What flowers are in season in Hyogo this autumn

Autumn is the season that surprises people most in Japanese floristry. Spring gets more attention, but October and November in Hyogo prefecture produce some of the most interesting stems of the year. Deeper colours, more texture, and a quality of light that makes everything look slightly different from how it photographs.

Dahlias: the main event

Dahlias in Hyogo run from late August through to the first frost, which in recent years has come in late November. The variety available in October is different from the summer dahlias. The colours shift toward deeper reds, burgundies, and burnt oranges, and the flower heads tend to be larger and heavier. Growers in Hyogo offer a dozen or more dahlia varieties over the season, and what is available changes week to week as different varieties peak.

Dahlias are not the easiest flower to keep at home. They are thirsty and they do not like heat. But at their best they are extraordinary. A single large dahlia head in a simple ceramic vase is a complete arrangement on its own.

Cosmos, anemone, and what comes after

Cosmos peaks in September and early October in Hyogo. Some growers offer a pale apricot cosmos, which is unusual because cosmos tends toward pinks and whites. By mid-October the cosmos is winding down, but Japanese anemone continues through November. It is one of the last fresh flowers of the season and one of the most graceful, with its long stems and simple white or pale pink flowers.

Chrysanthemums are the other major autumn flower in Japan, and they are worth taking seriously beyond their association with formal occasions. The smaller-headed varieties, particularly the spider chrysanthemums and the button types, work well in mixed arrangements and last exceptionally well in a vase. Often ten days or more with proper care.

Branches and foliage

From mid-October onward, the Japanese maple branches start coming in. This is one of the most distinctive features of autumn arrangements in Hyogo. The maple colour at peak is a deep red-orange that does not exist in any cut flower, and a single branch can change the character of an entire arrangement. They are available for a short window, often around three weeks, before the leaves drop.

Our selection changes weekly with whatever is at its best. If you want to know what is coming in, send us a message and we will tell you what the growers have confirmed for the week.