Designers’ Favorite Flowers

“As a child, lilacs were my first flower of enchantment and femininity. They remain a great source of inspiration for my collections.”—Zac Posen, fashion designer
Read "All About Lilacs"

“I feel like I’m a daffodil. It’s always been my favorite flower. I connect to its ability to grow almost anywhere and persevere through the semi-frozen ground toward the sunshine.”—Kristen Caissie, floral designer
See Caissie's Arrangements

“I love the desert, so I have to say orange Mojave mound cactus flowers.”—Kip Dawkins, photographer

“The peony. I have a fondness for China, and peonies originated there. I grow tree peonies in all my gardens— they’re such exquisite flowers!”—Martha Stewart

“My favorite flower . . . Paperwhites. I love the way they bend and fold and particularly the way they smell.”—Miles Redd, interior designer
See Redd's Designs

“I have always loved a black and white combination on the runway and find it works just as well on the table. Anemones have long been a favorite flower, as I like to dress the table in texture, and the color contrast is perfect for any setting.”—Lela Rose, fashion designer
A Ladies' Tea with Lela Rose

“Camellias! They are abundant in the South and the first flower my mother taught me how to draw. I like to arrange simple cuttings in a variety of containers.”—Amelia Handegan, interior designer
See Handegan's Designs

“My favorite flowers are peonies, lilacs, and especially gardenias, which remind me of the two years I spent in Greece as a child—they grew everywhere there.”—Alex Papacristidis, interior designer

“Daisies. They’re just such happy flowers, they look like miniature suns.”—Jon Carloftis, garden designer
See Carloftis's Designs

“If someone wanted to send me flowers then tuberose, because they smell so good. If I’m picking one from the garden, it would be a saucer hibiscus. They’re difficult to grow, but when it happens, it’s just fantastic.”—Mimi McMakin, interior designer

“My favorite fower is the frangipani. They come from trees in Southeast Asia and are matte white with a bee pollen–yellow center. They are rich, deep, and intensely fragrant. They remind me of sticky nights in Asia with the blossoms foating on water.”—John Robshaw, textile designer

“A garden rose. It’s one of my all-time favorite flowers. I love using it in designs because it can pair well with almost anything. It’s romantic but also goes well with unexpected elements, such as protea, grasses, or berries. I like to think my personality is the same—amenable to many different styles.”—Jackie Reisenauer, floral designer
See Reisenauer's Designs

“Purple anemones. There are great paintings with anemones by Matisse, and I think that’s the first time I put it together that they were my favorite flower. They’re so precise—you see each petal, and they have that fabulous black center.”—Alexa Hampton, interior designer
See Hampton's Designs

“Peonies. I’m drawn to their lusciousness and complexity. They have been depicted in decorative arts for centuries, so there’s a lovely conversation about peonies that goes back a long time.”—Suzanne Tucker, interior designer

"These wonderful peonies were a bright coral color that gradually turned this pale shade. They are my favorite kind of flower to use in simple arrangements. Making your own table garden with peonies or whatever you like in small vases is amusing to arrange and gives the table a more relaxed air."—Suzanne Rheinstein
See Rheinstein's Designs