The Ultimate Southwest Florida Flower Calendar: A Naples Expert's Guide to Seasonal Blooms

By Emily Limas, Founder & Lead Designer at Grace & Blooms

A Note from Emily

Every time I design with seasonal flowers here in Naples, I feel connected not only to nature but to the community. From Port Royal estates to Pelican Bay clubs, and the quiet moments shared on Old Naples porches.

Whether you’re planning a gala or sending a simple thank-you, I hope this calendar becomes a trusted guide. Flowers are never just decoration. They’re presence, care, and memory all in one.
Every bloom tells a story.

TL;DR

• January-March: Camellias, amaryllis, tulips, orchids. Perfect for winter socials and Valentine’s gifts.
• April-June: Peonies, roses, hydrangeas, ranunculus. Think Mother’s Day brunches and spring weddings.
• July-September: Sunflowers, lilies, hibiscus, orchids, heliconia. Bold tropicals for summer birthdays and outdoor entertaining.
• October-December: Dahlias, chrysanthemums, marigolds, amaryllis, poinsettias. Thanksgiving centerpieces and festive Bonita Springs gatherings.

Naples Tip: In SWFL’s humidity, tropicals like orchids and heliconias are more than just beautiful. They’re practical! Choosing blooms adapted to our subtropical climate ensures they arrive fresh and last through every celebration.

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Introduction

Planning your floral decor or choosing the perfect gift in Naples isn’t like anywhere else. Forget the four traditional seasons you may know. Southwest Florida moves to its own vibrant, subtropical rhythm. Our winters are alive with cool mornings and festive soirées along Fifth Avenue South; our summers brim with tropical energy felt in every lanai and poolside gathering.

Here in Naples, I’ve always found that choosing flowers with the rhythm of our seasons adds meaning to every arrangement. A birthday bouquet in June feels more alive with the bold hues of lilies and hibiscus, while a holiday centerpiece in Port Royal comes to life with camellias and amaryllis.

This guide is designed to help you navigate the year bloom by bloom. With insight into what’s available in our climate, which stems thrive in heat or humidity, and how to select arrangements that resonate with the elegance of Naples living.

Whether you’re planning a Moorings dinner party, selecting a hostess gift, or simply brightening your Old Naples condo, knowing what’s in season gives you both inspiration and confidence.

The Unique Rhythm of Naples: A Florist’s Guide to SWFL Seasons

Unlike the four-season calendars most people know, Naples moves to its own subtropical rhythm. In USDA zones 10a and 10b, the rules change. Flowers here thrive according to two distinct cycles: the “Color Season” and the “Growing Season”.

The Color Season (October to May) is our mild, dry window. It’s the perfect time for delicate, classic blooms like ranunculus, tulips, and peonies. Flowers that wilt in summer but shine in the gentle air of Naples’ high season. This is also when the social calendar peaks: galas, dinner parties, and milestone events that call for lush, garden-style arrangements.

The Growing Season (June to September) brings daily rains, heavy humidity, and bright sun. Rather than a limitation, it’s an invitation to embrace Naples’ tropical identity. Orchids, hibiscus, heliconias, and bougainvillea thrive in these conditions, offering bold forms and vivid color that feel at home in lanai living and poolside entertaining.

Understanding this rhythm is the secret to flowers that last and arrangements that feel authentically Naples.

Each season in Naples offers a unique palette for our designers to explore. Discover our latest bespoke designs, thoughtfully created to celebrate the beauty of what's in bloom right now.

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January – March: Winter into Spring

Winter in Naples is our high season. A time when residents host elegant soirées in Port Royal and gatherings spill out onto terraces in Old Naples. While northern states endure frost, our climate allows for a spectacular range of elegant blooms.

Camellias & Amaryllis

Known as the “winter rose,” camellias bring lush color in shades of pink, white, and red from December through March. Amaryllis, with their sculptural trumpet blooms, remain a favorite for holiday arrangements well into January, lending grandeur to tables along Fifth Avenue South.

Tulips & Hellebores

Tulips, though imported, arrive fresh in this window and bring cheer to birthdays or anniversaries. Hellebores, often called Christmas roses, provide antique charm, pairing beautifully with eucalyptus for understated elegance.

Choosing the perfect flower adds so much meaning to a birthday wish. Discover our designers' favorite birthday blooms and the messages they send in our guide.

Orchids & Other Delights

Orchids. Iconic in Naples thanks to our tropical air thrive year-round, but their delicate white Phalaenopsis varieties feel especially appropriate for winter entertaining.

Other seasonal delights include ranunculus, prized for their dense, romantic petals; anemones, striking with their dark centers against jewel tones; and sweetpeas, fragrant and airy, adding a whimsical finish to luxury bouquets. These flowers, often fleeting in SWFL, make winter arrangements feel especially precious.

• Occasion Spotlight: Christmas dinners with camellias, New Year’s celebrations with tulips and anemones, and Valentine’s Day gestures with ranunculus or orchids. These months are also a time for sympathy arrangements, where amaryllis and orchids convey timeless grace.

Design Idea: Ivory tulips paired with seeded eucalyptus evoke coastal simplicity, while bold red amaryllis with hellebores create the kind of layered richness fit for Artis-Naples gala tables.

April – June: Spring’s Flourish

Spring in Southwest Florida is vibrant. The dry season brings ideal weather for Mother’s Day brunches in Pelican Bay, graduations across Collier County, and countless weddings along our beaches.

Peonies & Roses

This is the time when peonies arrive in their short but spectacular window (late April into May). With ruffled petals and unforgettable fragrance, they embody luxury and romance. Roses, available year-round, reach their stride in spring, carrying timeless meanings of love and devotion.

Choosing the right rose is a beautiful way to make your message truly heartfelt. Find inspiration and discover the perfect sentiment in our guide, Decoding the Classics: The Meaning Behind Roses.

Hydrangeas & Ranunculus

Hydrangeas, with their generous pastel clusters, echo the coastal hues of the Gulf and make a statement in both garden-inspired and formal designs. Ranunculus continue to be available, enhancing bouquets with their layers of texture.

A Note on Special Imports

While most traditional lilacs require a colder climate than ours, we can source specific low-chill varieties as cut flowers. These imported lilacs offer a fleeting touch of classic spring fragrance for truly special arrangements.

Hyacinths also contribute intense fragrance, while delphiniums add striking verticality to larger designs. Zinnias and marigolds bridge spring’s gentleness with summer’s heat, thriving in SWFL’s subtropical transition.

• Occasion Spotlight: Mother’s Day bouquets of peonies and roses, graduation arrangements anchored by ranunculus, or wedding centerpieces of hydrangea and garden roses at the Naples Botanical Garden.
• Local Insight: In Naples, spring entertaining often moves outdoors. Think brunches overlooking Naples Bay or celebrations on Park Shore lanais. Flowers chosen in this season thrive in mild conditions, ensuring both beauty and endurance.

Design Idea: Combine hydrangeas with blush roses for a stately spring arrangement or pair ranunculus with fragrant hyacinths for a light, celebratory bouquet. These arrangements reflect both freshness and sophistication, aligning perfectly with the elegance expected in communities like Coquina Sands and Royal Harbor.

July - September: Summer Radiance

Summer in Naples is bold, humid, and vibrant. And so are the flowers. Tropical stems thrive in our climate, making them the stars of this season.

Orchids & Heliconias

Orchids are beloved across Naples homes, from Bay Colony high-rises to Moorings estates, where they are displayed as both cut flowers and elegant potted gifts. Heliconias, with their dramatic forms, and anthuriums, with their glossy heart-shaped petals, bring architectural flair perfect for poolside entertaining.

Hibiscus & Sunflowers

Hibiscus, an emblematic Florida bloom, flourishes in the heat though it is best used for short-term impact in event decor. Sunflowers add radiance, echoing the brightness of summer skies, while lilies create drama and fragrance.

Zinnias & Hydrangeas

Zinnias and bougainvillea add playful splashes of color. Hydrangeas, surprisingly, tolerate our humidity well and remain favorites for coastal-inspired arrangements.

• Occasion Spotlight: Summer birthdays featuring sunflowers, anniversaries celebrated with lilies, or tropical centerpieces for Marco Island dinner parties.
• Local Insight: While delicate blooms can wilt in our heat, tropicals shine. Arrangements featuring heliconia or orchids not only endure Naples’ humidity but also mirror the lush, coastal lifestyle. They suit everything from casual weekend gatherings to formal lanai dinners.

Design Idea: An arrangement of orchids, anthuriums, and heliconias feels as vibrant as a Naples Pier sunset, while sunflowers mixed with zinnias offer cheerful brightness perfect for family celebrations in Grey Oaks.

October – December: Autumn & Holiday Splendor

Autumn in Naples signals the return of seasonal residents and the beginning of gala season. Communities like Port Royal and Pelican Bay fill with dinner parties, while Fifth Avenue South glows with holiday lights. Flowers during this season reflect the richness of the gatherings they accompany.

Chrysanthemums & Dahlias

Chrysanthemums and marigolds dominate October, their deep golds and burgundies perfect for Thanksgiving tables. Dahlias, with layered elegance, are showstoppers for autumn weddings or milestone anniversaries.

Amaryllis & Poinsettias

Amaryllis returns in late fall, offering dramatic height and bold color, while poinsettias take their traditional place in December décor.

Celosia & Sunflowers

Celosia, with its velvety texture, adds interest to fall palettes, and sunflowers in unique varieties (like Chocolate Sunflowers) extend summer’s brightness into autumn.

• Occasion Spotlight: A Moorings Thanksgiving dinner centerpiece with dahlias and mums, poinsettias to welcome guests in Old Naples condos, or amaryllis paired with evergreens for a Port Royal Club holiday soirée.
• Local Insight: The social calendar swells during these months, with charity galas at The Ritz-Carlton and festive gatherings across Naples’ country clubs. Arrangements designed for this season should mirror that abundance. Layered, textural, and full of warmth.

Design Idea: Combine burgundy dahlias with golden chrysanthemums for a lush autumn arrangement, or pair amaryllis with white lilies for a holiday bouquet that feels both modern and timeless. These seasonal flowers embody gratitude and celebration, perfect for Naples’ most festive months.

Always in Season: The Year-Round Staples of Naples Floral Design

While seasonality creates beauty, some flowers are always available in Southwest Florida, ensuring luxury arrangements year-round. These staples form the backbone of many designs:

• Premium Roses: Long-stemmed or David Austin garden varieties, timeless symbols of love.
• Lilies: Calla and Stargazer lilies provide fragrance and drama.
• Orchids: Always in season, epitomizing Naples’ tropical luxury.
• Eucalyptus: Adds modern texture, fragrance, and silvery-green elegance.
• Premium Carnations: Specialty cultivars in unexpected hues, offering texture and longevity.

These staples ensure that no matter the month, a Grace & Blooms arrangement can be designed with both consistency and artistry. They also give peace of mind that favorite flowers can be incorporated into any occasion, whether a Royal Harbor wedding, a Grey Oaks dinner party, or a Park Shore anniversary celebration.

Closing Thoughts

Flowers tell the story of each season, but they also tell your story. Choosing blooms that align with Naples’ unique subtropical calendar is more than practical. It’s a way to create harmony between nature, occasion, and place. At Grace & Blooms, we design with these rhythms in mind so every arrangement feels both fresh and deeply meaningful.

From January’s camellias to December’s poinsettias, our floral year celebrates the beauty of Naples, Marco Island, and Bonita Springs. Its communities, its gatherings, and its traditions.

If you’d like inspiration delivered straight to your inbox, from seasonal highlights to tips on caring for tropicals in our humidity, join our newsletter. It’s our way of keeping you connected to what’s beautiful and in bloom, all year long.

About the Author

Emily founded Grace & Blooms with the belief that flowers are never just flowers. They’re stories waiting to be told. A mother of five, including Lily and Rose, she finds endless inspiration in family life, where grace and gratitude take root. Supported by her husband, Randy, and their children, she continues to nurture a studio defined by sincerity, excellence, and love in every stem.

Grace & Blooms is an independent floral design studio known across Southwest Florida for its artistry, warmth, and care. Every arrangement reflects a philosophy of Elegant Simplicity: beautiful, intentional, and guided by faith and family.

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