A flower shop guide to Los Angeles

The all-white, sparsely accessorized Spruce shop in Silver Lake reflects the store’s floral design aesthetic: modern. The L.A. outpost of this New York “best of” mainstay (it was founded there in 1998) has become an Eastside favorite for the florally inclined. Need something unusual? Pick one of their cool vessels, like a silver Champagne bucket or a window box made from welded stainless steel. Or grab a submerged flower or leaf for a funky, high-impact gift—these are especially great for those with less-than-girly tastes. Plus, the shop’s late hours (it’s one of the few that’s open until 8pm everyday) make it ideal for those with last-minute flower needs, or those who are running late for that first date/dinner party/night out. Despite the shop’s stark look, Spruce’s floral arrangements are bright, full of color and always deliver a "wow" factor.

Looking for something that’s truly Instagram-worthy? East Hollywood’s top floral boutique Twig and Twine is where you should go for an artfully designed bouquet by shop owner Heather Williams. Her swoon-inducing shop is filled with beautiful curated gifts like Sugar Paper stationery, geodes, design-minded coffee table books, Big Sur Country Soap and locally made Humble Ceramics, and it's super inviting. They sell flowers sourced fresh the Original L.A. Flower Mart by the stem, making it easy to stay on budget even for a custom arrangement. Prices are reasonable and Williams’ flower selection yields some seriously gorgeous blooms. If you’re looking for a fun twist on a hostess gift, check out the ceramic bud vases stocked with a statement-making flower for just $15. Need another reason to venture out? Did we mention Twig and Twine is located next to Sqirl? Done and done.

For more than 40 years, Floral Design by Dave’s Flowers has been serving some of L.A.’s most discerning clients, from William Morris Endeavor Entertainment and LACMA to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and The Patina Group, as well as the Hollywood Bowl and the LA Philharmonic. The knowledgeable staff strives to accommodate last-minute orders and will work with any budget. Pick from the extensive selection of flowers (they carry exotics, succulents and orchids, along with fresh-cut blossoms), chat with the attentive design team led by Claudia Rovner (she and husband Paul own the Hollywood shop), and be amazed by the beautiful arrangement the talented staff puts together at a moment’s notice. Floral designs are sophisticated and appealing to a wide variety of tastes. Plus, customer service is primo for the team here. They will deliver anywhere, locally and even worldwide.

One of Hollywood’s go-to floral designers is Mark’s Garden, founded by Mark Held and Richard David. It’s the design studio trusted by some of the industry’s most memorable events, including nearly two decades of the annual Academy Awards Governors Ball, the Golden Globes, the Emmy Awards, plus a number of Oprah’s extravagant parties and a slew of major celebrity weddings like those of Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, Gwen Stefani and Ellen DeGeneres. Step inside the Sherman Oaks retail space (located inside the design studio) and work with one of the talented floral designers to create a stunning bouquet. They nail whimsical pieces and structured designs equally well.

It’s hard to miss the exterior of this L.A. institution—it’s covered with massive topiaries of every variety. Inside, the possibilities are endless with the exceptional selection of fresh flowers and the experienced staff’s know-how, garnered from years of crafting spectacular florals for just about everyone in town. Owner Saeed Babaeen started Empty Vase in 1988, and it’s his background in architecture that sets the tone for the company’s aesthetic—bold, luxurious and contemporary. They only do showstoppers here because their selection is unparalleled: diverse flowers, exotic plants and hard-to-find seasonal blooms. For those swinging by the West Hollywood shop, the lovely selection of gifts, lighting and other home décor items might just mean you’ll be taking something else home for yourself.

We can all agree that no Los Angeles apartment is fully decorated until a row of succulents adorns a windowsill or coffee table. They're the decorative cashew dish of the 21st century. But if your taste in desert plantlife leans a little more indie, hit up Echo Park's hottest rare cactus emporium. The 350-square-foot boutqiue specializes in unusual breeds of cacti too quirky for Pinterest, ranging from modest $25 varietals to near-thousand dollar conversation pieces. Whether or not you're in the market for a 9-foot Lophocereus schottii, the place is worth a window shop.

With mega-watt clients like CAA, sbe, the Beverly Hills Hotel, Hotel Bel-Air, Tiffany & Co. and Montage Beverly Hills, you know the flowers you order from the Hidden Garden will be nothing short of, well, fabulous. The Rancho Park studio has a wide variety of interesting vessels to choose from and an even more extensive array of flowers, which are imported daily. They excel at top-notch design, whether it’s contemporary and modern or soft and romantic. The Hidden Garden uses seasonal flowers (with perennial mainstays) to add attention-grabbing texture and color to an arrangement. What sets their arrangements apart is the interplay between the floral elements—they can take an ordinary grouping of flowers and make it extraordinary by changing up the expected with a pop of color, ribbon or statement-making greenery. You can drop in to pick out an arrangement; however, if you call ahead and describe what you’re looking for (even vaguely), the team will most likely have read your mind by the time you arrive, presenting you with a truly spectacular floral work of art.

If you’re looking for something special, call Gilly. The Pasadena mainstay offers a contemporary twist on seasonal arrangements, adding in succulents and unexpected aesthetic touches. They play with color and design elements (think twisted leaves, dried seed pods, unusual berries and other unique items) in a way that few can pull off, and they do it expertly. Whether you need something perfect for a thank-you gift, a chic nosegay for a super stylish hostess or even a fun twist on a bridal bouquet, this is the place to call. What started as a one-man outpost in Silver Lake has grown into a design studio (still in Silver Lake) and retail shop in Pasadena. And if you’re looking for it, they do "funky" very well with an ultra-cool (dare we say, hipster?) sense of style.

The ladies behind cult-status Hollyflora are petal-whisperers, there’s no other way around it. Holly Vesecky and Rebecca Uchtman create seriously drool-worthy designs, weaving together astonishing combinations of flowers into living masterpieces. Prices are on the high end ($100 minimum for delivery), but we're pretty certain that you have yet to see anything like their designs. Whether it’s simple or complicated, asymmetric or a more even tempo, their designs are stunning. Previously appointment-only, the design studio relocated to Mid-City in late 2014 and added a brick-and-mortar market, stocked with hosting essentials like linens, beeswax candles, brass lanterns, ceramics and other décor elements. These floral design trendsetters have collaborated with institutions like the Hammer Museum and LACMA and are continually pushing the envelope for event fleurs. The vibe here is more wild and rustic than perfectly manicured, but each stem is positioned with an exceptionally curated eye.

Step inside either the Venice flagship or the newest Pacific Palisades location of Fiore and select from the wondrous seasonal collection of flora. The fresh-cut flowers, succulents and potted plants are all dreamy. The Palisades location even offers potted trees. If you need a high-impact arrangement for a party or a simple posy for your desk, the shops' flower-market driven inventory will inspire you. Fiore is the kind of place where you'll find the “perfect” gift, like custom gift baskets, home décor accents and unique gifts for that impossible-to-buy-for friend. Also the boutiques specialize in lush, romantic floral arrangements. The team will also wrap your gifts exquisitely in silk boxes, wooden crates or other unusual vessels. You can even bring your own gift to them and they’ll wrap it up for you, flawlessly.

Stop by and ogle Sonny Alexander’s bountiful selection of blooms before selecting an arrangement—or, pick out your favorite flowers and have one of the friendly staffers whip together a beautiful one-of-a-kind creation for any budget. Since 1929, the Pico-Robertson shop has turned out both contemporary and more traditional arrangements, and the lush floral designs are always fresh. Whether you’re ordering an arrangement (they are great at same-day orders) or are picking up flowers “just because,” they will work with you to design something you absolutely love. You can also order online and the shop offers local L.A. delivery for an additional $10, per arrangement, per address, plus they will ship anywhere, including internationally.

Floral designer Stephanie Elhayani, owner of design studio Seed Floral Couture, has a passion for flowers and it shows. Her love of color is evident in her vibrantly hued arrangements she stocks in her West Hollywood brick-and-mortar. Bright reds, vivid purples and exotic pinks star in Elhayani’s standout arrangements. Even her ‘white’ ensembles feel multilayered due to her mix of hue, shape and texturing, adding another layer of interest to her already lovely floral designs. No matter the occasion, the staff at Seed can help design a custom arrangement from their flower bar. They'll use anything from tea cups to mirrored boxes to add that eclectic touch (they're known for it).