. In these months, we are blessed with peonies, ranunculus, sweet peas, anemones and roses, each offering beautiful textures, soft movement and delicate scents.

In my practice, I work exclusively with British grown flowers. Flowers grown here and in harmony with the seasons, retain the traits that make them so magical – their fragrance, their character and their beauty.

If you are planning a wedding or special event at this time of year, you will have a wonderful selection of British flowers to choose from. This guide explores some of the most loved and widely used British flowers in season during May and June.

Cornflower

Colours: Vibrant blue, with soft pink and deep purple varieties

Cornflowers are a British native wildflower, known for their star-shaped blooms and striking, vivid blue colour. Though not typically used as a focal flower due to their smaller size, their delicate, ornamental flowers sit on slender stems that move lightly within a floral composition, bringing a gentle sense of movement and a delightful ‘bounce’.

Delphinium

Colours: Soft blues, sky blue, deep indigo, violet, lilac, and white

Delphiniums come into their own in early summer, when their tall spires are filled with layers of open, star-shaped blooms. Their tall stems create height, structure and a sense of rhythm within a floral composition.

We use delphiniums for their colour and presence as much as their form. Their shades of blue and violet feel particularly distinctive in British-grown flowers, adding depth and contrast to a palette while still sitting naturally within a seasonal, garden-led style.

Peonies

Colours: Creamy whites, soft and pastel pinks, blush tones, coral, deep reds, vibrant yellows, and occasional purples

In this country, peonies are in season for just a short window, typically May and June. Big, blousy and beautiful, peonies have become especially popular in recent years, loved for their generous form and soft, romantic feel.

Their full, rounded heads open from tightly furled buds into layers upon layers of petals, creating both volume and scale. This makes them particularly well suited to larger bridal bouquets and wedding installations, where they can be paired with more delicate or textural flowers to create balance.

Ranunculus

Colours: Yellow, orange, white, deep red, plum, coral and just about every pink you can imagine

Ranunculus are a personal favourite and featured in my own wedding bouquet. Each flower head is made up of layers upon layers of paper-like petals, creating a form which is both elegant and intricate. They work beautifully within almost any colour palette, from soft, romantic neutrals to bright, colourful hues. There are also different varieties to love – one of my favourites being butterfly ranunculus whose petals are so delicate they are almost translucent. The versatility of the ranunculus makes them a perfect choice for wedding floral stories, though it is worth noting that they should not be used on cakes or anything edible, as they can be toxic.

Roses

Colours: Soft blushes, creams, whites, apricots, corals, and deep romantic tones such as reds, burgundy and plum

British-grown roses reach their peak in June. This is when they are at their most abundant, beautiful and fragrant. We love British-grown roses for their individuality – no two are exactly the same, each with its own shape and character, bringing an organic quality to our work. Roses bring a sense of depth and romance, adding a timeless quality that works beautifully for weddings but as a symbol of love, they are a natural choice for marking many special events including farewells and funerals.

Scabious

Colours: Soft white, blush pinks, lavender, red, and purple tones

The scabious, another personal favourite, is a British native flower sometimes known as the pincushion flower. Their colour palette ranges from soft whites and delicate pinks through to lavender, red and deeper purple tones. Like the cornflower, these blooms grow on slender, slightly bouncy stems which creates a natural sense of movement within a composition. This light, airy quality makes them especially well suited to wedding flowers, where they bring texture, softness and an organic feel.

Stocks

Colours: Creamy whites, soft blush pinks, lavender, deep pinks, red and purples

Stocks are a beautiful way of introducing colour and variety to a floral story. Like sweetpeas or delphiniums, they are often associated with cottage gardens. They have a soft, nostalgic quality that lends itself well to romantic, fairytale weddings or Bridgerton-inspired aesthetics. Stocks produce clusters of single or double flowers. Double blooms are made up of multiple layers of petals, creating a full, ruffled form. This layered structure gives the flowers a beautiful decorative quality and brings depth and texture to floral designs.

Sweet peas

Colours: Pastels of purple, lilac, pink, white

It is easy to picture these delicate, fluttering blooms in an English country garden, though they are in fact native to Sicily. I love them for their gentle ruffled petals and sweet fragrance but they also bring a lightness and movement that lends itself perfectly to my signature style.

Whether woven through a floral composition or gathered into a bouquet, they create that “just picked” look – loose yet elegant, effortless yet full of charm. Sweet peas are particularly beautiful in bridal bouquets, where their delicate perfume adds to the overall sensory experience.

The beauty of working with British flowers is that they create floral stories which feel expressive, textural and beautiful, whilst also supporting local British growers and being gentler on the environment. Working this days means embracing the individuality of the flowers in front of you and using it to create compositions that are more characterful and alive. Each flower contributes something unique.

If you are planning a wedding or event in May or June and are looking for a sustainable, season-led florist, I would love to hear from you. Please get in touch to discuss your ideas and together we can begin to shape a floral story that reflects your day and the natural beauty of the season.

Cornflower – Photo by Maja Erwinsdotter on Unsplash
Delphinium – By Hay123.5, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Peonies – Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash
Ranunculus – Photo by Zoe Richardson on Unsplash
Roses – Photo by Puck Milder on Unsplash
Scabious – Photo by Nikki Son on Unsplash
Stocks – Photo by gratuit on FreeImages
Sweet peas – Image by Lena Svensson from Pixabay

We are May & June where romantic, enchanting blooms are crafted with quiet care and intention. Each flower is thoughtfully selected for its unique beauty; the gentle curve of a petal, a delightful twist of a stem, or a hue as delicate as watercolour.