East Tennessee Florists and Farmers Overcome Tariffs for Valentine's Day

Local flower growers and shops adapt to higher costs to ensure abundant blooms for the holiday.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Despite international tariffs driving up the price of flowers, florists and flower farmers in East Tennessee have taken steps to ensure ample stock for Valentine's Day. Maryville's Rainbow Roots Floral grew over 50,000 tulips, while Knoxville's Flourish Flowers sourced more from local and U.S. farms to combat the tariffs. Other shops like Parkridge Petals and Three Rivers Market are also supporting regional growers to provide Valentine's Day bouquets.

Why it matters

Valentine's Day is a critical sales period for the local flower industry, and these businesses have had to get creative to maintain affordable prices and abundant inventory for customers in the face of rising international flower costs due to tariffs.

The details

East Tennessee flower farms like Rainbow Roots Floral in Maryville began planning for Valentine's Day as early as the prior February, ordering 50,000 tulip bulbs from Holland to grow locally. Florists like Flourish Flowers in Knoxville have had to be more selective in sourcing flowers, leaning more on U.S. and regional suppliers to avoid the 15% tariffs on certain imported blooms. Other shops like Parkridge Petals and Three Rivers Market are also supporting local growers to provide Valentine's Day bouquets, despite small increases in wholesale flower prices.

  • Rainbow Roots Floral begins planning for the following Valentine's Day on February 15.
  • Parkridge Petals starts planting flowers for Mother's Day on Thanksgiving, as the cool season allows them to harvest in the spring.

The players

Rainbow Roots Floral

A flower farm in Maryville, Tennessee that grew over 50,000 tulips to prepare for Valentine's Day, leaning into pastel, hot pink, and blush-colored blooms.

Flourish Flowers

A Knoxville-based florist that sources more flowers from local and U.S. farms to combat the 15% tariffs on imported blooms.

Parkridge Petals

An "urban flower farm" located just northeast of Knoxville Smokies stadium Covenant Health Park that plans a year in advance for Mother's Day by planting cool season flowers over the winter.

Three Rivers Market

A Knoxville grocery store that is a popular place to purchase flowers supporting local growers and florists.

Savanna Hobbs

The co-owner of Rainbow Roots Floral.

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What they’re saying

“Everyone's kind of ready for flowers at this time because you've had a dark winter where you've had all the snow and everything. And people just want some beauty this time of year.”

— Savanna Hobbs, Co-owner, Rainbow Roots Floral (knoxnews.com)

“I plan for Mother's Day a year in advance by ordering seeds, bulbs and corms for the next year. I start planting plants on Thanksgiving for Mother's Day because here we can grow cool season flowers over the winter, and they are ready to harvest in the spring.”

— Kristine Moody, Owner, Parkridge Petals (knoxnews.com)

What’s next

Customers can purchase flowers from Rainbow Roots Floral by visiting the farm or stopping by Flourish Flowers in Knoxville, which sources tulips from Rainbow Roots. Parkridge Petals and Three Rivers Market are also options for finding locally-grown Valentine's Day bouquets.

The takeaway

Despite facing higher costs due to international tariffs, East Tennessee's flower growers and florists have found creative ways to ensure an abundant supply of beautiful blooms for Valentine's Day. Their commitment to sourcing locally and growing specialty flowers demonstrates the resilience of the regional flower industry.