Not everyone knows it, but here in New York City, we are lucky enough to have our own little jungle oasis to strollthrough. On West 28th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, you can find the sweetest smelling, most lush neighborhood in NYC — the floral district. Although it's not as popular as its adjacent neighborhoods, it's a lively gem that floral designers and flower shop owners frequent regularly.

The New York City Flower Market starts to wake up around 5 a.m. when shops start lining the street with oversized vegetation. Once the first fern hits the pavement, there's no slowing down this bustling marketplace. When you start walking into the flower market, it can be an overwhelming experience — that's why we're giving you all our expert tips on navigatingthis crazy blooming sanctuary.

Read on to learn all of B Floral's tips and tricks for maneuvering the 28th street flower market and our favorite stops to take new york flower market photos!

Tips for Navigating the 28th Street Flower Market

Our tips will help you navigate this busy market and purchase the best blooms it offers.

What Is the Best Time to Go Shopping at the New York Flower Market?

In the design industry, you have to be an early riser. Most stores at the market close around 11 a.m. (but not all!), so if you're looking for something specific, you better get there early. Our team of designers aims to arrive before 8 a.m. to ensure they will always get everything on their lists at the highest quality. That's the right time to go if you want to see everything the shops offer before most others arrive.

Is the 28th Street Flower Market Open Year-Round?

The market is open all year round! It's open five days a week and has modified hours on Saturdays.

Does the Availability of Certain Flowers Vary by Season?

Yes! Even though we use florals and greenery from all over the world, flowers and plants have specific seasons that they thrive in. With weather and climate change, customs, bugs, and more, it's hard to have a 100% guarantee when securing a particulartype of flower, but that never stops us from trying our hardest!

How Do You Know Which Flowers Are the Healthiest?

This one is tricky because it can be specific to what kind of flower you're talking about! Occasionally, you can rejuvenate a flowerthat may seem dismal and dreary with warm water and a fresh cut. On the other hand, if you ever see a flower with any browning or discoloration, or if it is extremely open, it means that the blossom is on its last leg and probably won't last much longer.

What’s the Vibe of the New York Flower Market?

The NYC flower market is a super small community where everyone knows everyone. Our team knows most of the shop owners by name! Most vendors are always looking to do what is best for their clients and always want to help out. It's one of our favorite places to be, and we couldn't succeed without them.

Do You Have to Be a Florist to Buy at the Market?

While the district is most popular with florists, wholesalers, and retailers looking for affordable blooms, anyone can buy flowers from the market. Whether planning an event, hosting a dinner party, buying an arrangement for your home, or a wholesale florist in New York, there are plenty of beautiful blooms for various occasions. Artists also frequent the market to draw inspiration for their art projects.

When you're having a look around, make a note of the shop and carry on looking around. Once you've looked at all the options, you can go back and purchase the ones that stand out to you. Taking photos of the flowers and shops can help you to keep track.

There is also a wide selection of house plants, such as snake plants and Monsteras. You'll also find some rare gems that can be tricky to find anywhere else. Some shops specialize in specific plants, such as tropical varieties, cacti, and succulents. If you're inspired to create a beautiful arrangement, you can also find shops specializing in decorative supplies such as floral containers, ribbons, baskets, and stones.

What Is the Best Way to Get to the New York Flower Market?

There are several ways that you can get to the market. Here are a few of our suggestions:

Taxi or car: If you're traveling by taxi or car, drive to where 28th Street and 6th Avenue meet or to the corner of 28th Street and 7th Avenue. If you are driving, find the nearest parking spot on the street or a parking garage.
Bus: New York City has an extensive bus route that makes it easy for travelers to navigate the roads and get to the district. Find out the nearest bus route that will get you to the market.
Subway: The closest subway station is at 28th Street, where the yellow line (R, W) stops. This stop is specifically for locals. You can change from the express (N, Q) at 34th Street–Herald Square station or 14th Street–Union Square station to another line.
Bike: You can also cycle to the market on 28th Street. It may take you a little longer, but you'll get some exercise in and enjoy a scenic ride around the city.

B Floral’s Favorite Shops At The New York Flower Market

One of our favorite stops at the flower market is the FleuraMetz shop. They build strong relationships with their regular customers and are just as passionate about flowers as us! We often order from them ahead of time, and they're always willing to go the extra mile to help and accommodate us.

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Another one of our favorite places to stop in is AbraFlora. The professionals there always have an answer to all of our flower questions, no matter how crazy they may be! They keep us up to date on the latest blooms coming in, and they're always cluing us in to what looks best in the shop at the time.

If you're looking for something specific or specialized, there's a shop for it. For example, we wouldn't dream of getting our tropical leaves and flowers anywhere except for Caribbean Cuts.

Harvest is the place to be if we're hunting down specialty and preserved roses. If we need something extremely peculiar or unique, we're guaranteed to find it at J Rose.

Even though we have a few favorites we stop at on every trip to the flower market, there really is no single place to shop! Near, far, high, and low—there are hidden riches in every corner of every flower market shop.

Fun Facts about the Market

Before you visit the NYC flower district, there are a few fun facts that you should know:

The NYC Flower District is more than 100 years old! European migrants established it as they saw a need to supply flowers to steamboats, funeral homes, and department stores.
In the early days of the market, its location was on 34th Street, but it moved to its current location in the 1890s.
The market used to be home to around 65 vendors. This number is far less now, but some long-standing vendors remain selling gorgeous blooms.
The market typically opens early around 5 a.m. At this time, vendors generally only assist wholesale buyers and special appointments. From 8 a.m., they begin to assist regular customers. Most shops close around 11 a.m., but some stay open until mid-afternoon.
There are over 400,000+ varieties of flowers worldwide, so the selection at the flower market is always changing. Each shop has its niche, ranging from orchids to fig trees and succulents.
Some shops at the flower market only sell to wholesale florists in New York, but not all of them, so make sure to ask!
Colombia, Canada, and Ecuador are the top producers of flowers for the United States!
The slowest time for the market is during summer, and it is busiest during the holidays. Springtime — from mid-March to early June — is the best time to visit for a wide variety of flowers and plants.
Most NYC District flower shops only accept cash, so ensure you have enough. Some vendors accept major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover Network.

Spruce up Your Space With Flowers From B Floral

We go to the market almost daily, so we know our way around pretty well. We source flowers from the market for flower walls, arches, swings, hanging installations, flower bombs, bar carts, classes, and more! It keeps our operations rolling smoothly every single day.

Go check it out for yourself, and see how it makes you feel to be surrounded by so much Mother Nature energy! Whether you need to take a leisurely stroll with vibrant scenery, a good backdrop for your next Instagram selfie, or a TON of flowers for your next event, the New York City flower market is the place to be. It truly is the concrete jungle.

Contact B Floral today to start customizing your next event with flowers from the NYC flower market.