• Zezé

  398 East 52nd Street, 212-753-7767

  Romantics have been falling for Zezé’s lush, vibrant concoctions for more than 25 years. Minimalists steer clear—this Brazilian florist is all about colorful extravagance. Shown here: a cocktail of a whopping nine kinds of flowers, arranged in a Tiffany & Co. vase ($500). Arrangements start at $65.

• Seaport Flowers

  214 Hicks Street, Brooklyn Heights, 718-858-6443

  Seaport Flowers jazzes up traditional, familiar flowers by combining them with unexpected greens and even produce. In this arrangement, white roses and amaryllis meet fiddlehead ferns and artichokes ($125). Arrangements start at $40.

• Miho Kosuda

  310 East 44th Street, 212-922-9122

  Miho Kosuda is the fashion world’s “It” florist—her client list includes Anna Wintour, Manolo Blahnik, and Isaac Mizrahi. Her style? Simple but lush, as in the arrangement above: more than 70 roses (from Holland, France, and Ecuador) packed into a classic glass vase ($250). Arrangements start at $65.

• Studio Artiflora

  144 West 19th Street, 212-645-1177

  Brian McRonald, a former creative director at Guerlain, makes absolutely sure that his arrangements are like no others. Sizes range from truly tiny (two stems and greens) to something like this: a grapevine basket with Black Beauty and Trixx roses, daffodils, tulips, and more ($185). Arrangements start at $25.

• Banchet Flowers

  809 Washington Street, 212-989-1088

  With its signature offbeat, architectural style, Banchet Flowers was an instant hit with interior designers when it opened in 2001. Shown here, pink phalaenopsis and mini Dirkjeas orchids with Clarinervi leaves in a Christian Tortu vase ($385). Arrangements start at $100.

• LMD

  437 East 12th Street, 212-614-2734

  East Village newcomer Lewis Miller is a Belle Fleur alum whose designs evoke specific moods (happy, sultry, you name it) and come in collectible containers. Shown here, sweet peas, lilacs, hellebore, and fritillaria in a handmade vase by Michael Humphreys ($175). Arrangements start at $100.

From the 2003 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine