10 Grocery Store Flowers That Make The Best Arrangements, According To Designers

Your bouquets will all be coming up roses.

We’ve all dreamed of becoming a florist with our own flower shop at some point—it’s a romantic idea, even if it’s not always realistic, right? Luckily, fresh floral arrangements are a breeze to DIY, and you can get the flowers to make them at the same place you get your food: the grocery store. While they may not have all the most exotic varieties, you can expect a solid selection of dependable options florists and stylists love to use in their own work.

Meet the Experts

• Erin Donahue Tice is an artist and textile designer in Austin, Texas.

• Emily Brown is the founder of Emily Lauren Interiors in Austin, Texas.

• Melissa Dale Brooks is an art director and stylist in Austin, Texas.

• Courtlynn Byargeon is the founder of Lovelily Flowers in Austin, Texas.

• Grace Hamlin is the founder of her namesake lifestyle blog.

Tulips

The whimsical nature of tulips makes them an effortless pick for arrangements—all you need is a simple glass vase. “I really appreciate how the stems curve with the weight of the flower, especially as they begin to open, creating a playful, living piece of art,” Brooks says.

Carnations

These simple stems might be the most controversial: carnations. “They get a bad rap, but they’re wonderful filler flowers that come in so many colors and last nearly two weeks,” says Austin, Texas-based artist and textile designer Erin Donahue Tice.

To elevate them, art director and stylist Melissa Dale Brooks in Austin, Texas has a simple trick:

1. Start by peeling back the green casing around the bottom of the bloom where it meets the stem.

2. This allows you to use your fingers to spread the petals out a bit to give the blooms a much fuller look.

3. Try removing the very center petals of a few of the flowers in your arrangement to create a bloom that looks quite similar to a fancy rose for a fraction of the price.

Peonies

Emily Brown, founder of Emily Lauren Interiors in Austin, Texas, loves peonies as the form flowers for formal and playful arrangements alike. Their fluffy petals and vibrant color options stand out amongst the crowd, and they never look like you picked them up at the grocery store.

Hydrangeas

Everyone’s picked up a few bunches of hydrangeas at the grocery store before—they’re timeless, long-lasting, and come in the prettiest hues. “A rustic vase filled with this special flower can instantly add elegance and charm to any place in the home,” says Brooks.

Orchids

The beauty of an orchid (besides the obvious) is its longevity: “My grocery store orchids last an average of 3-5 months without water if they’re given the right amount of sunlight,” Tice says. Its ability to be a statement-making arrangement all by itself is a plus too.

Eucalyptus

These may not be flowers, but they are an arrangement staple for their texture, volume, and value. “There are so many varieties, but all of them seem to have the same generous quality of abundance,” Brooks explains. “Sometimes you just need to bring in a little greenery to add a lot of warmth and life to a space.”

Lilies

Although Courtlynn Byargeon, founder of Lovelily Flowers in Austin, Texas, insists you can’t go wrong, lilies are one of her favorite grocery store flower recs. Despite having only six petals, they’re all stunning—especially together.

Roses

Tice finds that roses can last a long time, and Brown loves them as a bold pop of color. If you’ve ever seen roses that look like they’ve bloomed an extra amount, it’s because they’ve been reflexed, which means the petals are unfolded in order to make them more elevated and voluminous.

Produce

Another unexpected option, but one Grace Hamlin, founder of her namesake lifestyle blog, swears by. “I love mixing fresh fruits and veggies with my grocery store blooms—think citrus, pears, pomegranates, herbs, or even cabbage,” she says. “Whether you nestle them right into the arrangement or have a bowl of lemons right alongside your florals, it’s one of my favorite ways to add interest and even nod to the seasons.”

Baby’s Breath

Brown insists you don’t overlook filler flowers and the delicate texture they can add to an arrangement. The most common kind is baby’s breath, which has also grown in popularity for single-variety arrangements.

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