FROM SEED TO VASE: A GLOBAL GUIDE TO FLORISTS WITH THEIR OWN FLOWER FARMS
In an industry where most florists purchase flowers from wholesalers who source from distant farms, a growing number of visionary designers are taking control of the entire process—from seed selection to final arrangement. These florist-farmers represent the ultimate expression of the farm-to-vase philosophy, eliminating intermediaries and creating direct connections between soil and celebration.
Operating your own flower farm as a florist offers unprecedented advantages: complete control over varieties, the ability to harvest at peak perfection, absolute freshness, intimate knowledge of each bloom's characteristics, and the freedom to experiment with unusual varieties that never appear in wholesale markets. It also requires extraordinary dedication—balancing the physical demands of farming with the creative work of design and the logistics of running a business.
This guide explores florists and flower brands around the world who have embraced this dual identity, cultivating their own flowers and translating that agricultural intimacy into exceptional floral design.
NORTH AMERICA
FLORET FLOWERS | Skagit Valley, Washington, USA
Farm Size: 24 acres
Specialty: Heirloom and specialty cut flowers
Founded: 2001
Erin and Chris Benzakein's Floret Flowers began as a small backyard cutting garden and has evolved into one of the most influential flower farms in North America. The farm operates on 24 acres in Washington's fertile Skagit Valley, growing over 600 varieties of cut flowers annually.
FARM OPERATIONS:
Floret's growing practices emphasize soil health and biodiversity. The farm uses extensive composting, cover cropping, and crop rotation. Growing is done in intensive beds with drip irrigation, allowing for high yields on relatively compact acreage. The team plants in succession from early spring through fall, ensuring continuous harvests throughout the growing season.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Dahlias (over 150 varieties, including many rarities)
- Ranunculus and anemones in an extraordinary color range
- Specialty tulips sourced from Dutch breeders
- Heirloom sweet peas bred for fragrance and color
- Japanese lisianthus in unusual forms
- Hellebores and early spring perennials
- Iceland poppies in dramatic colors
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Floret's aesthetic is characterized by romantic abundance—densely packed arrangements that look gathered from an English cutting garden. The designs emphasize texture, movement, and unexpected color combinations, showcasing blooms at various stages from tight bud to full bloom.
BUSINESS MODEL:
While Floret does some event work, the primary business has evolved into education and seeds. The farm hosts intensive workshops teaching flower farming and design, publishes influential books and online courses, and sells seeds of specialty varieties to home gardeners and small farms worldwide. This educational mission has arguably had more impact on the flower farming industry than any other single entity.
SIGNATURE VARIETIES:
Floret has introduced or popularized numerous varieties, including their Café au Lait dahlias, Cloni ranunculus, and Color Shift sweet peas. Their annual seed collections consistently sell out within hours.
SAIPUA | Red Hook & Worlds End, New York, USA
Farm Size: 120 acres
Specialty: Garden-style florals with foraged elements
Founded: 2006
Sarah Ryhanen operates both a Brooklyn flower shop and a 120-acre farm in upstate New York's Hudson Valley. Saipua (Finnish for "soap"—the shop originally sold handmade soaps alongside flowers) pioneered the wild, unstructured aesthetic that has influenced a generation of floral designers.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The Worlds End farm in upstate New York grows on land leased from the Hawthorne Valley Farm, a biodynamic operation. Saipua's growing practices are organic, though not certified, emphasizing soil health and minimal intervention. The farm includes extensive cutting gardens, a greenhouse for early season production, and acres of forageable woodland and meadow.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- David Austin and heirloom garden roses
- Extensive herb collection (sage, mint, rosemary for foliage)
- Clematis and flowering vines
- Peonies (herbaceous and tree varieties)
- Spring flowering branches (quince, cherry, crabapple)
- Unusual foliage (smokebush, ninebark, elderberry)
- Wildflowers and naturalized perennials
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Saipua's signature style appears almost unstyled—trailing vines, flowers at different stages of bloom, unexpected foliage, and a distinct sense that the arrangement was gathered rather than constructed. This aesthetic requires deep knowledge of how each element behaves and ages, understanding that only comes from growing the materials yourself.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The Brooklyn shop serves walk-in retail customers, while the farm supports a high-end wedding business. Saipua is selective about wedding clients, typically accepting only a limited number each season to maintain quality and protect the team from burnout. The farm also hosts intensive floral design workshops that emphasize working with seasonal, local materials.
UNIQUE ASPECTS:
Ryhanen is known for her honest, sometimes raw, discussion of the challenges of farming and floristry—the physical toll, the financial pressures, the emotional labor. This transparency has been refreshing in an industry that often presents only the romantic aspects of the work.
JILL RIZZO STUDIO | Healdsburg, California, USA
Farm Size: Small-scale intensive (exact acreage not public)
Specialty: Farm-to-table floral design with edibles
Founded: 2014
Jill Rizzo's studio and farm in California's Sonoma County wine country fully embodies the farm-to-table philosophy, growing flowers alongside edibles and herbs. Her practice blurs the traditional boundaries between floristry, culinary arts, and agriculture.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The farm operates on organic principles, integrating flowers with fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs. This polyculture approach creates a biodiverse ecosystem that supports beneficial insects and reduces pest pressure. The intensive planting style maximizes production on limited acreage, typical of the high-value agricultural land in Sonoma County.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Culinary herbs doubled as design elements (rosemary, bay laurel, sage)
- Edible flowers (nasturtiums, borage, calendula, violas)
- Fruiting branches (citrus, quince, apple, fig)
- Garden roses, particularly fragrant varieties
- Flowering vegetables (artichoke, kale, wild arugula)
- Native California plants (ceanothus, manzanita, toyon)
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Rizzo's designs are distinctly Californian—organic, abundant, and integrating edible and ornamental plants. Her work for wineries and private estates often incorporates materials that reference the agricultural landscape: grapevines, olive branches, herbs, and flowering vegetables. The arrangements suggest harvest and bounty rather than purely decorative floristry.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The studio focuses on high-end private events, estates, and winery work in Sonoma and Napa counties. Rizzo supplements farm-grown materials with sourcing from neighboring organic farms, creating a network of like-minded growers. She also teaches workshops on farm-to-table design and edible landscaping.
SIGNATURE STYLE:
Arrangements feature unexpected edible elements—flowering artichokes, herbs with roots attached, citrus branches with fruit still attached, vegetables at their flowering stage. This approach creates designs that are both beautiful and tell the story of California's agricultural abundance.
TERRAIN | Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, USA
Farm Size: Integrated into 13-acre garden center campus
Specialty: Seasonal, farm-grown flowers and plants
Founded: 2008 (flower program launched 2012)
Terrain, part of the Urban Outfitters family of brands, operates a unique hybrid model—a lifestyle brand, garden center, and flower farm combined. The Glen Mills, Pennsylvania location includes extensive cutting gardens that supply three Terrain locations with fresh flowers year-round.
FARM OPERATIONS:
Terrain's flower gardens are integrated into the larger retail landscape, allowing customers to see where their flowers originate. The growing operation includes high tunnels for season extension, outdoor cutting beds, and a greenhouse operation. Growing practices emphasize organic methods and seasonal rhythms.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Seasonal annuals in coordinated color palettes
- Flowering branches for spring arrangements
- Dahlias and zinnias for summer-fall production
- Grasses and seed heads for textural interest
- Evergreen foliage for winter arrangements
- Bulb production for early spring flowers
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Terrain's aesthetic is rustic-refined, emphasizing natural beauty with sophisticated execution. Arrangements tend toward generous scale and organic form, using materials that reference the seasons clearly. The design team creates arrangements that feel accessible rather than intimidating, encouraging customers to try arranging flowers themselves.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The retail model is unique in floristry—customers can purchase arrangements made from farm-grown flowers, buy stems to arrange themselves, take workshops, shop for containers and tools, and see the growing operation. Additional Terrain locations in Westport, Connecticut, and Devon, Pennsylvania, receive flowers from the Glen Mills farm.
EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT:
Terrain offers regular workshops on seasonal arranging, wreath-making, container gardening, and flower farming basics. The visible growing operation serves as ongoing education for customers, connecting them to the source of their flowers.
LOVE 'N FRESH FLOWERS | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Farm Partnerships: Works with owned and partner farms
Specialty: American-grown seasonal flowers
Founded: 2006
While Jennie Love doesn't own a traditional farm, her business model represents an innovative approach to farm-to-vase: operating as both designer and aggregator of flowers from small farms across the northeastern United States, while also growing certain specialty crops on contracted land.
FARM OPERATIONS:
Love 'n Fresh maintains growing contracts with farms in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, specifying varieties and harvest standards. This model provides farms with guaranteed buyers while ensuring Love receives the specific materials she needs for design work. The business also operates small growing plots for specialty items not readily available from partner farms.
SPECIALTY CROPS (Grown or Contracted):
- Spring bulbs for early season weddings
- Specialty foliage year-round
- Dahlias in specific color palettes
- Ranunculus and anemones for spring
- Garden roses in summer
- Evergreens and berries for winter
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Love's work demonstrates that exclusively American-grown flowers can create luxury designs. Her aesthetic is sophisticated and color-focused, often using limited palettes to create impact. The designs prove that seasonal availability can guide rather than limit creative vision.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The studio focuses on high-end weddings and events, positioning American-grown flowers as a premium category. Love has been instrumental in advocating for domestic flowers, helping to rebuild the American flower farming industry through her buying practices and educational work.
ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION:
Love founded the Slow Flowers Floral Designer Directory, connecting designers committed to domestic sourcing. She regularly speaks about sustainable floristry, transparent pricing, and the business case for local flowers. Her openness about sourcing and pricing has helped raise professional standards industry-wide.
THE FARMER'S BOUQUET | Asheville, North Carolina, USA
Farm Size: 5 acres
Specialty: Certified organic mountain flowers
Founded: 2012
Kate Larsen's farm and design studio in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina operates as a certified organic flower farm, providing complete transparency about growing practices. The mountain location offers unique growing conditions and regional character.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The farm is certified organic through CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers), one of the few flower farms in the country to maintain certification. Growing happens in both open fields and high tunnels, with extensive season extension allowing for production from March through November in the mountain climate.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Mountain-adapted varieties with strong stems
- Cool-season crops (snapdragons, stock, ranunculus)
- Heat-tolerant summer annuals (celosia, zinnias, sunflowers)
- Unique foliage including mountain laurel and rhododendron
- Specialty dahlias selected for mountain growing conditions
- Native Appalachian plants and wildflowers
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
The Farmer's Bouquet aesthetic reflects the mountain environment—rustic, organic, and featuring materials that reference the surrounding landscape. Designs often incorporate foraged elements from the mountains, creating a strong sense of place.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The business includes a flower CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, providing weekly bouquets to subscribers throughout the season. Wedding and event work focuses on mountain venues. The farm also wholesales to local florists and sells at farmers markets, creating multiple revenue streams.
ORGANIC CERTIFICATION IMPACT:
Maintaining organic certification for flowers (which aren't consumed) represents significant commitment and expense. Larsen uses this certification to educate about pesticide use in conventional floristry and advocate for cleaner growing practices industry-wide.
EUROPE
THE GARDEN GATE FLOWER COMPANY | Lancashire, England
Farm Size: 3 acres
Specialty: British cottage garden flowers
Founded: 2013
Clare Nolan's farm and design studio in Lancashire's countryside grows exclusively British cottage garden flowers, celebrating the romance of English floristry traditions while implementing modern sustainable practices.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The farm operates on organic principles across three acres of intensively planted beds. Growing includes both outdoor production and polytunnels for season extension. The Lancashire climate, with its moderate temperatures and ample rainfall, is ideal for many classic English garden flowers.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- David Austin and heritage roses
- Sweet peas (extensive variety collection)
- Delphiniums and hollyhocks
- English lavender
- Scabious and astrantia
- Flowering herb garden
- Clematis and honeysuckle
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
The aesthetic is romantic and traditionally English—abundant, garden-gathered arrangements that look naturally composed rather than carefully constructed. Designs emphasize fragrance, soft color palettes, and the unique character of English-grown blooms.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The studio focuses on weddings at English country estates and manor houses, with the farm-grown flowers perfectly suited to these romantic venues. The business also offers flower arranging courses and hosts farm visits, connecting customers to the source of their flowers.
BRITISH FLOWER MOVEMENT:
The Garden Gate is active in the British flower farming revival, working with Flowers from the Farm and promoting British-grown stems. This advocacy helps rebuild the UK's nearly-extinct flower farming industry.
COMMON FARM FLOWERS | Somerset, England
Farm Size: 10 acres
Specialty: British seasonal flowers with educational focus
Founded: 2014
Georgie Newbery and her family operate Common Farm Flowers on a 100-acre farm in Somerset, with 10 acres dedicated to flower production. The farm exemplifies the integration of flower growing into traditional mixed farming.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The flower fields are part of a larger working farm that includes sheep grazing, woodlands, and traditional hedgerows. This integrated approach allows for crop rotation, natural fertilization from livestock, and biodiverse habitat. Growing is organic, though not certified, with emphasis on building soil health long-term.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Seasonal British flowers adapted to Somerset climate
- Extensive dahlia collection (40+ varieties)
- Spring bulbs (tulips, narcissus, alliums)
- English garden roses
- Foliage from the farm's hedgerows and woodlands
- Dried flowers and grasses for winter arrangements
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Common Farm's designs are naturally elegant, celebrating the specific character of British-grown flowers. The aesthetic embraces seasonality fully—spring blooms look distinctly different from summer or autumn arrangements, reflecting what grows naturally in each season.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The farm operates a flower CSA called "The Seasonal Flower Bag," delivering weekly bouquets to subscribers. Wedding and event work focuses on venues in southwest England. The farm also wholesales to independent florists committed to British flowers.
EDUCATIONAL IMPACT:
Newbery's book "The Flower Farmer's Year" has become a standard reference for aspiring flower farmers in the UK and beyond. The farm hosts workshops and offers mentorship to new growers, contributing to the revival of British flower farming.
GWINGANNA FLOWERS | Brittany, France
Farm Size: 2 acres
Specialty: French-grown flowers with Celtic influence
Founded: 2015
In Brittany's Celtic region, Gwinganna Flowers operates a small farm and design studio that grows flowers reflecting both French floristry traditions and the rugged coastal landscape of northwestern France.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The farm grows on two acres near the Brittany coast, taking advantage of the maritime climate—mild winters, cool summers, and consistent moisture. Growing practices are organic, with emphasis on soil amendment and hand cultivation. The coastal winds require windbreaks and careful variety selection.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Wind-tolerant varieties with strong stems
- French heirloom roses
- Coastal wildflowers and natives
- Hydrangeas (especially suited to Brittany's climate)
- Sea holly and other architectural plants
- French lavender and herbs
- Celtic-inspired elements (thistles, ferns, heathers)
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
The aesthetic blends French elegance with Celtic wildness—arrangements that are sophisticated yet organic, referencing both refined French floristry and the dramatic Brittany coastline. Designs often incorporate coastal elements like weathered branches and salt-tolerant plants.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The studio serves local weddings and events, particularly venues along the Brittany coast. The farm also operates a small shop in a nearby village, providing walk-in retail and custom orders. Educational workshops focus on coastal flower growing and Celtic-inspired design.
REGIONAL CHARACTER:
Gwinganna represents the growing movement of regional French flower farms, each reflecting their specific terroir—in this case, the unique character of Brittany's maritime climate and Celtic cultural heritage.
BLOMSTERPIGEN | Copenhagen, Denmark
Farm Size: Urban growing spaces plus rural farm plots
Specialty: Scandinavian seasonal flowers
Founded: 2016
Emma Nørregård's Copenhagen-based operation combines urban growing spaces with rural farm plots, creating a hybrid model suited to Denmark's compact geography and the demand for hyper-local flowers in the capital city.
FARM OPERATIONS:
Blomsterpigen ("Flower Girl" in Danish) operates multiple growing locations: rooftop gardens and vacant lot installations in Copenhagen for ultra-fresh daily production, and contracted farm land in rural Zealand for larger-scale growing. This distributed model maximizes freshness while allowing for diverse production.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Icelandic poppies in Nordic colors
- Ranunculus and anemones for spring
- Scandinavian wildflowers and natives
- Dahlias suited to Danish climate
- Flowering branches (particularly cherry and apple)
- Architectural foliage and seed heads
- Native grasses
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
The aesthetic is distinctly Scandinavian—minimal, clean-lined, and emphasizing the individual beauty of each stem. Color palettes tend toward cool tones and monochromatic schemes. The designs embody hygge through their simplicity and organic forms.
BUSINESS MODEL:
Copenhagen retail customers can subscribe to weekly flower deliveries or purchase a la carte. Wedding and event work focuses on Copenhagen venues. The urban growing locations serve as educational spaces, hosting workshops and demonstrating that flower production is possible even in dense cities.
URBAN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION:
Blomsterpigen's use of urban growing spaces represents an innovative approach to farm-to-vase, reducing transportation distance to nearly zero for some products while educating urban residents about flower production.
FEUILLE ET FLEUR | Provence, France
Farm Size: 5 acres
Specialty: Provençal lavender and Mediterranean flowers
Founded: 2017
In the heart of Provence, Feuille et Fleur grows flowers that capture the essence of southern France—lavender, herbs, and sun-loving Mediterranean plants. The farm and design studio cater to the destination wedding market while maintaining local roots.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The farm's five acres in the Luberon region benefit from Provence's famous climate—hot, dry summers; mild winters; and the legendary light that has attracted artists for centuries. Growing is organic, adapted to the Mediterranean environment with drought-tolerant varieties and minimal irrigation.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Multiple lavender varieties (English and French)
- Olive branches and fruiting olive
- Herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano)
- Mediterranean natives (santolina, artemisia)
- Heat-loving annuals (celosia, amaranth, strawflower)
- Roses suited to hot, dry conditions
- Citrus blossom and fruiting branches
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Designs are unmistakably Provençal—warm colors, abundant herbs, and materials that evoke the Mediterranean landscape. Arrangements often feature dried elements, reflecting traditional Provençal crafts. The aesthetic is rustic-elegant, sophisticated yet approachable.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The primary focus is destination weddings at Provençal venues—converted farmhouses, vineyards, and historic estates. The farm also supplies high-end hotels and restaurants in the region. Summer workshops attract international students wanting to learn Provençal floral style.
DRIED FLOWER PRODUCTION:
Feuille et Fleur has significant dried flower production, particularly lavender, allowing for year-round work despite the pronounced seasonality of Mediterranean fresh flower growing.
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
THE FLORAL SOCIETY | Wandin, Victoria, Australia
Farm Size: 2 acres
Specialty: Australian natives and cool-climate flowers
Founded: 2014
Katy Collins' farm in the Yarra Valley outside Melbourne grows flowers that celebrate Australia's unique flora while incorporating international favorites adapted to the Australian climate. The farm-to-vase model allows Collins to showcase varieties rarely seen in Australian wholesale markets.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The Wandin farm's location in the Yarra Valley provides ideal growing conditions—cool nights, moderate days, and sufficient rainfall. Growing practices emphasize soil health and native plant integration. The farm includes both native plantings and annual cutting beds.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Australian natives (protea, kangaroo paw, flannel flowers)
- Native foliage (eucalyptus varieties, banksia, wattle)
- Cool-climate roses
- Seasonal annuals adapted to Australian conditions
- Native grasses and seed heads
- Flowering gum trees and native shrubs
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
The Floral Society's aesthetic boldly mixes Australian natives with international flowers, creating designs that are distinctly Australian yet globally sophisticated. Arrangements often feature the striking forms and textures of native plants—architectural proteas, unique eucalyptus, and dramatic textures.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The studio serves Melbourne's high-end event market while maintaining a strong educational presence. Collins has been instrumental in advocating for Australian-grown flowers, using her platform to challenge the dominance of imported stems. Workshops and farm visits educate customers about Australian flower farming.
AUSTRALIAN FLOWER ADVOCACY:
The Floral Society has been a leader in the Australian slow flower movement, demonstrating that Australian growers can produce world-class flowers while promoting the unique beauty of native Australian flora.
FROG PRINCE FLOWERS | Puhoi, New Zealand
Farm Size: 3 acres
Specialty: Regenerative flower farming
Founded: 2015
Michelle and Chris Boyd operate Frog Prince Flowers on three acres north of Auckland, growing flowers using regenerative agriculture principles that prioritize ecological health alongside production. The farm serves as a model for ecologically sound flower farming.
FARM OPERATIONS:
Frog Prince practices no-dig gardening, extensive mulching, companion planting, and integration with food crops. The farm includes chickens for pest control and fertility, bees for pollination, and native plantings for habitat. Growing is certified organic, with regenerative practices going beyond organic standards.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Flowers interspersed with vegetables and herbs
- New Zealand natives (kowhai, flax, leptospermum)
- Heritage roses and peonies
- Seasonal annuals grown organically
- Edible flowers and herbs
- Native grasses and seed heads
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Arrangements reflect the integrated nature of the farm—mixing flowers with edibles, herbs, and foliage in combinations that reference permaculture design. The aesthetic is abundant and organic, celebrating biodiversity and natural form.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The farm supplies Auckland florists, operates a flower CSA, and handles event work. Wedding designs are popular with environmentally conscious couples wanting flowers that align with their values. The farm also hosts workshops on regenerative farming and ecological design.
REGENERATIVE IMPACT:
Frog Prince demonstrates that flower farming can improve rather than degrade land, building soil, supporting pollinators, and creating habitat while producing commercial crops. This model has inspired other growers to adopt regenerative practices.
BRAMBLE AND BLOOM | Blue Mountains, Australia
Farm Size: 1 acre intensive production
Specialty: Cool-climate cottage garden flowers
Founded: 2016
In the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, Bramble and Bloom grows cottage garden flowers suited to the region's cooler climate and higher elevation. The farm and studio create designs that reflect the mountains' natural beauty and artistic heritage.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The one-acre farm is intensively planted, using small-scale farming techniques to maximize production on limited land. The Blue Mountains climate—cooler and wetter than Sydney—allows for flowers that struggle in coastal areas. Growing is organic with focus on soil building and biodiversity.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Cool-climate roses and peonies
- Cottage garden favorites (foxglove, delphinium, larkspur)
- Australian natives suited to mountain conditions
- Dahlias and seasonal annuals
- Mountain foliage and native ferns
- Flowering branches from the surrounding bushland
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Bramble and Bloom's aesthetic is romantic and painterly, reflecting the Blue Mountains' artistic community. Arrangements are densely packed with varied textures, referencing English cottage gardens while incorporating Australian elements.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The studio serves the Blue Mountains and western Sydney market, particularly the numerous mountain wedding venues. The farm also operates a small retail presence and offers workshops. The business model proves that small-scale intensive farming can support a viable floral design practice.
COMMUNITY INTEGRATION:
Bramble and Bloom is active in the Blue Mountains creative community, collaborating with local artists, participating in mountain festivals, and contributing to the region's reputation as an artistic destination.
ASIA
MIDORI NO SATO | Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Farm Size: 4 acres
Specialty: Japanese seasonal flowers and ikebana materials
Founded: 2013
Midori no Sato ("Green Village") operates a farm and design studio outside Tokyo that grows flowers reflecting Japanese aesthetic principles and seasonal sensibilities. The farm integrates traditional Japanese horticulture with modern flower farming techniques.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The Chiba farm grows across four acres, including greenhouse production for season extension. Growing practices draw on traditional Japanese farming wisdom—careful observation, minimal intervention, and respect for natural rhythms. The farm produces both flowers for arrangements and materials for ikebana practice.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Japanese native flowers (kikyo, nadeshiko, ominaeshi)
- Flowering branches essential to ikebana (plum, cherry, quince)
- Japanese iris and chrysanthemums
- Grasses and foliage for seasonal expression
- Seasonal materials for New Year arrangements
- Native woodland plants and ferns
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Midori no Sato bridges traditional ikebana principles with contemporary floral design—asymmetry, space, seasonal expression, and respect for natural form. Arrangements emphasize the beauty of individual stems rather than mass, with careful attention to line and negative space.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The studio serves Tokyo's high-end event market, particularly corporate events and luxury hotels that value Japanese aesthetic refinement. The farm also supplies materials to ikebana schools and practitioners. Educational workshops teach both traditional and contemporary Japanese flower arts.
CULTURAL PRESERVATION:
By growing traditional Japanese flowers and materials, Midori no Sato preserves horticultural varieties and practices that have been displaced by imported flowers. This work connects contemporary Japanese consumers with their cultural heritage.
HANBIT FLOWER FARM | Jeju Island, South Korea
Farm Size: 6 acres
Specialty: Korean native plants and subtropical flowers
Founded: 2015
On Jeju Island, South Korea's subtropical southern island, Hanbit Flower Farm grows flowers that thrive in the unique climate while celebrating Korean botanical heritage. The farm and design studio serve both local markets and mainland South Korea.
FARM OPERATIONS:
Jeju's volcanic soil and subtropical climate allow for year-round production and varieties impossible on the Korean mainland. The farm uses organic practices suited to the island's environment, including windbreaks against the fierce coastal winds and water harvesting for the dry season.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Korean native plants (bellflowers, wild asters, royal azalea)
- Subtropical flowers (ginger, heliconia, bird of paradise)
- Year-round production of roses and lisianthus
- Camellia (Jeju's provincial flower)
- Hydrangeas (thriving in Jeju's climate)
- Native grasses and foliage
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Hanbit's aesthetic combines Korean minimalist principles with the abundance of Jeju's flora. Arrangements often feature bold forms and limited color palettes, using restraint to emphasize the beauty of individual elements while incorporating the lushness of subtropical plants.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The farm supplies high-end hotels and resorts on Jeju Island, serves the destination wedding market, and ships to mainland South Korea. The island location and unique growing conditions allow Hanbit to offer materials unavailable elsewhere in Korea.
JEJU IDENTITY:
Hanbit celebrates Jeju's distinct identity within Korea—its unique climate, culture, and botanical heritage. The farm contributes to Jeju's reputation as a luxury destination while preserving the island's native flora.
THE BLOOM ROOM | Bangalore, India
Farm Size: 3 acres with plans for expansion
Specialty: Tropical flowers and Indian natives
Founded: 2017
In Karnataka's Bangalore region, The Bloom Room operates one of India's few farm-to-vase flower studios, growing tropical and native flowers suited to southern India's climate. The farm represents an emerging movement in Indian floristry toward locally grown flowers.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The farm near Bangalore grows across three acres with plans to expand. Growing takes advantage of Karnataka's favorable climate—consistent warmth, distinct wet and dry seasons, and elevation providing moderate temperatures. Practices are organic, addressing India's concerns about pesticide use.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Tropical flowers (ginger, heliconia, anthurium)
- Indian native flowers (jasmine, marigold, lotus)
- Roses adapted to Indian climate
- Monsoon-season specialties
- Ornamental foliage including palms and tropical leaves
- Flowering trees and shrubs (frangipani, hibiscus)
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
The Bloom Room blends traditional Indian flower uses (garlands, religious offerings) with contemporary design aesthetics. Arrangements celebrate tropical abundance and vibrant colors while incorporating modern techniques and forms.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The studio serves Bangalore's growing luxury market—weddings, corporate events, and high-end residential. The farm model addresses concerns about flower freshness in India's hot climate, offering same-day harvest and delivery. Educational workshops introduce customers to Indian-grown flowers as premium alternatives to imports.
INDIAN FLOWER FARMING:
India has ancient flower-growing traditions but most commercial cut flowers are now imported. The Bloom Room represents a movement to rebuild domestic flower farming with modern practices while honoring traditional varieties and uses.
LATIN AMERICA
FLOR DE CANA | Oaxaca, Mexico
Farm Size: 5 acres
Specialty: Mexican native flowers and traditional materials
Founded: 2016
In the mountains of Oaxaca, Flor de Cana grows flowers that reflect Mexican botanical heritage and indigenous traditions. The farm and studio create designs that honor Oaxacan craft traditions while meeting contemporary design standards.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The farm's mountain location provides cool nights and warm days ideal for many flowers. Growing is organic, incorporating traditional Oaxacan agricultural wisdom including milpa (companion planting), terracing, and water conservation. The farm works with local communities, sourcing certain materials from indigenous growers.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Mexican native flowers (cempasúchil/marigold, dahlia, cosmos)
- Flowering cacti and succulents
- Traditional materials for Day of the Dead
- Dahlias (which originated in Mexico)
- Zinnias and tagetes varieties
- Native salvias and sages
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Flor de Cana's designs reference Mexican folk art—vibrant colors, abundant materials, and integration of traditional elements like papel picado and woven textiles. Arrangements celebrate Mexican cultural identity while appealing to contemporary aesthetics.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The studio serves Oaxaca's growing tourism and destination wedding market, particularly couples wanting authentic Mexican elements. The farm also supplies materials for Day of the Dead celebrations and traditional festivals. Workshops teach both traditional and contemporary Mexican floral design.
CULTURAL PRESERVATION:
By growing Mexican native flowers and maintaining traditional varieties, Flor de Cana preserves botanical heritage while supporting indigenous communities. The work connects contemporary Mexicans and visitors with pre-Columbian and colonial-era floral traditions.
JARDIM SELVAGEM | São Paulo, Brazil
Farm Size: 4 acres
Specialty: Brazilian tropical and Atlantic Forest natives
Founded: 2018
Outside São Paulo, Jardim Selvagem ("Wild Garden") grows flowers that celebrate Brazil's extraordinary botanical diversity. The farm focuses on Atlantic Forest natives and tropical flowers adapted to southeastern Brazil's climate.
FARM OPERATIONS:
The farm is located in the Atlantic Forest zone, one of the world's most biodiverse regions. Growing practices emphasize conservation—using native plants, avoiding invasive species, and maintaining forest edges for habitat. Organic certification is in process.
SPECIALTY CROPS:
- Atlantic Forest native flowers
- Brazilian tropical plants (heliconia, ginger, protea relatives)
- Native orchids (cultivated, not wild-collected)
- Bromeliad varieties
- Passion flowers and tropical vines
- Native foliage and palm species
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:
Jardim Selvagem's aesthetic is lush and tropical, celebrating Brazilian abundance and biodiversity. Arrangements feature bold forms, vibrant colors, and unusual textures that reflect the Atlantic Forest's character. The designs are contemporary while deeply rooted in Brazilian ecology.
BUSINESS MODEL:
The studio serves São Paulo's luxury market—high-end events, boutique hotels, and environmentally conscious clients. The farm model offers exotic Brazilian materials that cannot be imported due to plant health regulations, creating a unique market position.
CONSERVATION MISSION:
By cultivating Atlantic Forest natives, Jardim Selvagem raises awareness about this critically endangered ecosystem. The farm demonstrates that commercial flower production can support rather than threaten biodiversity, providing economic value to conservation.
