MIAMI — Every year for Mother’s Day, refrigerated cargo planes land at Miami International Airport carrying millions of fresh flowers.

From roses, tulips, or orchids, all these flowers are delivered to local florist shops, grocery shops, and vendors all over the city. While a bouquet of flowers may seem like a simple or last minute gift, the journey they took and where people choose to buy them showcases a much bigger story about the role Miami plays in the global flower trade.

The biggest holiday for floral sales in the United States is Mother’s Day. The consumer demand increases significantly in the weeks leading up. According to the Society of American Florists, a substantial number of Americans buy flowers for this holiday. In Miami, this demand is due to tradition, cost, and convenience.

Accessibility plays a major role in where many shoppers buy their flowers. Grocery store chains like CVS, Walgreens, and Publix provide budget friendly, ready-made bouquets that can be picked up while running daily errands. The flower sales from these stores dominate over the sales made by local florists or online delivery because they specifically cater to last-minute buyers. Another aspect that gives them an edge over the other shops is the low price point of their flowers.

Despite this, local florist shops still flourish. According to WFLA News, independent shops around Coral Gables and Wynwood attract customers that are looking for personalized and higher quality flowers. These shops prioritize unique customization, customer service, and design, which is why they charge at a higher price than grocery store chains.

But Miami’s flower story doesn’t start at the store, it starts thousands of miles away. The majority of flowers sold in the United States are imported. Miami is the biggest gateway for flower imports in the country. According to The New York Times, about 90 percent of all imported flowers pass through the Miami International Airport which makes it an important hub in the flower supply chain.

A majority of this supply comes from Latin America. Colombia accounts for the largest share of imported flowers which is then followed by Ecuador. The low labor costs, established trade routes, and favorable climate in these countries allow them to produce flowers all year. They are then able to export them to the demanding U.S. market. Though the Netherlands accounts for a smaller number in imports, they are essential in the flower trade market due to their flower auction system and logistics network.

This global trade directly affects what types of flowers end up in Miami stores. The most popular choice of flowers for Mother’s Day are roses which are largely imported from Colombia. They are popular due to their availability and symbolism. Other flowers like orchids, tulips, and lilies are popular as well. Orchids particularly are favored due to them fitting in with Miami’s tropical aesthetic. These preferences are shaped by the large supply of them coming from international supply chains and what retailers can stock in big quantities.

To better understand local habits, a brief interview with a Miami resident, Nicolas Puentes, highlighted this divide.

“I bought roses because they are red and pretty. And I bought them at Publix because it was the closest place with flowers and because it was open very early in the morning.”

This balance between intention and convenience shows the consumer behavior across the city.

Imported flowers have to move very quickly from the plane to the stores in order to maintain freshness which affects the cost. According to Wholesale Flowers, grocery stores can offer cheaper prices because they purchase flowers in bulk. Local florists charge higher prices because they have smaller inventory volumes and design labor.

The Mother’s Day flower market is influenced by local decision making and global logistics. From the farms in Colombia and Ecuador to the flower section at the grocery stores, each bouquet reflects a plethora of decisions from the farmers, to the sellers, and the consumers.

References:

SAF: Mother’s Day Flower Purchases and Sales Climb

WFLA: Miami’s florists are redefining luxury gifting in 2025

The New York Times: Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, Through Miami’s Airport Yours Probably Flew

Wholesale Flowers: Why do grocery store roses seem so inexpensive?

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