There is a common observation among those who work with flowers: once you immerse yourself in their world and experience it from the inside, there is no turning back. Flowers draw people in with the melody of their fragrance and an extraordinary symphony of colours. You begin to wonder where they come from, how they grow, why they bloom the way they do – and after that, it becomes impossible to look at a bouquet in quite the same way. You start noticing the rhythm of each opening bud and realise that every flower has its own personality, not just its own colour.
This is exactly how the florists at XOstudio FLOWERS, located in the historic centre of Chisinau, see their craft. Every floral design is created with careful attention to both form and meaning. Here, premium bouquets with distinctive character, flower boxes and baskets featuring unexpected combinations of varieties, and elegant bridal bouquets filled with delicate beauty all come to life.
Every July, something special happens at the studio. Alina Tropanets, founder of XOstudio FLOWERS, opens the Farmer's Flower Market – a seasonal flower fair with affordable prices, where not a single imported flower can be found. Every bloom on display has been grown by local Moldovan farms. There is a good reason for this: this is when the Moldovan gladiolus begins to bloom—a flower worthy of stealing the spotlight from roses, if only for a while.
Gladiolus: A Story Rooted in Moldova
Roses, hydrangeas and peonies can be imported from the Netherlands at any time of the year. Gladiolus is different. Its long, heavy stem topped with delicate unopened buds makes it difficult to transport over long distances. Compared to compact rose stems, gladiolus flowers are far more vulnerable during transit. Shipping them in summer requires more space and carries a much greater risk of damage.
That is why, from July through September, florists naturally turn to local growers. During these months, Moldovan gladiolus takes centre stage in flower shops. Most of the harvest comes from northern Moldova, where farming families have cultivated gladiolus for decades on the region's rich black soils. The diversity is remarkable: hundreds of varieties ranging from classic white and pink blooms to ruffled, bi-coloured and deep purple flowers that appear almost black. And in this case, locally grown certainly does not mean less impressive than imported. If anything, the opposite is true.
What Makes Moldovan Gladiolus Special
Gladiolus grown in Moldova has several distinctive characteristics.
✧ First, its impressive size. The stems typically reach 1.2-1.5 metres (4-5 feet) in height. They are not delicate but thick, sturdy and substantial. A bouquet of fifteen gladiolus stems becomes surprisingly heavy and requires a stable floor vase.
✧ Second, the texture of the petals. Many varieties feature beautifully ruffled, frilled edges rather than smooth ones, giving each bloom a fuller and more sculptural appearance. The colours are equally remarkable. Soft pink petals may reveal a vibrant raspberry centre, while creamy blooms can be edged with fresh green. Rather than displaying a single shade, these flowers resemble delicate watercolour paintings.
✧ Third, the abundance of blossoms. A single flower spike may carry up to twenty buds arranged closely in two rows. Growers harvest gladiolus at the coloured bud stage, when one or two lower flowers have just opened while the remaining buds are still closed. The blooms continue opening gradually from the bottom upward, allowing the flowers to remain beautiful for up to two weeks.
Gladiolus is never simply an accent flower. It is the centrepiece of any arrangement. A monochrome bouquet of seven to nine stems displayed at varying heights in a floor vase creates a striking vertical composition with strong architectural lines. It is no surprise that gladiolus is widely used to decorate wedding arches, photo backdrops and ceremonial venues, as its tall stems hold their shape exceptionally well.
The People Behind These Flowers
Behind the gladiolus season lies a broader philosophy. Exotic flowers, including French roses, clematis, amaryllis and anthuriums, are ordered in advance by XOstudio FLOWERS from trusted partners in Ecuador, Kenya and the Netherlands, regardless of the season or weather conditions. Seasonal flowers and foliage, however, travel directly from Moldovan fields to Chisinau with almost no delay between harvesting and the vase.
The July Flower Market features flowers supplied by farms from the Edineț, Criuleni (Ghidighici) and Ialoveni (Bardar) districts. The selection changes naturally depending on what is blooming in the fields at that particular moment. The market offers a true floral portrait of the Moldovan summer. Visitors will find delicate lisianthus, airy scabiosa, colourful snapdragons, fresh green bells of Ireland (Moluccella), sunny safflower, statice and ornamental feather grass (stipa). Every flower is grown in Moldova and reaches the market almost immediately after being cut.
Visit the Flower Market
2/1 Teatralnyi Lane, every weekend.
The Flower Market offers bunches of freshly cut seasonal flowers. Choose several of your favourite varieties, take them home and create your own floral arrangement. It is much like cooking: when the ingredients are exceptional, creativity comes naturally.
Come buy flowers, enjoy the fragrance and colours, compare the shades in natural light, and paint your own summer with flowers together with XOstudio FLOWERS.
