Freshness first

Our substitution policy

We only ever substitute for one reason: to make sure the flowers on your doorstep are the freshest and best-looking we can source that morning.

Equal or greater valueYou never receive less than you paid for
Same colour paletteThe theme you chose is always kept
Same style & sizeMatched in feel, shape and fullness
Always freshWe swap a stem before we send a tired one

Fresh flowers aren’t manufactured — they’re grown, cut and sold at market, and what’s available changes every single morning. A grower’s crop comes in short, a heatwave shortens a season, or a batch simply isn’t up to standard when we inspect it at Canning Vale. When that happens, we substitute.

Every genuine florist does this. The difference is that we tell you exactly how we do it, and we’d rather explain it up front than have you wonder why the bouquet in the photo has one different flower in it.

Our promise when we substitute

If we need to change something in your arrangement, we guarantee it will be:

  • Equal or greater value — we never downgrade. If a substitute stem costs more, that’s on us, not on you.
  • The same colour palette — order a blush-and-white bouquet and you receive a blush-and-white bouquet, every time.
  • The same style and size — a full, rounded hand-tied stays full and rounded; a loose, garden-style arrangement stays loose and garden-style.
  • The same feeling — a romantic gift stays romantic; a sympathy arrangement stays soft, calm and respectful.
  • Fresher, not tired — we will always choose a fresh alternative over a technically-correct stem that won’t last the week.

What we will and won’t change

We may substitute

  • An individual filler or foliage stem
  • A feature flower that’s out of season
  • A stem that isn’t fresh enough on inspection
  • A vase, ceramic or container that has sold out — matched in style and value
  • A ribbon or wrap shade, matched to the palette

We won’t change

  • Your colour theme
  • The overall size or fullness you paid for
  • The style of the design
  • The occasion feel — sympathy stays sympathy
  • The value of the arrangement

How it works in practice

Here’s what a substitution actually looks like, so there are no surprises:

Peonies are out of season
We use full, ruffled garden roses or ranunculus in the same shade — the same soft, romantic look, and often a longer vase life.
A specific rose variety sells out at market
We swap to another rose in the same colour and head size. The flower type stays the same — only the variety changes.
The listed ceramic vase is unavailable
We use a vessel of the same size, style and value — for example, a matte ceramic in place of a matte ceramic, not glass in place of ceramic.
Hydrangeas arrive soft in a heatwave
We replace them with a bloom of similar visual weight, such as full disbud chrysanthemums or lisianthus clusters, rather than sending flowers that will collapse in two days.
A filler foliage isn’t available
We swap the greenery — eucalyptus for pistache, for instance. This is the most common substitution and rarely noticeable.

When the flower matters most

Some orders are about one specific flower. If you’re sending roses for an anniversary, or a particular bloom that meant something to the person you’re remembering, that stem is the point of the whole arrangement.

In those cases we protect the feature flower and substitute around it instead — changing the fillers, foliage or secondary blooms while keeping what matters. If we genuinely can’t source the feature flower, we’ll call or email you before we make the arrangement so you can choose: wait for the next delivery day, pick an alternative, or cancel for a full refund.

Seasons in Perth

Perth’s climate means our market changes noticeably through the year. This is a general guide to what’s typically at its best — availability shifts with weather, so treat it as a rough map rather than a guarantee.

SpringSep – Nov The most abundant season. Tulips, ranunculus, sweet peas, stock, native wildflowers and the first strong rose crops.
SummerDec – Feb Sunflowers, lisianthus, hydrangeas, gerberas and natives. Heat shortens vase life, so we condition carefully and lean on hardier blooms.
AutumnMar – May Chrysanthemums, dahlias, proteas and banksias. Deeper, warmer tones come into their own.
WinterJun – Aug Tightest supply. Roses, carnations, orchids, natives and early ranunculus carry the season — expect more substitutions here.

Ordering for a specific date? If your order falls in winter, or you want a bloom that’s clearly out of season, order a few days ahead where you can — it gives us time to source it properly rather than substitute on the morning.

If you’d rather we didn’t substitute

Ordering for something exact, or working to a strict brief? You have two options:

  • Add a note at checkout — for example, “must include white roses” or “please call before substituting”.
  • Contact us before ordering and we’ll check availability at market first, then confirm what we can commit to.

We’d always rather have a two-minute conversation than send something that isn’t what you pictured.

If a substitution missed the mark

If you feel what arrived didn’t match what you ordered, tell us. Send a photo within 48 hours of delivery and we’ll look at it honestly — and if we got it wrong, we’ll replace the arrangement or refund you. The full process is on our refunds & returns page.

Every arrangement leaves with a photo on delivery, so you’ll see exactly what was made before you hear about it from anyone else.

Substitution questions, answered

Will my flowers look exactly like the photo?

Very close, but not identical. Every arrangement is made by hand from flowers bought that morning, so the exact stems vary. We always match the style, size, colour palette and value shown in the photo — the overall look you ordered is what you receive.

Why do florists substitute flowers?

Because fresh flowers are seasonal and market-supplied. A particular flower may be out of season, sold out at market that morning, or not fresh enough to meet our standard. Substituting lets us send you the best-quality flowers available rather than a tired stem that matches a photo.

Will I get less value if you substitute?

No. Any substitute is of equal or greater value than the flower it replaces. If the alternative costs us more, we absorb the difference — you’re never charged extra and never receive less than you paid for.

Will you change the colour of my bouquet?

No. Your colour theme is always kept. If you order a red and white arrangement, you receive a red and white arrangement — we substitute within the palette, never across it.

Can I request no substitutions?

Yes. Add a note at checkout specifying what must be included, or contact us before ordering and we’ll confirm availability at market first. Where we can’t guarantee an exact match, we’ll tell you before we make the arrangement rather than substituting silently.

Will you tell me if you substitute something?

For minor changes such as filler flowers or foliage, we substitute within your colour and style and don’t contact you. If we can’t source a feature flower that’s central to your order — the roses in a rose bouquet, for example — we’ll call or email you before making it up so you can choose how to proceed.

What if the vase or container is unavailable?

We substitute a vessel of the same size, style and value — a matte ceramic for a matte ceramic, for instance, rather than switching material or look. The finished arrangement will still match the photo in proportion and feel.

Are peonies and tulips available all year in Perth?

No. Tulips are typically a winter and spring flower in Western Australia, and peonies have a very short late spring to early summer window. Outside those periods we substitute with a similar look — full garden roses or ranunculus in place of peonies, for example.

Do you substitute more often in winter?

Yes. Winter, from June to August, is the tightest supply period in Perth, so substitutions are more common then. Ordering a few days ahead gives us time to source specific flowers rather than substitute on the morning.

What if I’m not happy with the substitution?

Contact us within 48 hours of delivery with a photo. If the arrangement didn’t match the style, colour or value you ordered, we’ll replace it or refund you. Full details are on our refunds and returns page.

Questions before you order?

Call us and we’ll tell you exactly what’s at market this morning — and what we can promise for your delivery.

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