The Original Los Angeles Flower Market is a bustling wholesale flower market in Downtown L.A., famous for its vibrant 55,000 square foot sales floor and deep roots in the city’s immigrant community.
While the enormous market is most popular among florists and businesses buying freshly-cut flowers in bulk, it also offers a beautiful experience for the general public to explore, pick up some colorful bouquets, and connect with the community by supporting local immigrant vendors.
Origins and history
In 1919, a group of European-American immigrant growers used a modest $500 loan to open the first edition of the Original Los Angeles Flower Market. It was initially established on Winston Street as a place to efficiently sell fresh flowers to local florists and nurseries, later relocating in the 1920s to its current location on South Wall Street.
The market quickly became a haven for Japanese, Italian, Greek, and Sephardic immigrant families who purchased land and grew flowers for wholesale. Later waves of immigrant vendors arrived in the mid-20th century from Mexico, Central America, China, and Korea, pursuing the American dream and shaping the inclusive community that persists there today.
Many of these generational businesses have endured here for decades, mutually supporting each other and the city’s broader floral industry.
Immigrant vendors have had a profound impact on the selection available at the Original Los Angeles Flower Market, from flower varieties to cultivation techniques. For example, early Japanese vendors popularized chrysanthemums and lilies, while Italian, Greek, and other European growers brought over roses, carnations, and tulips. Latin American immigrants introduced marigolds and bold, colorful flower arrangements.
While you’ll see all of these cultures and more on display year-round, holidays like Lunar New Year, Día de los Muertos, and Easter bring out some of the best arrangements.
Visiting the market today
The Original Los Angeles Flower Market has over 35 vendors with colorful flowers and plants for sale across 55,000 feet of sales floor space, not to mention a few dozen more member vendors in surrounding facilities.
Be prepared for a sensory overload of brilliant sights and scents, especially in the spring and summer when seasonal flowers are at their best. The knowledgeable vendors speak numerous languages, helping to cultivate a welcoming environment in the bustling market.
As mentioned, the market is most popular among florists, nurseries, and professionals in the local floral industry who come to buy fresh flowers in bulk below retail prices. However, the market also welcomes casual shoppers seeking bouquets, house plants, and inspiration.
It’s worth arriving early for the best selection, wearing comfortable shoes, and bringing cash for parking and some vendors.
🎟️ Admission: General admission costs $2 per person. Children 16 and under enter free when accompanied by an adult.
🗓️ Hours: 5am-12pm Monday-Thursday, 5am-2pm Friday-Saturday, closed Sunday
📍 Location: 754 Wall St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
🚗 Parking: Rooftop parking is available for $5-10 and is cash only.
🌐 Website: Original Los Angeles Flower Market