How Tariffs Are Affecting Florists in 2026 (And What You Can Do About It)

Hello Shoppers,

As a florist, you're already balancing creativity, customer demands, and day-to-day business decisions. There's one factor that's harder to see coming but just as real: tariffs. If you source imported flowers, vases, or wrapping supplies, trade policy can move your costs overnight — and 2026 has been an especially active year for exactly that.

This week, we're breaking down what tariffs are, how they're currently affecting the floral industry, and what you can actually do about it.

What Is a Tariff?

A tariff is a tax a government places on goods imported from another country — essentially a customs duty collected at the border. Historically tariffs were mainly a revenue tool, but today they're used more often to protect domestic industries, respond to trade imbalances, or apply pressure in broader political disputes. In general, tariffs tend to:

• Protect domestic producers by making imported goods more expensive relative to domestically grown or made alternatives
• Generate government revenue, though this is a smaller motivation for most developed economies today
• Support national security goals by reducing reliance on foreign suppliers for goods considered strategically important
• Address trade imbalances or disputes between countries

Where Things Stand for Florists Right Now

This isn't a hypothetical for the floral industry — it's already playing out. A large share of the cut flowers sold in the U.S., particularly roses and carnations, are imported from Colombia and Ecuador, which together supply most of the U.S. market.

As of 2026, Colombian flower imports carry a 10% tariff, introduced in 2025 and marking the first U.S. duty on Colombian flowers in over a decade after years of duty-free access. Ecuadorian flowers currently face a combined rate in the high teens, layering a new tariff on top of the existing baseline duty that's applied to Ecuadorian roses for years. Trade negotiations are ongoing on both fronts, and rates have already shifted more than once this year — which means the numbers in this post could look different by the time you're reading it. If sourcing from these countries is a meaningful part of your business, it's worth checking with your wholesaler regularly on current landed costs rather than assuming last quarter's pricing still holds.

How This Shows Up in Your Business

Higher wholesale costs. When a tariff raises the price wholesalers pay for imported stems, that increase typically gets passed down the chain. Absorbing it eats into your margin; passing it on to customers risks pushing price-sensitive buyers toward smaller or less frequent orders.

Supply chain pressure. Some florists respond by looking for alternative suppliers — domestic growers, for instance — but U.S.-grown flowers are often more limited in variety and volume than imports, and seasonal gaps (like winter roses) can be harder and more expensive to fill.

Shifting consumer behavior. When flowers get more expensive, some customers cut back, especially on non-essential or "just because" purchases. Occasion-driven buying (weddings, holidays, sympathy) tends to hold up better than everyday discretionary purchases.

Types of Tariffs, Briefly

What You Can Actually Do

Diversify your suppliers. Look at growers in countries with more favorable trade terms, or consider local growers where possible. Sourcing locally also tends to mean shorter shipping times, less transit damage, and fresher product with a longer usable life — a real quality upside on top of avoiding tariff exposure.

Offer sturdier substitutes. Hardier, lower-cost flowers like carnations can stand in for pricier imports like roses without sacrificing the overall look of an arrangement, and often give you more variety to work with if you're leaning into local sourcing.

Be upfront with customers. If prices are shifting because of sourcing costs, say so plainly. Customers are generally more understanding of a price increase they can attach to a clear reason than one that feels arbitrary.

The Takeaway

Tariffs aren't inherently good or bad for the floral industry — they're a real cost pressure with real trade-offs, and the specifics matter more than the general idea. What matters most for your business is staying current on where rates actually stand, since 2026 policy has already shifted multiple times, and building enough supplier flexibility that a single trade policy change doesn't put you in a corner.

That's all for this week's edition. If there's a topic you'd like us to cover, let us know — we'll get it out as soon as we can.

Until next time, Thank you for joining us.

Sources: U.S. International Trade Commission; USDA Foreign Agricultural Service; Society of American Florists; Reuters reporting on Colombian flower tariffs, February 2026.