Flower Power in New York’s flower district
New York City’s iconic flower district brings a century of blooming magnificence to the neighborhood.
A walk through New York’s Flower District is a stroll through the magic and beauty of nature. From the colorful buckets of blooms to the abundance of small potted houseplants and trees — just right for a windowsill or small terrace garden — there is no end to the possibilities for both seasonal and rare finds.
Serving both the retail and wholesale floral industries for over a hundred years, the origins of the Flower District can be traced to the late 19th century when the city’s floral industry began to shift toward Manhattan from Brooklyn and Harlem. At the time, the neighborhood was a hub for a variety of businesses, but the advent of floral organizations, including the New York Florist Club, encouraged members to take advantage of available warehouse space on or near 6th Avenue. The demand for flowers and greenery — from restaurants, new department stores lining the Ladies Mile on Fifth Avenue, and Broadway theaters, for example — led to even more opportunity and set the stage for statement- making floral arrangements in foyers, lobbies, reception areas, and tabletops throughout the city and beyond.
Some of those original shops are still open today, including Saks Fifth Avenue Flower Shop, which was founded in 1924, and the New York Flower Shop, which opened in the 1940s. As time went on, the demand for flowers continued to rise and the district became a destination for anyone hoping to add the beauty of nature to an interior space. During the 1950s and 1960s, imported blooms and greenery from countries like Holland, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico, brought an even greater variety of flora to the district along with international recognition for its sheer size and diversity.
Today, the Flower District is a vibrant blend of traditional wholesalers, floral designers, and boutique florists, as well as event planning businesses that rely on floral elements. The district has maintained its reputation as the go-to destination for high-quality flowers and plants in New York City and is a favorite of locals and visitors to the city. The narrowed sidewalks — lined on both sides with colorful displays of seasonal blooms and unusual finds — are particularly busy with shoppers in the morning hours. (Arrive by 10 am for the best selection.) From orchids and other tropical blooms to bonsai and dwarf shrubs, roses and peonies to cherry blossoms and forsythia, if you can visualize it, the Floral District has it.
A beloved and essential part of NoMad and New York City’s identity, the district is anchored by its historical significance and its contemporary relevance in the world of design. From celebrity weddings and the Met Gala to birthday bouquets and kitchen table centerpieces, flowers from the streets of NoMad are adding beauty to everyday life.
The can’t-miss block of 28th Street, tucked between 6th and 7th Avenues with a bit of spillover in each direction, is open to the public six days a week, from early morning to mid-afternoon. Most shops are closed on Sunday and some reserve the early morning hours (stores open between 5 am and 6 am) for professionals.