13/10/2026
Calla lilies are having a moment.
Possibly a year.
Possibly a few.
And when everyone wants the same flower at the same time, you pay for it.
So, a bit of inside knowledge before you fall for that Pinterest board.
Where they come from:
Most callas you see in London come through the Dutch flower auctions. They're grown under glass from tubers, and some come from high-altitude farms as far as Kenya. After each harvest, the tuber needs about three months of rest before it can flower again. You can't rush a calla.
Why they cost what they cost
– Demand. They went from 90's throwback to the most requested flower around, and growers can't scale overnight.
– Size. The long, large white stems, like the ones in these photos, are the hardest to get. When demand outruns supply, growers cut smaller, and the big ones get scarce and pricier.
– What I pay: minimum of £5.40 a stem with VAT. One bunch of 10 is £54, and that's just picking it up from the wholesaler. Before conditioning, design, logistics, labour, vessels or a single candle.
– Season. Supply in the UK runs from late winter to late summer, and it's at its lowest in August. Peak wedding month. Great timing.
– Then the usual: energy, transport and inflation on top.
What that means for your wedding
A calla can't hide. Every stem is seen, so every stem has to be right. That's why they work, and why "a sea of callas" doesn't come at a low budget.
How I use them
Fewer stems, placed with intent. The calla gives the line, the room does the rest.
