In Bloom: The Best Flower Farms To Visit In Ireland

For a lovely day out, visit a flower farm to pick your own blooms for an extra special occasion …

Elmgrove Irish Flower Farm, Co Meath

“Daffodils and peonies are our two biggest crops. We pick about 13 million stems a year, all by hand, and sell them all over the world. With the Irish horticulture sector shrinking so much in recent years, I’m proud we’re selling flowers to the Dutch, and providing flowers to our Irish customers every day of the year,” says Darragh McCullough of Elmgrove Irish Flower Farm, whose grandfather grew gladioli for Dublin markets in the 1960s. Since then, McCullough has developed Elmgrove into a diversified farming enterprise which now includes a farm shop, garden centre and play area, open every day, with plans to install Ireland’s first flower vending machine in the farm’s car park. He describes the springtime pick-your-own events asmagical – visitors can pick as many daffodils as they can carry. During the summer, sunflowers, gladioli, peony roses, especially fragrant varieties such as Alertie and Duchesse de Nemours, Claire de Lune, Elsa Sass and Dr Alexander Fleming, are the highlights. @elmgroveirishflowerfarm

Wild Irish Rose Flower Farm, Co Meath

“I started growing in 2021. I like to call it my practice year”, says Sarah Collins whose background was in law. “Over time, I developed a passion for growing, farming and floristry. My love for working outdoors began in 2009 when I spent a couple of months planting plug trees in Western Australia.  That experience sparked a lasting connection with nature”. She specialises in romantic flowers, especially roses and ranunculus, and dried flowers. This summer she’s hosting flower arranging classes in Kentstown. @wildirishroseflowerfarmer

Amelia’s Garden Flowers, Co Kildare

Amelia Raben, whose grandfather grew tulips in the fields of Co Monaghan for Dublin markets in the 1950s, says she has been surrounded by gorgeous gardens all her life. At her farm in Co Kildare, she specialises in wispy, delicate flowers that give the sense of a meadow. (Notably, garden designer Sean Anthony Pritchard created a stunning bouquet using Amelia’s wildflowers during the recent Festival of Gardens and Nature at Ballintubbert). Amelia’s farm is open all summer and visitors can pick their own flowers. Her next floral workshop is at Hilton Park, Co Monaghan in August. @ameliasgardenflowers

Wild & Green Flower Farm, Co Kildare

Linda Prendergast studied Amenity Horticulture at the Botanic Gardens and floristry in Kinsealy, before launching her business in 2020. Linda grows annuals, biennials and perennials at her farm in Co Kildare. From March to October, she supplies Howbert & Mays in Monkstown, Co Dublin every week, and has an honesty stand outside the farm gate from Thursday to Saturday where orders for gift bouquets placed over the phone or on WhatsApp can be collected. @wildandgreenflowers

Moneygorm Farm, Co Waterford

“We bought the farm in 2021, got married in December that year and got stuck into breaking ground for our first growing spaces instead of going on honeymoon,” says husband and wife Sarah Hill and Rory Dillon. Zinnias are a summer focus, with 30 varieties available. There is an on-site farm stand (a wooden pergola built by Rory) open during the summer months on Friday evening and all day Saturday, selling bouquets, single variety bunches and vegetables. They also run regular “bouquet bars” at the farm stand. @moneygormfarm

Top of the Hill Flower Farm, Co Wicklow

Sheelagh O’Malley runs Top of the Hill Flower Farm in Co Wicklow, a sustainable chemical-free cut flower and vegetable farm. She supplies wholesale wedding flowers and hand-tied bouquets – you’ll find gorgeous bouquets at Amo & Pax in Kilmacanogue every week. Don’t miss their “Garden Party” summer workshop with @cottage_by_the_seaside for inspiration. @topofthehillflower_vegfarm

Bellmeadow Flower Farm, Co Carlow

With a background in international finance, followed by a spell designing childrenswear, Maria Ryan pivoted to flower farming after studying online with the prestigious Floret Farm. She specialises in sweetpea, peonies, narcissus and flowers for drying. Maria hosts cut your own flower mornings in late July and August, where attendees can learn about growing flowers and then make a beautiful floral arrangement. She also runs full-day flower farm workshops for those thinking of starting a flower farm or who would like to create their own cutting garden. @bellmeadowflowers

Tara’s Meadow Flowers, Co Laois

Armed with a degree in Environmental Agriculture, Tara Challoner has spent most of her career in farm conservation, working with farmers to restore habitats for wildlife including fl wer-rich hay meadows and grassland. She grows a mix of seasonal flowers, annual, biennials, perennials and bulbs on her farm in Portlaoise. Tara grows more shrubs like forsythia and lilac in spring, followed by Viburnum snowball and Philadelphus, with some berried crops in the autumn, and willows and dogwoods in winter. Her team includes Toby the Collie, who digs up the plants, and husband Jerome who helps with the big jobs when he has spare time. The farm is open all summer and you can also find Tara at Abbeyleix Farmers’ Market on Saturdays. @taras_meadow_flowers

Mount Alexander Flowers, Co Wexford

Having undertaken numerous courses on sustainable floristry led by industry greats such as Shane Connolly, Anna Potter, Sabine Darrall and Cel Robertson, Carmel Duke, whose flower farm is in Gorey, Co Wexford, specialises in growing tulips and ranuncula in spring and alstromeria and dahilas in summer. She also grows straw flowers and statice to use in dried flower workshops and arrangements. Summer weekday opening times at the flower farm are from 9am to 5.30pm, when customers can visit to choose their blooms. You can also find Carmel at Gorey Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings throughout summer. @mountalexanderflowers

Buzzing Meadow Farm, Co Clare

On the Clare-Galway border near Lough Derg, Joan Willson offers DIY mixed buckets of flowers and foliage. @buzzingmeadowsfarm

Howehill Flower Farm, Co Cork

“I specialise in romantic, garden flowers, filled with rousing scents and heart-wrenching beauty. I never tire of hellebores or sweetpea, but tiny wild violets bring me the most joy,” explains Howehill Flower Farm’s owner Flicky Howe. Flowers that dance, sway and wiggle up and outside the boundaries of a design are having a moment, she says. She loves cosmos, poppies, sweetpea and ranunculus. Flicky will host a floral retreat on the farm in August where attendees will cut their own flowers to create a centrepiece, and enjoy a tour of the garden and picnic lunch. You can find Flicky’s bouquets at Gather in Ballinspittle each week. @howehillflowers

Flowers From The Secret Gardener, Co Cork

“Grow what you love and start small,” says Sarah Evans whose background was in media. Sarah moved from London to Newmarket, Co Cork in 2002 to run a garden centre and has trained with different florists and schools. She now grows a wide variety of flowers, especially perennials, from April to October. Open by appointment only or for workshops and events. @flowers_from_the_secret_garden

Between the Briars, Co Cork

Taylor Nelson runs the seasonal florist studio and cut flower garden Between the Briars in Glanmire, Co Cork. Visitors can pick their own flowers at summer events in June and July. (Taylor also organises floral retreats in Malaga, Spain). When it comes to growing, Taylor has a particular interest in all Polemonium “Jacob’s ladder” varieties in addition to perennials. @betweenthebriars

Blume, Co Cork

Ciara O’Callaghan was a social care worker in the disability sector for many years before opening her business in 2023. Seasonal flowers from ranunculus to snapdragons, lisianthus and dahlias are her forté. She has noted requests for colour blocking bridesmaid bouquets; each bouquet is one colour, with the bride’s bouquet made up of a combination of all the colours. @blumewestcork

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