- Groceries
- Trader Joes
Mackenzie Filson
Mackenzie Filson
Mackenzie Filson is a food & beverage writer and native Floridian. Her work has appeared in PUNCH, Delish, Kitchn, and EatingWell, amongst others. You can read more of her writing in her newsletter, Book Sommelier, where she pairs books with wine (her one party trick.)
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Gone are the days where you aimlessly Google search “cheap flowers near me” and all that pops up is an overpriced flower shop with limited hours. Grocery stores, as I’ve found, are the place to be when you’re building a towering arrangement for your house, making homemade bouquets for a wedding, or simply treating a friend to a pick-me-up. It’s pretty magical, really, that you can chase down deals on a dozen eggs, school supplies, and yes, cheap flowers — all in one trip.
But how do all the big grocers’ flower selection really stand up when it comes to cheapness, quality, and selection? I searched far and wide for the best of the (very literal) bunch. To get a wide swath of options, I went to five different grocery store chains that offer flowers: Aldi, Costco, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Whole Foods Market.
First, “cheapness” can be pretty subjective, depending on the shopper. I used to work at a grocery store (and have many takes on how we value our groceries!), and I have my own rubric to explain what makes for a worthwhile shopping experience when it comes to picking out grocery flowers. Think of it this way: If your flowers are low in price, but low in quality (aka next-day wilting, cheap filler and sparse buds, browning petals), then that just feels like a waste, doesn’t it?
So I chose the following picks that I felt were priced well according to their quality.
The Least Expensive Bouquets ($5.99 and under)
Best of the Bunch: Trader Joe’s
As a former Trader Joe’s employee, I’m no stranger to the grocer’s petite bouquets, and they still stand out compared to the tinier bouquets available at other stores. While other stores have much sadder blooms at this price point and are punctuated with more filler, the Trader Joe’s $3.99 bouquets are almost always perky, bright, and ripe for at-home customizing. I like to get two different $3.99 bouquets and sort them into my own personal arrangement.
Also, can we talk about the next-level plant food included with Trader Joe’s bouquets? I’ve yet to have a bouquet that didn’t last at least two weeks. Beauty and longevity? I’m a forever fan.
The Mid-Tier Bouquets ($6.99 – $19.99)
Best of the Bunch: Trader Joe’s
Once again, Trader Joe’s steals the show with its mid-priced bouquets. I’d bargain to say that most pre-arranged bunches at Trader Joe’s will barely set you back more than $13 (this one was just $12.99). That just wasn’t the case at most other stores. On top of that, Trader Joe’s selection and pricing makes it very easy to grab a few bunches of flowers of your own choosing (like hydrangeas, carnations, gerbera daisies, or sunflowers) to create your own, unique bouquet.
Runner-Up: Sprouts
Sprouts also has some notably solid picks, but the selection is more limited and there is less of a range in prices (typically Sprouts’ tiers were $14.99 or $19.99, whereas Trader Joe’s has $7.99, $9.99, and $12.99 options). Still, there are some beautiful selections available that won’t set you back too much and still scream SPECIAL OCCASION.
The Best Deluxe Bouquets ($20.99 and up)
Best of the Bunch: Whole Foods
There are bouquets and then there are bou-quets (pinkies very much up). If you’re on the search for a fancy bouquet that looks like $$$$ but is more like $$, then Whole Foods is the place to be. This particular $29.99 bouquet is almost too big to fit into the frame. It’s a true two-hander when it comes to holding, and I’d be shocked to find a similar bouquet at this price point at a flower shop. If someone got me this bouquet, I’d say, “What are you doing this June, because we are getting married!” Think about it: How often do you get to elicit such a lovely emotional reaction at just $30 bucks a pop? It basically pays for itself (per “girl math”).
A Dozen (or Two!) Roses ($9.99 – $18.99)
Best of the Bunch: Costco
One surprising thing I found in my search is just how well Costco does roses. The warehouse’s rose game? Unstoppable. Who knew? I didn’t! So when I was greeted by a wall of roses and very little else, (which is totally fine! Do what you do best, right?), I was beside myself. These roses are a vibrant red, majestic, and large. Nearly cartoonishly perfect, even. Best of all? You can get two dozen of them for just $18.99. That being said, if you aren’t looking to razzle and dazzle that hard, Costco is slightly limited in terms of sizing options (no half-dozen bunches like other grocers have), but for $18.99 for two dozen? Unbeatable. Plus, they’re Rainforest Alliance certified, so they’re a sustainable option as well.
Runners-Up: Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods
That being said, if you want a smaller bundle, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods both have bouquets of roses (either a dozen or 16-stemmed) that will set you back only $9.99 to $10.99. The blooms are on the smaller size, but still plenty impressive and have a wider range of colors.
Which Grocery Store Had the Best Deal on Flowers?
In my opinion, I really value making as few stops as possible when it comes to shopping. In that case, I love a tried-and-true, surefire bet. No making second stops because the selection was roughed up, limited, or didn’t have a range of prices depending on what I’m wanting flowers for. That quality, to me, was exemplified in two different grocers: Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. They do a few things differently, but equally very well.
Whole Foods
In terms of the happiest flowers, I’d vote for Whole Foods. I was honestly amazed at the selection of harder-to-find blooms that were so vividly bright and festive. Whole Foods even has peonies, tulips, and lilies in the middle of December! Plus, the mixed bouquets are on par with ones much like you might see in a stand-alone flower shop, with a few more “deluxe”-feeling bouquets for when you really need something to be volume 12 extraordinary. It also has more affordable rose options than I was expecting.
Trader Joe’s
As for Trader Joe’s, the grocer has such a wide range of pricing options for bouquets. You can, say, get a tiny bouquet for your 4-year-old niece’s ballet recital for $3.99 and also a dozen roses for your sweetie, and plenty of fun blooms to make flower crowns for an upcoming girls’ night. Plus, the store’s flowers last oh-so-very-long, meaning the joy you feel when seeing those sunflowers you got last week just keeps growing and growing. That, to me, is one of the best deals in town.
Do you buy flowers at the grocery store? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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Mackenzie Filson: A Food & Beverage Writer with Expertise in Groceries
Mackenzie Filson is a renowned food and beverage writer, originally from Florida. Her expertise in the field is widely recognized, with her work having been featured in reputable publications such as PUNCH, Delish, Kitchn, and EatingWell, among others. Her knowledge and passion for the subject matter are evident in her engaging and informative articles.
Evaluating Grocers' Flower Selection: Cheapness, Quality, and Selection
In one of her articles, Mackenzie Filson explores the flower offerings at various grocery store chains and assesses them based on three key factors: cheapness, quality, and selection. She provides firsthand insights into her experiences visiting five different grocery store chains: Aldi, Costco, Trader Joe's, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Whole Foods Market.
The Least Expensive Bouquets ($5.99 and under)
Mackenzie's top pick for the most affordable bouquets is Trader Joe's. As a former employee of the store, she highlights the exceptional quality of their petite bouquets priced at $3.99. These bouquets consistently stand out compared to those offered by other stores at similar price points. Mackenzie appreciates their freshness, vibrant appearance, and value for money. She also notes the inclusion of high-quality plant food, which extends the longevity of the bouquets.
The Mid-Tier Bouquets ($6.99 - $19.99)
Once again, Trader Joe's takes the lead in the mid-priced bouquet category. According to Mackenzie, Trader Joe's offers pre-arranged bunches at affordable prices, typically ranging from $7.99 to $12.99. She praises the selection and pricing, which allows customers to create their own unique bouquets using a variety of flowers like hydrangeas, carnations, gerbera daisies, or sunflowers. As a runner-up, she mentions Sprouts, which offers solid options but has a more limited selection and fewer pricing tiers compared to Trader Joe's.
The Best Deluxe Bouquets ($20.99 and up)
For customers seeking more luxurious bouquets, Mackenzie recommends Whole Foods. She describes their bouquets as impressive, both in terms of size and appearance. Whole Foods offers fancy bouquets that look high-end but are reasonably priced. Mackenzie highlights a particular $29.99 bouquet that she believes would rival similar bouquets found in flower shops at a significantly higher price point. She emphasizes the emotional impact such a bouquet can have, making it an excellent choice for special occasions.
A Dozen (or Two!) Roses ($9.99 - $18.99)
Mackenzie's surprising find during her search for the best deals on roses was Costco. She was impressed by the warehouse's vibrant red roses, which she describes as nearly perfect and of exceptional quality. Costco offers two dozen roses for just $18.99, making it an unbeatable deal. For customers looking for smaller bundles, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods also provide impressive options at a lower price range.
Which Grocery Store Had the Best Deal on Flowers?
Mackenzie concludes her article by highlighting two grocery store chains that excel in different ways. Whole Foods stands out for its wide selection of vibrant and harder-to-find blooms, including peonies, tulips, and lilies, even during off-seasons like December. They also offer mixed bouquets comparable to those found in standalone flower shops. Trader Joe's, on the other hand, offers a wide range of pricing options, catering to different needs and occasions. Their flowers are known for their longevity, providing long-lasting joy to customers.
In summary, Mackenzie Filson's in-depth analysis and firsthand expertise in the grocery store flower market make her article a valuable resource for those seeking affordable, high-quality, and diverse flower options. Her recommendations of Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Costco as top contenders in different price categories offer readers valuable insights to make informed choices.
