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​Why No Roses?
A More Sustainable  “I Love You”
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At Bumble and Iris, we believe love should extend beyond the people in our lives to the planet. That’s why, even for Valentine’s Day, we create bouquets using seasonal, British-grown flowers. Roses are a classic symbol of love, but not one of sustainability.

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Here’s why we choose to work with what’s naturally in season, and why we believe British-grown flowers are the best choice.

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The Hidden Environmental Impact of Roses

​It’s no secret that most of the roses available in the UK come from far beyond our shores. 80% of cut flowers in the UK come via the Netherlands, while a third of the roses imported into the EU are grown in Kenya. These flowers travel thousands of miles, using up considerable resources and generating a significant amount of carbon emissions.

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​To put this into perspective:

  •  A Dutch bouquet with five roses – 32.25kg CO2

  • A Kenyan bouquet with five roses – 31.13kg CO2

  • A British bouquet with locally grown flowers – 3.29kg CO2

  • A locally grown bouquet with 15 outdoor-grown stems – just 1.71kg CO2​

That’s a huge difference—an imported bouquet has a carbon footprint almost ten times higher than one made from British-grown flowers.

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The Real Cost of Imported Flowers

Beyond the carbon emissions, imported flowers have a serious environmental toll:

  • High water usage – Growing flowers in hot, dry countries often requires huge amounts of water, which can be a strain on local water supplies.

  • Energy consumption – Greenhouses are heated with fossil fuels, and flowers are flown across the globe, consuming massive amounts of energy.

  • Pesticide use – Flowers are often dipped / sprayed with a cocktail of chemicals to survive the long journey. The global floriculture industry’s pesticide use is largely unregulated, meaning harmful chemicals are used freely and regularly. But what about the farm workers exposed to these toxic substances daily? Additionally the working conditions, pay and treatment of farm workers  in countries like Kenya are often poorly regulated and far from ideal.

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The Seasonal Disconnect

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Here’s another truth: There’s nothing seasonal about roses in February. In the UK, roses are pruned in late winter, mulched in the spring, and the first blooms don’t appear until late May or June. If we’re lucky, we might get a second bloom in August or September. 

 The reality is, roses are forced into bloom in greenhouses or artificially controlled conditions, completely out of sync with the natural growing season. Rather than working against nature, we’d rather celebrate what’s naturally available in February—British-grown flowers that are fresh, beautiful, and environmentally friendly.

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A More Thoughtful Approach

At Bumble and Iris, we don’t rely on out-of-season imports. Instead, we focus on flowers that are locally grown and in season. For Valentine’s Day, that means using Tulips, Ranunculus, Sweet William, Narcissi, Alstroemeria and Hellebore all bursting with colour and meaning, just perfect for the season of love.

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For Valentines we source our tulips from Smith & Munson, a fifth-generation British flower farm in Lincolnshire. They use innovative hydroponic growing methods and power their greenhouses with solar panels and biomass boilers, ensuring that the flowers you receive are grown in an energy-efficient, sustainable way. Other flowers are sourced from Cornish /British wholesale growers and local small scale growers. 

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The Bigger Picture: Sustainability Isn’t Simple

We’ll be honest: the issue of sustainability in the flower industry isn’t straightforward. It’s a complex web with no simple solution. To boycott imported flowers entirely would risk socio-economic impact in countries like Kenya, where flower farming provides vital income for many communities. Equally, the UK doesn’t have a large enough national supply of cut flowers capable of meeting current demand.

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The British flower growing season doesn’t begin at scale until February, and there’s no reason to fill demand with flowers that aren’t naturally in bloom. Being truly ‘sustainable’ means balancing people, planet, and profit. Continuing consumer demand for flowers that don’t align with the seasons, just isn’t sustainable. Instead, we can resolve to embrace a more mindful approach that values seasonality, local growers, and natural beauty.

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Love That’s Kinder to the Planet

At the end of the day, Valentine’s Day is about showing love. And we believe that love should extend to the planet, too. By choosing a Bumble and Iris bouquet, you’re not just giving someone flowers—you’re giving a gift that’s gentler on the planet, more sustainable, and just as beautiful.

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 Shop our Valentine’s bouquets today—crafted with love, care, and the very best of the British seasons.

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