Winter Flowers in Sydney: Our Seasonal Favourites

We often get asked what our favourite winter flowers are – the ones that really mark the start of the season.

At Little Flowers Sydney, there are a handful we look out for each year. Freesias in tight buds. Sweet peas, when the crops behave. Anemones with their dark centres. Daffodils in all sorts of unexpected shapes and colours. And right at the end, ranunculus – which we wait for every year.

There are other flowers around at this time too – tulips, poppies – they’re technically winter flowers too but they tend to span more than one season, generally starting in Autumn. This is a little showcase of some flowers that start a bit later in the year – generally from June onwards. 

The timing of each flower moves slightly each year depending on weather and growers, so nothing is ever exact. If something you love isn’t available, you can check what’s currently in our seasonal flower delivery Sydney range or sign up to be notified when it’s back.

Freesias (June onwards)

Freesias open slowly, one stem at a time

Freesias are usually one of the first signs things are properly shifting into winter.

They arrive in very tight buds to begin with – sometimes so tight they don’t look like much. And that’s often the way with winter flowers. They open slowly, one flower at a time along the stem, so the bunch changes day by day rather than all at once – we think that’s part of what makes them special.

As they open, the flowers at the bottom will naturally start to fade while new buds further up are still coming through. You can just gently remove any spent flowers and let the rest keep going.

We tend to wait for one particular grower’s crop each year – his are consistently the best. Good stem length, good sized bunches, and they open well. They often come in mixed colours – soft yellows, purples, whites – and occasionally you’ll see double varieties, which feel a bit more layered and full.

They’re a classic flower, and a good safe to start if you’re sending to someone who loves winter flowers. You can find freesia delivery Sydney on our seasonal page (or the back soon section). You can sign up for an alert if they’re not currently available and we’ll let you know as soon as they’re back.

Sweet Peas (June–July, when we’re lucky)

Sweet peas in mixed pink tones, when the crop is right

Sweet peas are a bit less predictable. They’re quite a sensitive crop, so everything has to line up – weather, timing, growing conditions. Some years they’re great, other years they’re harder to come by. Even when they do arrive, stem length can vary, which makes a difference to how we can use them.

That’s why you’ll usually only see them when they’re properly “on.” If the stems are too short or the bunches aren’t fluffy enough, we’ll skip them. When they’re good though, they’re really good – and worth waiting for.

There are usually lots of beautiful colours to choose from, and we’ll work with the grower to select what’s looking best on the day.

They’re a bit looser and more delicate than other winter flowers, so they tend to work best as part of a seasonal flower delivery Sydney bunch rather than in our mixed bouquet.

They don’t always stick around for long, which is part of the appeal, so if you see them run don’t walk!

Anemones (June–July)

Anemones with their signature dark centres

Anemones are one of those flowers that can stop people in their tracks, they have a real wow factor.

They’ve got that dark centre – almost black – which can make the colours around them feel stronger. You’ll usually see them in reds, whites, purples, sometimes pinks, and they’re often quite crisp looking compared to other winter flowers.

They’re a bit responsive too – they close up at night and open again during the day, which is always nice to see.

People often have quite a strong preference with these – either the richer, more jewelled tones or the softer blush colours – so we try to offer both when we can, depending on what’s coming through at the market.

If you’re after something softer, our blush anemone delivery Sydney option leans more classic, while the bright anemones Sydney are a bit bolder.

Anemones are a customer favourite, so they tend to sell out quickly when they’re in.

Daffodils (July onwards)

Daffodils in all sorts of shapes and colours

Daffodils start coming through a little later in the winter, and they’re not always what people expect.

You’ll see the classic yellow ones, of course, but there’s a lot more variety than that. Softer creams, peach tones, frilly centres, different shapes and textures – some with quite structured centres, others a bit looser. We really love the variety.

Jonquils are part of the same family of flowers (Narcissus) and are usually the first to arrive, in June, and then the daffodils follow on with more variation as the season gets going.

Daffodils are one of those flowers where what’s available can change quickly week to week, so we keep a close eye on what’s coming through and choose what looks best at the time. We particularly love the ones with the peachy centres!

If you’re looking to send something a bit brighter, classic daffodil delivery Sydney is usually a good option once the season gets going.

Ranunculus (Late August… just sneaking in)

A lucky dip of ranunculus – colours change, but they’re always good

Ranunculus sit right at the edge of winter.

They usually start appearing towards the end of August – so technically you could call them a spring flower – but we include them here because we spend most of winter waiting for them.

They’re a bit like poppies in the sense that timing matters. Early crops can be a bit skinny, with smaller heads, so we tend to hold off until they’re properly “on.” When they are, the bunches are fuller, the stems are stronger, and overall they’re just more robust.

They start as quite tight buds and then open out into these big, layered heads – hundreds of petals, soft and slightly ruffled. For the flower nerds out there (us included!) they’re really fun to watch open.

You’ll usually see a mix of colours – mottled pinks and peaches, bright oranges and yellows, and sometimes the more unusual varieties like Carnival ranunculus with hardy green centres. Our favourites tend to change from year to year. There’s a lot to choose from, and it can be hard to decide! So we’ll generally ask the grower to make a recommendation based on what colour is looking best on the day.

If you’re waiting for them, it’s worth keeping an eye on ranunculus delivery Sydney – or even signing up for an alert. They’re not around for too long so really nice to enjoy for a few weeks before spring arrives. 

Sending Winter Flowers in Sydney

Once these flowers start coming through, they are sometimes only around for a month or two before they are gone. So we try to keep our finger on the pulse and get our hands on them as soon as they’re looking like great quality.

Because we’re working with what’s in season, availability can shift week to week. Some flowers have a short window, others come and go depending on the crop. That’s why we tend to focus on what’s looking best at the market, rather than trying to offer everything all the time.

If you’re after something specific, the best place to start is our seasonal flower delivery Sydney range. That’s where we list what’s currently available.

If something you’re looking for isn’t there, you can sign up on the product page to be notified when it’s back – you can find the ‘back soon seasonals’ here. 

We also offer same-day delivery across Sydney, so if something is in season, you can usually send it that day.

Winter Flower FAQs

What flowers are in season in winter in Sydney?
Freesias, sweet peas, anemones, daffodils and ranunculus are some of the main winter flowers in Sydney, although timing can vary slightly each year.

Do you offer same-day winter flower delivery in Sydney?
Yes. We offer same-day flower delivery across Sydney for orders placed before 12:45pm, including seasonal flowers when available.

When are ranunculus available in Sydney?
Ranunculus usually arrive towards the end of winter, around August, depending on the season.

When are sweet peas available in Sydney?
Sweet peas typically appear in early to mid-winter, although they can be less predictable due to growing conditions.

What if the flowers I want aren’t available?
You can sign up on the product page to be notified when they return, or browse the seasonal range to see what’s currently available.