Smelling the Roses at the Country's Largest Flower Market

Star ForemanCulture

Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketThe roses at Wall Street Floral in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketMaurice Harris of Bloom and Plume makes his final flower selections at Mayfresh in the Southern California Flower Market.Southern California Flower MarketCalifornia Flower MallSouthern California Flower MarketThe Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketAn Orchid Affair at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketVilla Growers in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketBill Grassie is just shopping for some new plants for his home.Southern California Flower MarketMayfresh in the Southern California Flower marketSouthern California Flower MarketMayfresh in the Southern California Flower marketSouthern California Flower MarketThis guy has decided to go eco-conscious for his centerpieces.Southern California Flower MarketAn Orchid Affair at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketWillie Sanchez and friends in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketVases by Robert in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketIf you give the nicest attendant in the world your licenseSouthern California Flower MarketIf you give the nicest attendant in the world your licenseSouthern California Flower MarketIf you give the nicest attendant in the world your licenseSouthern California Flower Marketproprietor of ZCallas & Oregon's Best Specialty Growers in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketAn Orchid Affair at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketVilla Growers in the Original Los Angeles Flower Market sells both living cut flowers and dried arrangements and wreaths.Southern California Flower MarketAn Orchid Affair at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketOriginal Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketThe Los Angeles Flower DistrictSouthern California Flower MarketRudy's Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketAn Orchid Affair at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketCalifornia Flower MallSouthern California Flower MarketThe Los Angeles Flower DistrictSouthern California Flower MarketThe Los Angeles Flower DistrictSouthern California Flower MarketZCallas stocks only from one supplier in Oregon.Southern California Flower MarketPink roses at Wall Street Floral in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketAn Orchid Affair at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketSusie's Flowers in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketHM Wholesale Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketElizabeth Huape of Aroma Fowers and Gifts visits Villa Growers to grab some baby's breath.Southern California Flower MarketWall Street Floral in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketBalloons Away provides balloons in the Original Los Angeles Flower Market.Southern California Flower MarketCat in El Poblano Flowers in the California Flower MallSouthern California Flower MarketLupe from California Flower DepotSouthern California Flower MarketCalifornia Flower Depot has a little bit of everything.Southern California Flower MarketLily and Crystal are helping their mom shop for her sister's bridal shower at Wall Street Flowers.Southern California Flower MarketHM Wholesale Plants in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketThe Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketMaurice Harris of Bloom and Plume makes his final flower selections at Mayfresh in the Southern California Flower market.Southern California Flower MarketAn Orchid Affair at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketHM Wholesale Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketVilla Growers in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketMegan is shopping for the pop-up event Dinner en Blanc at Wall Street Floral in the Original Los Angeles Flower Market.Southern California Flower MarketMegan is shopping for the pop-up event Dinner en Blanc at Wall Street Floral in the Original Los Angeles Flower Market.Southern California Flower MarketVilla Growers in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketEliseo's Wholesale in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketHM Wholesale Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketTropical USA in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketMayfresh in the Southern California Flower marketSouthern California Flower MarketMayfresh in the Southern California Flower marketSouthern California Flower MarketAn Orchid Affair at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketRudy of Rudy's Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketRudy's Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketZCallas & Oregon’s Best Specialty Growers in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketMayfresh in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketZCallas & Oregon’s Best Specialty Growers in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketZCallas & Oregon’s Best Specialty Growers in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketZCallas & Oregon’s Best Specialty Growers in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketZCallas & Oregon’s Best Specialty Growers in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketAn Orchid Affair at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketFloral Couture in the Los Angeles Flower DistrictSouthern California Flower MarketZCallas & Oregon’s Best Specialty Growers in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketRudy's Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketRudy's Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketRudy's Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketHM Wholesale Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketHM Wholesale Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketWall Street Floral in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketOriginal Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketShopping to decorate the church for a friend's wedding at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketMayfresh at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketWall Street Flowers in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketZCallas & Oregon’s Best Specialty Growers in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketEl Poblano Flowers in the California Flower MallSouthern California Flower MarketThe Los Angeles Flower DistrictSouthern California Flower MarketWall Street Floral in the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketThe Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketVincent is the owner of Wall Street Floral in the Original Los Angeles Flower Market.Southern California Flower MarketCostar Orchids and Tropicals in the Los Angeles Flower DistrictSouthern California Flower MarketHM Wholesale Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketHM Wholesale Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketAn Orchid Affair at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketThe Los Angeles Flower DistrictSouthern California Flower MarketHM Wholesale Plants in the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketMellano at the Original California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketMellano at the Original California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketEl Poblano Flowers in the California Flower MallSouthern California Flower MarketSilk orchids at An Orchid Affair at the Southern California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketMellano at the Original California Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketThe Los Angeles Flower DistrictSouthern California Flower MarketBe carefulSouthern California Flower MarketBe carefulSouthern California Flower Marketyou can get a ticket even if the sign is really broken.Southern California Flower MarketThe hours of the Original Los Angeles Flower MarketSouthern California Flower MarketThe parking structure to use in the Los Angeles Flower DistrictSouthern California Flower MarketThe view from the parking structureSouthern California Flower Market
Imagine it is 3 a.m. in downtown Los Angeles. Just steps away from Skid Row, the parking is full, cars are flying in and out, people are trading. Amid a silent city, something grows. The ancient (95 years old) Original Los Angeles Flower Market comes to life when the rest of the city is sleeping.  At 55,000 square feet, the flower market is the largest in the country. You'll find orchids, air plants, succulents, money trees, topiaries, gardenias and roses. Lots and lots of roses. 
We visited the Flower Market and surrounding district to get the lowdown on the smelly truth. 
Orchids: At the Orchid Affair you find not just living orchids but exquisite silk paper orchids, fairies and a couple of cats guarding the merchandise. The only vendor to grow their own orchids, at the farm located in Montclair, the Orchid Depot is on the higher end of price, but in exchange you get American-grown rare species that you can brag to your friends about. 
Roses: Vincent at Wall Street Floral is right at the main entrance to the mall, displaying nice fresh buds. Two dozen roses can cost you anywhere from $5.75 to $18, depending on color and size, but most are in the $7.75 range.
Dried flowers and specialty: Villa Flowers, in the Southern California Flower Market, sells dried wreaths and wall art in addition to roses and baby's breath. 
Plants: We couldn't choose between Rudy's Plants and HM Wholesale Plants. Both have healthy plants for a fraction of the cost at Home Depot. Both are in the Southern California Flower Market. Plus both have air plants, which are having a moment. 

Something different: ZCallas has seasonal flowers, moss and wood, and honey shipped in from Oregon. 
Arrangements: Go outside the OLAFM and the SCFM and you will find dozens of shops, spreading out in all directions, six blocks from San Pedro Street west to Maple Street and Seventh Street south to Ninth Street. These little businesses cater to any flower-arrangement needs: funerals, victory wreaths, weddings. Inside the California Flower Mall, we found one of our favorite arrangers at El Poblano Flowers.
Parking: Park in the structure off of San Julian for $4 for the day.
Restrooms: The only restrooms are inside the Original Los Angeles Flower market, and they are clean and free.
All photos by Star Foreman

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