When people find out we only use British-grown stems, the first question is usually about availability. What do you do in January? What about when a specific flower is out of season? This is the honest answer, including the parts that are inconvenient.

The original reason was scent

Clara started Foxglove Post because she was frustrated by flowers that had no smell. Most cut flowers sold in the UK, including those from many online florists, are grown in Kenya, Colombia, or the Netherlands and spend several days in cold storage and transit before they reach a customer. By the time they arrive, the volatile compounds that produce scent have largely dissipated. British-grown flowers, cut and posted within 48 hours, smell like flowers.

What British-grown actually means

We work with four named growers: Wren Farm in Herefordshire, Tresco Estate on the Scilly Isles, Grange Flowers in Lincolnshire, and Margaret Holt's plot outside Bridgnorth. We know all of them by name and speak to at least one of them most weeks. None of our stems go through a wholesale market or an auction house. We order directly, they cut to order, we collect or they deliver to the studio.

The honest trade-offs

British-grown means genuinely seasonal availability. In January and February, the range is limited: narcissi from the Scilly Isles, some dried work, early tulips if the weather has been kind. We do not offer roses in January because British roses are not ready in January. Some customers find this frustrating. We think it is the point. The flowers you receive are the flowers that are actually growing right now.

Why it matters for postal flowers specifically

Flowers that have already spent several days in transit before they reach us are not good candidates for posting. They have less vase life left, they are more likely to arrive in poor condition, and they are more likely to have been treated with preservatives that affect scent. British-grown stems that go from field to studio to box in under 48 hours are simply better suited to postal delivery.

What we do in the quiet months

January and February are our quietest months for fresh flowers. We lean into dried arrangements during this period, which we dry ourselves through the autumn. We also use this time to plan the coming season, visit growers, and catch up on the things that get neglected when the studio is busy. It is a natural rhythm and we have come to appreciate it.

If you want to know what is in the studio this week, the shop listing is updated every Monday morning. What is listed is what is actually available.