Autumn flowers: what to buy from March to May
When the heat finally breaks across Australia, the flower buckets turn to burnt orange, deep red, butter yellow and plum. This guide follows the season from March to May, compares how long each flower lasts at home and matches the right bunch to the right occasion.
A season in three steps
Autumn here is not one uniform stretch. In Darwin it barely registers, in Hobart the leaves turn, and Sydney and Brisbane sit somewhere between. The pattern in the flower shop is still fairly clear: summer leftovers first, then the autumn specialists, then a quieter, woodier finish.
- March
Summer is not quite over, and neither are dahlias, sunflowers, zinnias and gladioli. Big, saturated blooms are still easy to find, which makes March a good month for birthdays and for celebrating a first day of term.
- April
The mood shifts. Asters, rudbeckia and the first serious chrysanthemums arrive, and bunches lean towards copper and wine. Seed heads, grasses and berries start to appear in the wrapping.
- May
Chrysanthemums peak, just in time for Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of the month. Arrangements get sturdier, with heather, hydrangea heads that have aged to dusty rose and green, and woody stems.
Six flowers to look for
Showy for a week, or modest for a fortnight?
Every bunch trades drama against staying power. Dahlias and sunflowers are spectacular but short-lived; chrysanthemums look humbler and simply keep going. Pick according to whether the bunch is for a party this weekend or for a bedside table that needs to stay fresh.
Rough figures for stems cut fresh and kept in clean water indoors. Warm weather shortens them. More in our guide to long-lasting cut flowers.
Matching the bunch to the moment
| Occasion | What to send |
|---|---|
| Mother’s Day | Chrysanthemums in pinks, whites or deep reds - the flower most Australians associate with the day |
| Birthday | Dahlias in a much-loved shade, or a mixed bunch of copper, mustard and plum |
| Housewarming or dinner party | A wide, warm arrangement with grasses and berries that stays tidy for days |
| Thank you | Soft asters with carnations - gentle, lightly scented and long-lasting |
| Anzac Day | Simple chrysanthemums or rudbeckia in a muted palette, with no heavy perfume |
Helpful habits
- Add foliage, grasses and berries for a seasonal look
- Ask for what is in season locally - it tends to arrive fresher
- Lift deep tones with some cream or silvery green
- Top up the vase daily, because warm autumn afternoons can still dry stems out
Best avoided
- A sunny, hot windowsill - a late heatwave will wilt dahlias and sunflowers fast
- Pairing perfumed lilies with delicate autumn flowers, as the scent overpowers them
- Leaving a bunch in a parked car
Order an autumn bunch, hand-tied by a local florist, to any address in Australia.
Browse autumn bunches →Autumn flower questions
What flowers are at their best in an Australian autumn?
Chrysanthemums are the stars of the season, and dahlias and sunflowers carry on from summer in the early weeks. Asters, rudbeckia and rust-toned foliage fill out mixed bunches as the weather cools.
Which autumn flowers keep going longest in the vase?
Chrysanthemums usually win, at two to three weeks. Asters and carnations come next. Dahlias and sunflowers give the biggest show but fade within about a week.
What suits an autumn birthday bouquet?
Choose dahlias in the birthday person’s best-loved shade, or a warm mix of copper, mustard and plum with a few grasses. Sunflowers and rudbeckia suit someone who likes a bright, cheerful bunch.
