This year's summer starts at Keukenhof. Between May 1st and 11th, the iconic Dutch spring park in Lisse shows something a little wilder, a little sunnier — and just as impressive, as its famous tulips.
The 2025 Summer Flowers Show has opened its doors, and if you think summer flowers can’t compete with spring bulbs in terms of color, shape, and drama, think again. Here's a report straight out of the crowded Oranje Nassau Pavilion.
Summer Flowers With Serious Flair
It was packed — people from all over the world wandering the pavilion, one of the first stops close to the main entrance. Phones in hand, eyes wide open, and the occasional happy gasp escaping here and there. There were the usual amateur garden lovers and Keukenhof tourists, but also many floral connoisseurs who were looking for novelties and styling ideas.
What stood out most? A kind of unexpected richness. Summer flowers have that loose, relaxed quality — a little less polished than their spring cousins, but full of warmth and character. And the designers who worked on this year’s show clearly know how to make the most of that.
Inside the Oranje Nassau Pavilion, the first thing that hits you is the multitude of colors and shapes. A mix of sweet Matthiolas, Viburnums, Astibles, and fresh-cut greens greets every visitor at the door. The arrangements aren’t shy — big groups of Delphinium in every shade of pink, blue, and lilac form tall backdrops, while in the foreground, there’s the cheerful face of Aster, Matricaria, and Eryngium giving the whole room a cottage garden vibe.
Clematis flowers curl lazily through the lush bouquets, their star-shaped blooms catching the light just right. Veronica, in her soft spikes, is everywhere — tucked into table settings, poking out of wall arrangements, adding rhythm to mixed bunches. The berries of red, pink, and white Hypericums add just the right amount of texture and visual contrast to the arrangements. It’s a reminder of how much these varieties can bring to a bouquet, not just as fillers, but as features.
A bold statement is made with the use of bog-headed purple and white Allium and a full table of those cockscomb-shaped Celosia cristata. These aren’t flowers that always grab the spotlight, so here they stand confidently on their own. Tall, globe-headed Allium gives structure to otherwise loose arrangements, while the almost fluorescent pink, orange, and yellow Celosias are just screaming for attention, which they got plenty of...
A Garden Party With Purpose
One of the most photo-worthy spots is, without a doubt, the circular installation where huge Hydrangeas are the showstopper. And what about that striking display of Campanula Glomerata? Something impossible to miss.
Bouvardia, Craspedia, and Ranunculus also got their moments. Bouvardia deserves much more attention from florists and consumers, so it was good to see these flowers presented in various colors in big mono-bunches, where their star-shaped clusters added a clean, graphic feel against the fluffier shapes of the surrounding wild summer flower arrangements.
It’s clear that the Summer Flowers Show isn’t just about pretty flowers. It’s a celebration of what’s in season now, and a gentle push to encourage growers, wholesalers, and florists alike to give summer flowers a bit more spotlight. There’s so much more to offer between the tulip season and the Dahlia season.
Keukenhof in a New Light
If you’re used to the Keukenhof of March and April — with rivers of tulips and busloads of early tourists — the Summer Flowers Show is something else entirely. There’s a slightly slower pace, even if the crowd is still big. The visitors are more surprised to see the richness of the floral world continues inside the Oranje Nassau Pavilion, and although most flowers have a name tag, there's still the obvious wondering about which flower they’ve just fallen in love with.
And really, that’s what makes this show feel so personal. It’s not just about spectacle. It’s about connection. You see it in the way people interact with the displays — leaning in close, pointing things out to friends, kids, or parents, checking labels. It’s the kind of engagement every florist hopes to see from their clients. A reminder that flowers aren’t just a decoration; they’re conversation starters, memory makers, love-bringers, and wannahaves.
Phones Out, Selfie Time!
Yes, it was crowded in the Pranje Nassau Pavilion, where several pieces were displayed for taking photos. So, it was: Phones out, Selfie Time! Be sure to smile and look just as happy as the flowers do. People were taking their time. Asking questions. Talking to each other about what they were seeing. At some points, visitors were queuing to snap selfies here — and honestly, who could blame them?
The show isn’t just an exhibition; it’s a nudge. A reminder that summer flowers have range and presence — enough to carry an event, a bridal bouquet, a window display.
A Takeaway for Florists
If you’re working with flowers and haven’t yet added summer varieties like Matthiola, Veronica, or Campanula, or any of the above and more to your weekly list, now’s the time. Not just because they’re available, but because they speak the language of summer. They feel easy, approachable, human, often wild, and so enormously radiant. And that’s exactly the kind of feeling people want in their homes and events when the sun is out and the days are long.
Keukenhof’s Summer Flowers Show doesn’t shout. It hums. It sways. It shows what’s possible when you let the season guide your palette and your mood. And for florists, growers, and flower lovers alike, it’s a fresh reminder that beauty doesn’t end with the last tulip.
So, What Now?
If you’re anywhere near the Netherlands, you’ve still got until May 11th to catch the show. Take a notebook. Take your camera. But most of all, take your time. The flowers will do the rest. Otherwise... see you next year. Same time, same place!
Summer Flowers are promoted by the 365 of Flowers campaign by Royal FloraHolland. Over 1,800 growers from 15 different countries make this possible. They grow over 150 different flowers. Visit the website of 365 of Flowers to get all the inspo you need for a vibrant summer décor at home, in your shop, or anywhere you need flowers!
