Seasonal Flowers in Québec: What's in Bloom and When to Send Them

If you have ever ordered tulips in October and wondered why they looked nothing like the ones you saw at the market in May, you already understand the problem this guide is here to solve. Québec has four real seasons, sometimes what feels like four seasons in one week, and that has a bigger effect on your flowers than most people realize. What grows easily in June is not what grows in December, and knowing the difference helps you pick a gift that actually looks and smells the way you pictured it.

As florists working out of Lachine and delivering across Laval and the greater Montreal area, we get asked some version of "what's actually in season right now" almost every day. So we put together this month by month walk through Québec's growing calendar, along with the occasions each season tends to bring with it. Bookmark it, because you will probably need it again around the holidays. 

Why Seasonal Flowers Actually Matter

It is tempting to think a flower is a flower, but seasonality changes three things that matter to you as the person sending it: freshness, price, and how long the arrangement lasts once it arrives.

Flowers that are in season locally, or at least in season somewhere close by, spend less time in transit. Less time in a truck or a cargo hold means they open more slowly at home, which is the difference between a bouquet that looks great for four days versus one that starts wilting the day after delivery. Out of season stems, on the other hand, are usually flown in from South America or Europe, which pushes the price up and shortens the vase life.

There is also a design reason to care. Seasonal flowers just tend to pair better with the occasion they are marking. A bouquet of peonies and lilacs feels right in late May. The same bouquet in January feels a little out of place, even if the flowers are technically available.

None of this means you can only send tulips in April or poinsettias in December. Our design team blends imported and seasonal stems year round so you are never stuck with a limited palette. But if freshness and value matter to you, and they should, it helps to know what Québec's growing calendar actually looks like.

Spring in Québec: April to June

Spring in Québec arrives late compared to a lot of the rest of Canada, and it arrives unevenly. Depending on the year, the last frost can hold on into early May, so garden centres and local growers do not really open up until things settle down. 

What's blooming: Tulips and daffodils lead the way in April, followed by hyacinths and early ranunculus. By mid to late May, lilacs start showing up all over Lachine and Laval, filling the air with that unmistakable smell that basically announces spring is here to stay. Peonies are the big one everyone waits for, they usually bloom for a short window from late May into mid June, and honestly, that short window is part of why people love them so much.

Occasions that fall here: Easter, Mother's Day in mid May, and the start of graduation season in June. Mother's Day is our busiest week of the spring, hands down, and it is also the week local peonies are at their most unpredictable, so if peonies are non negotiable for you, order early and stay flexible on the exact date.

Good picks for spring gifting:

• Tulip and daffodil mixes for a bright, budget friendly bouquet
• Lilac stems for a fragrant, old fashioned feel
• Peony arrangements for weddings, anniversaries, or Mother's Day
• Ranunculus for a romantic, garden style bouquet

Summer in Québec: June to August

This is the season Québec growers wait for all year. Long daylight hours and warm temperatures push local flower farms into full production, and it shows in the variety available.

What's blooming: Garden roses, dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers, and lavender all hit their stride through July and August. Hydrangeas, both the local garden varieties and the imported ones, are everywhere in bouquets this time of year because they photograph beautifully and hold up well in warm weather when they are properly hydrated.

Occasions that fall here: Summer is wedding season across Québec, no contest. It is also thick with birthdays, anniversaries, and the start of back to school gifts for teachers in late August. Grandparents' Day lands in early September, technically just past summer, but the flowers used for it, dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers, are still summer blooms at their peak.

Good picks for summer gifting:

• Sunflower bouquets for a cheerful, low maintenance gift
• Dahlia arrangements for a bold, textured centerpiece
• Garden rose bouquets for anniversaries and weddings
• Zinnia mixes for bright, budget friendly everyday bouquets

Fall in Québec: September to November

Fall is a longer season here than people expect, and it is one of our favourites to design for. The colour palette shifts toward deep oranges, burgundies, and golds, which pairs naturally with everything happening on the calendar.

What's blooming: Chrysanthemums are the star of Québec autumn, along with late season dahlias, asters, and marigolds. Local growers keep chrysanthemums going well into October, sometimes right up until the first hard frost.

Occasions that fall here: Thanksgiving in mid October, Halloween, and a steady stretch of sympathy and remembrance arrangements as families visit cemeteries and funeral homes through the fall. This is also when we start seeing more corporate and office orders as businesses gear up for year end.

Good picks for fall gifting:

• Chrysanthemum bouquets in warm, autumn tones
• Dahlia and aster mixes for a rich, seasonal look
• Sympathy arrangements with lilies, white roses, and seasonal greenery
• Marigold accents for Thanksgiving centerpieces

Winter in Québec: December to March

Nothing is growing outdoors in a Québec winter, so this is the one season where "seasonal" really means "grown in a greenhouse or imported." That is not a downside though, some of the flowers most associated with the holidays only really work as imported or greenhouse crops in this climate anyway.

What's blooming (or arriving): Poinsettias and amaryllis dominate December, alongside evergreen branches, holly, and pine for wreaths and centerpieces. Imported roses peak around Valentine's Day in February, and greenhouse tulips start showing up again by late February as growers push toward spring.

Occasions that fall here: Christmas, New Year's, and Valentine's Day are the three big ones. Christmas week and the days before Valentine's Day are, without question, our two busiest stretches of the entire year, so ordering a few days ahead makes a real difference in whether you get your first choice of arrangement.

Good picks for winter gifting:

• Poinsettia plants for Christmas home decor
• Amaryllis bulbs or blooms for a striking holiday centerpiece
• Red rose bouquets for Valentine's Day
• Orchid plants for a long lasting winter gift

Québec Flower Season At a Glance

How to Choose Seasonal Flowers for Any Occasion

A few things we tell customers who call the shop unsure of what to order:

Start with the occasion, then let the season narrow it down. If you know you are sending a birthday bouquet in July, sunflowers and garden roses are going to look and smell better, and cost less, than flowers flown in from overseas.

Ask your florist what is actually local this week. Bloom windows shift year to year depending on weather, so what was blooming last May is not a guarantee for this May. A quick call or message to your florist will get you a more accurate answer than any calendar, including this one.

Be flexible with exact varieties around peak weeks. Mother's Day and Valentine's Day put heavy demand on a small window of supply, so the more open you are to substitutions within the same colour family, the better your arrangement will look.

Consider a mixed arrangement if you are ordering out of season. Pairing one or two imported statement flowers with seasonal greenery and filler keeps the cost reasonable while still giving you that out of season bloom you had in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

What flowers are in season in Québec right now?

It depends on the month. Spring brings tulips, daffodils, lilacs, and peonies. Summer brings sunflowers, dahlias, zinnias, and garden roses. Fall is chrysanthemum and aster season. Winter relies mostly on greenhouse grown and imported flowers like poinsettias, amaryllis, and roses. Check the season by season breakdown above for the full list.

When do peonies bloom in Québec?

Peonies typically bloom in Québec from late May through mid June, which is a shorter window than a lot of people expect. Because the bloom period is so brief and weather dependent, we recommend ordering peony arrangements as early as possible, especially around Mother's Day.

Can I still get out of season flowers delivered in Québec?

Yes. Most florists, including Maison Des Fleur Blossomé, carry a mix of local and imported stems year round, so you can order tulips in October or roses in February without any trouble. Out of season flowers usually cost a bit more and may have a slightly shorter vase life since they travel farther to reach you.

What is the best time of year to send flowers in Québec?

There is no single best time, it really depends on the occasion. That said, late spring through summer offers the widest variety of local, fresh cut options at the best value, since that is when Québec's own flower farms are in full production.

Why do flowers cost more in winter in Québec?

Almost nothing grows outdoors in a Québec winter, so most flowers sold between December and March are either greenhouse grown or imported from warmer climates. The added transportation and growing costs are usually passed along in the price, which is why a dozen roses in February tends to cost more than the same bouquet in July.

How far in advance should I order for peak seasons like Valentine's Day or Mother's Day?

We recommend ordering at least three to five days ahead for major occasions like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas. Demand climbs fast during these weeks, and ordering early gives you a much better shot at your first choice of flowers and delivery time.

Looking to send something that matches the season? Browse our current Best Sellers or explore arrangements by Occasion for same-day delivery across Lachine and Laval. Not sure what's freshest this week? Give our team a call at 514-947-0645, we're happy to point you toward whatever is blooming right now.