The Real Flower Company blog

Glorious Grasses Rob our Farm Manager has trialed at least 30 different types of grass and said that even the varieties which grow easily in the garden are not necessarily good for cutting. After several years he has whittled the selection down to six really good cutting grasses which last well, don’t drop their seed and are good for floral...

Flowery History Though they have been grown in Europe for well over two hundred years, Dahlias are thought to originate in Mexico and are that country’s national flower. Dahlias are believed to have been named by 18th-century Spanish botanist Abbé Cavanille in honor of Andreas Dahl, a Swedish scientist and environmentalist. Petals or Florets? Dahlia florets are often mistakenly called petals...

As we reach the heady height of English flower season, now is the perfect time to begin to dry flowers. Decorations made from dried and preserved flowers are making a come back. A new school of dried flower enthusiasts are reinventing the way we treat dried flowers and modern Christmas decorations and table centrepieces incorporating dried flowers are set to...

Our farm and rose paddock are set within the beautiful green Hampshire countryside, close to the elegant Hinton Ampner house and gardens and not far from both Winchester and Petersfield. Let us take you on a journey behind the scenes to discover what’s been happening on the farm this summer.     Too much of a good thing Despite careful...

The RHS Hampton Court Flower show is the largest in the world. Held in the idyllic riverside location of the gardens of Hampton Court Palace, it is always an event we look forward to within the horticultural calendar. From Farm to Table “We wanted to bring some of the magic of our Hampshire flower farm to Hampton Court this year,”...

Sweet Pea season has sadly come to an end this year and we reflect with ten wonderful facts about these beautiful English flowers. 1. Unique to Us Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) derive their name from the Greek lathyros for pea or pulse, and the Latin odoratus, meaning fragrant. The types of sweet pea we grow in our English flower farm are exclusive...

Created for us by Rowena Scott-Campbell from Grain + Feather We were hooked when we discovered Rowena Scott-Campbell from Grain + Feather’s dreamy Instagram gallery, filled with beautifully styled photographs of tea, cake, flowers and wonderful UK destinations including magical gardens and greenhouses. Rowena is also a passionate baker who takes her inspirations from the seasons. To celebrate British flower...

In a recent study, 88% of people reported that the act of giving flowers made them feel happier.* “We liked the idea, but we also wanted to find out what effect giving flowers had on people for ourselves,” explains The Real Flower Company's managing director, Jane Hamilton. “Our British flowers usually have a superior scent to imported blooms, and we carefully...

Monday 19 June marks the start of British Flowers Week, a campaign launched by New Covent Garden Flower Market to celebrate the wealth and variety of British cut flowers and foliage.   Here at The Real Flower Company, British Flowers Week is close to our heart. Our founder Rosebie Morton started growing her own roses in 1995 because she hated the...

Real Flowers on the Radio The RHS Chelsea Flower Show started with our founder and flower farmer, Rosebie Morton, being interviewed by Chris Evans for BBC Radio 2. “The importance of buying locally grown English and Fairtrade flowers was talked about more than ever at Chelsea this year,” says Hana, our event designer. “People really want to know where their...

Flower Safari The theme for this year’s Chelsea in Bloom competition is Floral Safari, inspired by adventure, discovery, exotic animals, savannahs and jungles. “We’re well known for the scented roses and English flowers from our farms, so when I heard the theme I was immediately excited,” says Catherine, our lead florist. “We have a Fairtrade sister Flower Farm in Kenya...

Floral Safari 10th February As soon as ‘Floral Safari’ is announced as the theme for this year’s Chelsea in Bloom, our event designer Hana Moss grabs her sketchbook, pen and watercolours and sets to work. “The minute I heard about the brief I knew what we should do,” says Hana. “The Real Flower Company is known for our quintessentially English...