Fresh blooms swaddled in jute and couriered by bike: it sounds like a scene from La Dolce Vita but it's all in a day's work for Hackney-based florist, Petalon. Each bouquet is delivered on two wheels and - helpfully for those panically reading this on Valentine's Day - it offers same-day delivery. Eco-warriors will melt; just make sure they don't cop off with the courier…

Phone: +44 51417 8746

These bouquets are big hitters. Founded by ex-Tom Ford confidante, Whitney Bromberg Hawkings, Flowerbx is all about dramatic, freshly cut orchids and exuberant, thick-stemmed roses rather than bitty baby's breath or other frothy fillers. The bouquets come wrapped in brown paper and tied with ribbon; for Londoners, Flowerbx will even deliver blooms pre-arranged in a vase - and not a naff one, either.

Phone: + 44 20 3696 6969

This corridor of Victorian terraced houses turned boutique-y homeware shops in Hoxton springs to life on Sunday mornings when a flurry of London florists set up camp. You'll find everything from tropical pot plants to English garden sprays here. Take out some cash first, hold your breath (it's a tight squeeze) and dive in for some bargains.

For contemporary arrangements, you can't beat Grace & Thorn. This east London florist's bouquets look like tumbling patches of wildflowers, embellished with unusual stems and loose, feathery greenery. The dried bouquets require no maintenance and will last a lifetime - ideal for those who are always on the go. Check out the "Girl Power" vase collection: a portion of the profits goes to charity.

Phone: +44 20 7739 1521

You won't find pretty, meticulously composed arrangements at this east London plant shop. It feels more like a botanical garden in miniature. Every corner is filled with gnarled potted trunks and exotic spronds sourced from far-flung lands. Some are tricky to tame so make sure to probe their resident plant specialists for care instructions before purchasing.

Join the florists and hit up London's biggest wholesaler, New Covent Garden Market, confusingly located south of the river in Nine Elms. You'll find almost any bud under the sun here and at an astonishingly good price. Be prepared to set an early alarm though - it opens at four in the morning and shuts at 10AM.

Fresh flowers with a capital F. All stems are sourced from New Covent Garden Flower Market first thing in the morning and shipped out in marvellous confabulations from the Dulwich-based HQ later the same day, so you're guaranteed longevity. The add-ons are genius too. We're not talking sad-looking boxes of truffles, but Aesop body scrubs and L:A Bruket candles.

Phone: +44 20 8693 6088

Individuality is the buzzword at Floom, an online marketplace for independent florists similar to Etsy. It's hot on its customer service; call for advice if you're struggling to gauge the right tone for the occasion or want to add a little personal touch. Each bouquet on the website is composed by an artisanal local florist and if you get your order in before 1pm you'll qualify for same-day delivery.

Phone: + 44 20 8068 7498

Yes, that one - the one that spills out of Ace Hotel's foyer in Shoreditch. The trend-focused bouquets look like the types of whimsical arrangements you might find propped on a mid-century side table in Elle Decoration. They don't come cheap but you can rest assured nobody else will have a bunch quite the same.

Phone: + 44 20 7613 9866

This one's the stealthy option, to be sent to those who are never at home. Each of Bloom & Wild's bouquets comes unassembled in a recyclable cardboard package just narrow enough to fit through a letterbox, along with instructions on how to artfully piece the sprigs together. It's a joy for crafty types, but can spell disaster for the less creative.

Phone: +44 20 3984 8341

When they're not pottering about their Hackney garden, they're snipping their home-grown delights into symphonious floral sprays for clients like Erdem and Simone Rocha. Don't expect to order a simple bouquet from these floral aficionados. These are the people to call if you're keen to impress; they're used to working on installations so expect big ideas.

Phone: +44 93018 6878

Anyone who's been to the original Petersham Nurseries in Richmond knows the score at their Covent Garden shop. Petersham do decadent bouquets picked fresh from the fields of British flower farms. Grab some floral trinkets as well as a spot of lunch while you're there.

Phone: +44 20 8940 5230