Carnations Are Back, Roses Look Like Peonies & More: Flower Circus at WFFSA Miami 2026

6 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

What a show. Flower Circus landed in Miami for the WFFSA 2026 — and from the moment we stepped onto the show floor, it was clear this was going to be one for the books. New varieties, comeback flowers, award ceremonies, and a rose that genuinely looks like a peony. Miami, you did not disappoint.

Flora Excellence Awards: Back for the Second Year

For the second year running, the Flora Excellence Awards took centre stage at WFFSA — and this year the competition was fierce. Six categories, dozens of extraordinary varieties, and some truly well-deserved winners.

The standout? A Gypsophila variety that redefines what you thought you knew about this classic filler flower. Instead of its usual delicate cloud of tiny blooms, this variety clusters its flowers together in a way that gives it a completely new character — eye-catching, interesting, and genuinely surprising.

Other winners included a large Chrysanthemum with a beautiful fading colour effect, the bicolour Cora Rose, standout entries in the Garden Rose and Spray Rose categories, a Breeder's Award for White Spray Chrysanthemum, and the Cloud 9 variety from Icon Selections — which, once you see it, you won't forget.

The Comeback of the Year: Carnations

If there's one flower that stole the conversation at WFFSA 2026, it's the carnation. Long underestimated and often overlooked, carnations are making a powerful return — and this time, they're coming back with a whole new wardrobe. New colours, unexpected shapes, and a presence on the show floor that had florists genuinely excited. Don't sleep on carnations in 2026.

Trends We Couldn't Stop Talking About

WFFSA always gives a clear picture of where the floral industry is heading — and this year's show floor had some fascinating signals.

Bromeliad as a cut flower was perhaps the most unexpected. Vivid, sculptural, and unlike anything else on the stands, bromeliad is emerging as a genuine option for florists looking for something bold and different.

Delphinium is rising. The Volflor stand was one of the busiest on the floor, and the quality was exceptional. If your clients aren't asking for delphinium yet, they will be.

Branched veronicas were everywhere — and for good reason. More flowers per stem means more value, more texture, and more design possibilities.

And then there was the Peony Kiss Rose — a rose variety that looks so convincingly like a peony that you'd do a double take. No tricks, no manipulation. Just genetics doing something extraordinary. Easily one of the most talked-about flowers of the whole show.

Dutch Pride on the Show Floor

Holex Flowers, the largest Dutch exporter to the United States, had a strong presence — showcasing tulips, narcissus, viburnum and cymbidium orchids that reminded everyone just how central Dutch flower production is to the global market.

Also turning heads: a brand new tulip variety called Leo, which almost — and we mean almost — looks like a lion. Paired with the elegant Fritillaria imperialis, the Dutch bulb flower offering at WFFSA was nothing short of spectacular.

Unexpected Moments

No Flower Circus visit would be complete without a few surprises. This year's highlight? Orchid graduation leis — real orchid flower necklaces with a genuine Hawaiian feel, lasting up to a full week. A product category we hadn't considered before, and now we can't stop thinking about it.

Also worth a mention: a stunning dry leaf art installation tucked into a corner of the show floor that stopped visitors in their tracks. Proof that beauty at a flower fair isn't always about fresh blooms.

A Show Floor Full of Stars

From Deliflor Chrysanthemum (the world's largest chrysanthemum grower) to Jet Fresh Flowers with their Hippie Psychedelic and VIP roses, from the Lisianthus Collective proudly representing Dutch-grown lisianthus to Prima Rosa's breathtaking ranunculus and anemones — the exhibitor list at WFFSA 2026 was a who's who of the global floral industry.

The Floral Chain Group brought Hypericum grown at extreme altitude — the kind of size that makes you understand exactly why altitude matters for quality. And the Magic Hydrangeas on display were, in the words of everyone who walked past them, almost like art.

Watch the Full Tour

Want to see every stand, every award winner, and every trend for yourself? We filmed a full walkthrough of WFFSA Miami 2026 — every detail, every highlight, and yes, the Peony Kiss Rose in all its glory.

👉 Watch the full video here

Flora Excellence Award Winners 2026 at a Glance

🏆 Gypsophila — unique cluster variety 🏆 Large Chrysanthemum — fading colour effect 🏆 Cora Rose — bicolour 🏆 Garden Rose category winner 🏆 Spray Rose category winner 🏆 Breeder's Award — White Spray Chrysanthemum 🏆 Cloud 9 — Icon Selections

Featured Exhibitors