Florists across the U.S., including in Chicago, are grappling with higher costs and economic uncertainty due to tariffs ahead of a busy season of fall weddings and winter holidays.
More than 85% of cut flowers sold in the U.S. are imported. Colombia was the largest source country, followed by Ecuador, Canada, the Netherlands and Mexico in 2024, according to the Society of American Florists, an industry association.
Vases, ribbon, packaging and other hard goods are often imported from China. Tariffs on flowers and goods range from 10% and upward. Duties on vases from India rose to 50% on Aug. 27.
Juli Tkalec, owner of A Pretty Flower in Lincoln Square, said her costs have increased about 10% across the board. “The flip-flopping has been really frustrating, too, because some days our suppliers would charge us more, but a few days later it’s less,” Tkalec said.
A Pretty Flower, at 2334 W. Lawrence Ave., is absorbing higher costs and hasn’t raised prices yet, like many local businesses.
“We haven’t called any clients to tell them we have to increase the cost of their weddings. That would be in poor taste. If we really need to, a recipe may have a stem or two less,” Tkalec said.
Further up the supply chain, 97% of U.S. floral industry importers are small businesses that operate on tight margins, said Gregg Weisstein, co-founder of BloomNation, a national online floral marketplace. These suppliers and wholesalers must pay for tariffs but lack the financial resources of large corporations.
“This dual hit on both flowers and supplies is squeezing profit margins for businesses throughout the supply chain,” he said.
Weisstein noted that tariffs have “created an extra layer of complexity, forcing florists to be more creative with substitutions and more strategic with their purchasing.”
Roses and hydrangeas are among the hardest hit, with some florists reporting cost increases of up to a dollar or more per stem, he said. Some florists might encourage customers to use flowers that are less expensive than roses, such as carnations or lilies. Or they might consider using locally grown wildflowers, sunflowers and zinnias that aren’t subject to tariffs.
Sarah Leitten and Kate Prince, owners of Flora Chicago in Lake View, buy locally grown flowers when possible.
“But there’s a common misconception that they’re cheaper than imports. In reality, the production costs for local flowers are often just as high, if not higher,” Leitten said.
And turning to U.S. makers of vases and packaging isn’t necessarily a solution. Domestic manufacturers are taking advantage of the trade war and increasing prices, too, noted Tkalec.
“As long as they stay slightly below the import pricing, they think they’re helping. The tariff war hasn’t helped anyone and has driven up the costs of all goods, even those made in the U.S.,” Tkalec said. Manufacturers are hiking prices “because ‘they can,’ not necessarily because they have to.”
Tariffs haven’t had a significant direct impact yet on Flora Chicago, though costs for orchids from Thailand, roses from South America and gerberas from Canada have increased, Prince said. Flowers from the Netherlands now face a 15% tariff.
Leitten noted that one of Flora’s wholesalers is absorbing some higher costs, so “effects on us have been minimal, but that could change quickly.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Flora has adapted to unpredictable flower availability and quality due to supply chain disruptions, in addition to climate change. To cope with tariffs, Flora redesigned its website to offer more flexible arrangements rather than fixed designs.
“If certain flowers become unavailable or too expensive, we can substitute with alternatives without disappointing customers,” Prince said.
And for weddings and events booked in advance, Flora has added a clause to contracts to allow price adjustments if flower costs spike.
Flora stocked up on many hard goods before tariffs hit, but it’s not immune. For example, costs for metal funeral easels from China have risen significantly, Leitten noted.
To work around higher expenses, some floral software companies are creating new features to help florists adjust pricing, Weisstein said.
The Society of American Florists is also lobbying to renew trade programs that would make imported flowers duty-free.
Marek Fortineaux, owner of Leo’s Metropolitan Florist in Park Manor, said shipping costs have soared more than 30% due to tariffs. In addition, “delays have been insane. What usually took two to three weeks by sea has turned into two months.”
He added, “We would rather buy American and support local vendors, but they don’t have most of the products we need.”
An indirect impact of tariffs and uncertainty is slower consumer spending, Fortineaux noted. “Flowers are a luxury, not an everyday necessity. I think people have been more hesitant on impulse buying with costs on everything rising — myself included.”
But Leo’s, at 407 E. 71st St., has weathered COVID-19, recession and other challenges because of customers who are mostly neighborhood locals.
“That’s who has held us down throughout all these years,” Fortineaux said. “Leo’s Metropolitan Florist has survived for over 60 years. We will be OK.”