Despite the popularity of last week’s Chelsea Flower Show, record numbers of households all over the UK are opting for artificial flowers over the real thing, according to sales figures from Debenhams which show a 25% increase in sales from last year.
Customers at the department store are opting for brightly coloured fake flowers, with lime green stems outselling darker red colours by 25%. Their biggest seller is the coral ranunculus.
Debenhams has introduced new single short stems for this season, in response to customer demand, which so far have accounted for 20% of overall stem sales - showing a move in trend towards
customers making their own arrangements.
Debenhams spokesman Ed Watson said: “They’re cheaper than real flowers, are always in bloom and never need watering. And we can guarantee that none of them will ever suffer from greenfly. Everyone, from millionaires to manual workers are buying them – and it’s saving them a fortune. The idea of buying artificial flowers in preference to real ones would have been ridiculed just 10 years ago. But today’s faux flowers are incredible.
“They’re virtually identical to perfect blooms founds in only in the very best florists. The subtle colouring of the petals and the detail of each bloom are identical. The shape and natural flow of the leaves are identical. And some artificial flowers are even incorporating tiny slug-sized bites into their designs to create an even more natural feel. Everyone wants to have flowers which look perfect and add beauty to a room – but few of us now have the time or the money to choose the real thing.”
