Rich. Romantic. Moody. A little bit dramatic. Burgundy wedding flowers are glorious, and they’re honestly one of my absolute favourite colour palettes to work with.
And I’m not just talking about burgundy. I mean berry, wine, maroon, plum, deep raspberry and those gorgeous dark pinky-purple tones that sit somewhere between red and purple.
There are so many flowers naturally available in these colours, and unlike black flowers, you don’t have to cheat to get them.These colours deserve to be the hero.
What Colour Are Burgundy Wedding Flowers?
Burgundy is one of those colours that’s difficult to pin down. Depending on the flower, it can lean red, purple, pink or even brown. That’s part of what makes the palette so beautiful.
You might see:
- Burgundy – rich, deep red with purple undertones
- Berry – raspberry, mulberry and dark pink tones
- Wine – deep red-purple shades
- Maroon – dark, warm red
- Plum – deeper purple-burgundy
- Dark pink – particularly when it has a berry rather than rosy undertone
I wouldn’t worry too much about finding an exact match between every flower. In fact, I think these palettes look better when the shades aren’t perfectly matched.
Let the flowers move between burgundy, berry, plum and wine. That’s what gives the arrangement depth.
The Best Burgundy and Berry Flowers for Weddings
Here’s a selection of flowers I’d actually use for a wedding in this colour palette.
| Flower | Shade | Typical NZ season | Florist notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peony | Burgundy | Nov – Dec | Lush, romantic and very special. A short season, so plan around it. |
| Rose ‘Blueberry’ | Berry/plum | Imported year-round, subject to supply | A gorgeous deeper rose colour with a slightly purple undertone. |
| Rose ‘Moody Blues’ | Mauve/berry | Year-round, subject to supply | Moody and romantic, with that lovely dusky quality. |
| Dahlia | Burgundy/plum | Dec – Mar | A hero flower for an abundant garden-style wedding. |
| Cymbidium orchid | Burgundy/wine | May – Sep/Oct | One of my favourites for winter weddings. Sculptural and luxurious. |
| Anemone | Burgundy | July – Sep | Dark centres make these especially striking. |
| Ranunculus | Burgundy/berry | Oct – Dec | Romantic and beautifully layered. |
| Snapdragon | Burgundy | Most of the year, with seasonal variation | Great for height and movement. |
| Scabiosa | Burgundy/plum | Dec – Mar | Loose, textural and perfect for a garden-style bouquet. |
| Tulip | Burgundy/plum | May – Nov | Elegant and modern, particularly in a tonal bouquet. |
| Hanging amaranthus | Burgundy | Summer – autumn, subject to supply | Fantastic for movement and trailing arrangements. |
| Chocolate cosmos | Deep chocolate-burgundy | Summer – autumn | Dark, delicate and beautifully unusual. |
| Pompon gerbera | Burgundy/berry | Year-round, subject to supply | Fun and graphic rather than overly romantic. |
| Sweet William | Burgundy/berry | Spring – summer | Lovely for a relaxed, garden-grown look. |
| Lisianthus | Deep pink/berry | Most of the year, subject to supply | Technically more pink, but the darker berry shades absolutely belong here. |
These are approximate commercial seasons rather than guarantees. Flower availability varies with weather, growers, imports and what is available through the flower markets at the time of your wedding. Your florist can advise what’s looking best for your particular date.
Burgundy Peonies
If you’re getting married in spring, burgundy peonies are spectacular.
Peony season in New Zealand is short, generally running from around Late October to December, with the exact timing varying from year to year.
Most people immediately think of pale pink and white peonies, but those deep burgundy varieties are something else entirely. They’re lush, romantic and dramatic without needing much else around them.
If you’re lucky enough to have a wedding during their season, I’d absolutely consider them.
Roses
Roses give you much more flexibility because they’re available throughout the year, although individual varieties and colours can vary with supply. Two varieties I particularly like for this palette are ‘Blueberry’ and ‘Moody Blues’.
They’re not a traditional bright red rose. They’re much moodier, with berry, mauve and plum undertones that sit beautifully alongside other dark flowers. And this is where I think burgundy really starts to shine.
You don’t need every flower to be exactly the same colour. A bouquet containing several slightly different berry and wine tones can look much richer than one where everything matches perfectly.
Burgundy Dahlias
Dahlias are one of the best flowers for this palette if you’re after something abundant and gardeny.
Their season in New Zealand is generally around December to March, with the greatest choice during summer. They’re particularly good if you want your wedding flowers to feel lush, seasonal and slightly wild rather than formal.
And because dahlias come in so many different shapes and sizes, you can use several varieties without the bouquet becoming repetitive.
Burgundy Cymbidium Orchids
Now here’s a flower that makes this colour palette work outside summer.
Cymbidium orchids are a fantastic winter flower in New Zealand, with their natural flowering period running through the cooler months and into spring.
The deep burgundy and wine varieties are particularly beautiful. They’re sculptural, luxurious and have an excellent vase life, and they can take a burgundy colour palette in a completely different direction from a garden-style bouquet.
Dark Anemones
Anemones are another cool-season option. Their rich burgundy petals and dark centres make them particularly striking, and I love them because they’re not overly sweet.
They’re romantic, but they have a little attitude. That’s exactly what I want from a burgundy flower.
Burgundy Ranunculus
Ranunculus are another gorgeous option for the cooler months, generally appearing from autumn through spring in New Zealand.
Their layers of petals make them naturally romantic, and the deeper burgundy and berry varieties work beautifully in bouquets.
They’re particularly lovely when you mix them with other shades rather than trying to make every flower the same colour.
Burgundy Scabiosa
Scabiosa is where we can start making this palette feel a little more relaxed.
It’s less polished than a rose or peony and has that slightly wild, garden-grown quality that I love.
Burgundy scabiosa works beautifully with dahlias, roses, sweet William and other seasonal flowers.
Scabiosa is generally a summer flower in New Zealand, around December to March.
Burgundy Flowers by Season
One of the things I love about this colour palette is that there are dark burgundy and berry flowers available across a surprisingly long part of the year.
Spring
Spring gives you some beautiful romantic options including:
Peonies, ranunculus, tulips, anemones, snapdragons and sweet William.
This is a lovely time for a softer burgundy palette, particularly when mixed with blush, peach or ivory.
Summer
Summer is where the garden-style version of this palette really comes alive.
Dahlias, scabiosa, peonies, hanging amaranthus, sweet William and chocolate cosmos.
You can make the flowers abundant and slightly wild, with lots of texture and movement.
Autumn
Autumn is one of my favourite times for these colours.
The palette naturally works with the season, and you can bring in dahlias, chocolate cosmos, hanging amaranthus and late-season scabiosa, alongside roses and other available flowers.
This is also when burgundy starts looking particularly gorgeous with burnt orange and peach.
Winter
Don’t assume burgundy is only an autumn colour.
Winter actually gives us some beautiful options, including cymbidium orchids, anemones, ranunculus and tulips. Cymbidiums are particularly useful because they are naturally at their best during the cooler months in New Zealand.
So unlike some more difficult flower colours, you can create a beautiful burgundy wedding palette throughout the year. The exact flowers will simply change with the season.
How to Style Burgundy Wedding Flowers
Lean into it. If you’re going for burgundy, berry and wine tones, don’t be afraid of the moodiness.
Burgundy and dark foliage
This is one of my favourite ways to style this palette.
Dark, coppery foliage such as copper beech, smoke bush and feathery agonis adds another layer of depth without introducing another strong flower colour.
The result can feel moody, romantic and slightly wild. It’s particularly beautiful for an autumn or winter wedding.
Burgundy and soft pink
If all that darkness feels a little too much, soften it with pink. Burgundy and soft pink are gorgeous together because the pink takes the edge off the deeper colours without losing the richness of the palette.
You can also use different berry and pink tones throughout the bouquet so the transition feels natural.
Burgundy and fuchsia
Want something bolder? Burgundy and fuchsia are fantastic together.
It’s a much more vibrant take on the palette and feels colourful without losing that richness. This is particularly good if you love dark flowers but don’t necessarily want a moody wedding.
Burgundy, white and green
You don’t need to go all-in on dark flowers. A little burgundy pop amongst white and green can be absolutely gorgeous.
In fact, sometimes just a few burgundy flowers scattered through a lighter bouquet have more impact than making the entire arrangement dark.
Burgundy, peach and burnt orange
For an autumn wedding, this combination is hard to beat. Burgundy + peach + burnt orange creates that rich, warm, slightly vintage autumnal feeling without relying on the traditional red-and-orange autumn palette.
It’s warm, sophisticated and incredibly romantic.
How Much Burgundy Should You Use?
That’s completely up to you. You can make burgundy the hero, with an arrangement packed with dark flowers and foliage. Or you can use it as an accent.
And honestly, a little burgundy pop in a mostly white or pastel bouquet can be one of the prettiest ways to use it.
You don’t need to commit to an entirely dark wedding just because you love burgundy. Sometimes one or two deep burgundy flowers tucked amongst softer colours are enough to give a bouquet that little bit of drama.
Burgundy vs Red: What’s the Difference?
If you’re looking at this colour palette because you don’t want traditional red wedding flowers, you’re absolutely in the right place.
Burgundy, berry, plum and wine tones are deeper and more complex than a bright red. They can lean towards purple, pink or brown, depending on the flower, which gives you much more flexibility.
If you want bright red, scarlet or coral flowers, that’s a different palette. Here we’re staying firmly in the darker, richer end of the spectrum.
What About Chocolate and Brown Flowers?
If you’re looking for chocolate, caramel, tan, latte or other neutral-toned flowers, that’s a slightly different colour story. See our guide to neutral wedding flowers and colours for those shades.
Burgundy Wedding Flowers Don’t Have to Be Moody
That’s probably my favourite thing about this palette. Yes, burgundy can be moody. It can be dramatic. It can be romantic and a little bit mysterious. But it doesn’t have to be dark.
Pair it with soft pink and you’ve got something romantic and pretty. Add fuchsia and it becomes bold and energetic. Mix it with white and green and it becomes elegant. Add peach and burnt orange and suddenly you’ve got the most beautiful autumn palette.
The colour doesn’t have to dictate the mood.
That’s the fun part. And if you ask me, burgundy flowers deserve to be the hero.
Are you planning burgundy as a colour palette for your wedding flowers? I’d love to help bring you floral dream to life. Get in touch for a chat!
Continue Planning Your Wedding:
Explore More of Our Wedding Guides
- Wedding Flowers in Season – See what’s in season in NZ throughout the year.
- Wedding Flowers by Month – See what our top flower picks are for the month you’re getting married
- Wedding Flowers by Type – Get to know different flowers and when they’re available.
- Wedding Flower Colours – Check out our guides to different wedding flower colour palettes.
- Wedding Flower Planning – Get practical advice on budgets, costs and choosing your florist.
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View the Avant Garden wedding flower portfolio for more wedding flower inspiration.