Flower Market – Hidden Flower Paradise in Mong Kok, Hong Kong

During our recent trip to Hong Kong, we visited the Flower Market in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. The abundance of colour and aromas here was truly a treat to our senses! It also provided a unique window into the local lifestyle. Also read: 15 Best Night Markets in Hong Kong You Must Visit

Flower Market

The Flower Market is a vibrant open-air market with many vendors selling fresh flowers, potted plants, and garden supplies. It is located on its namesake “Flower Market Road”.

We saw an endless array of beautiful flowers such as roses, sunflowers, tulips, bougainvillea, etc. However, our favourite was the orchids which were breathtakingly beautiful!

Other than flowers, the market also sells a variety of houseplants and bonsai trees. We also saw garden supplies such as seeds, bulbs, fertilisers, pots, gardening equipments, etc.

History of Flower Market

Flower Market Road has a history that can be traced back to the 1970s, when a large number of plant shops opened here. Therefore, the road was given the official name of “Flower Market Road” (花墟道).

Initially, the Flower Market was known to be just a wholesale market. However, it gradually evolved to become a popular place for both local flower enthusiasts and tourists in the 1990s.

This was because it was impossible for most locals to own gardens in the tiny living spaces of Hong Kong. Instead, they turned to keeping indoor flowers and houseplants, and the Flower Market evolved to meet this demand.

This demand was further fuelled in the 2000s by the development of affordable orchid hybrids in China. The Flower Market vendors imported the orchids into Hong Kong and they became extremely popular with locals.

Unlike nearby street markets, most of the vendors in Flower Market are housed in permanent shops rather than street stalls. This saved them from having to relocate or rebuild under the government redevelopment plans in the 2000s.

Best Time to Visit Flower Market

Most shops open daily from 10am to 7pm. The best time to visit would be around 10.30am when all the shops have just been stocked with fresh flowers. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends.

That said, you can probably experience wonderful colours and aromas any time of the day. We visited around 4pm on a Sunday and the market was still quite vibrant and bustling.

During the weeks preceding Lunar New Year, the market livens up to become a cauldron of activity as locals flock here to buy auspicious flowers and plants. This is a good period to visit if you want to experience the local festive vibe!

Brighten Floriculture – Popular Florist at Flower Market

Brighten Floriculture is a well-known florist that carries a large array of fresh flowers, faux flowers, and home decor items.

The shop was founded in 1979 and today it has six flower specialty shops along Flower Market Road, including a wholesale store selling flowers at great prices.

What to Eat at Flower Market

picture from OpenRice

Cafe Hay Fever is a popular flower shop / cafe along Flower Market Road that offers delicious coffee, hot chocolate, and a selection of sweet pastries.

It is hard to miss this cafe with its beautiful flowers lined up along the shop facade.

Conclusion

We enjoyed strolling through Flower Market very much. It was a great experience to see all the gorgeous flowers and also get a feel of the local lifestyle.

After admiring the flowers, we continued our Mong Kok street markets tour at the nearby Goldfish Market, Fa Yuen Street Market and Ladies Market.

Flower Market
Address: Flower Market Rd, Prince Edward, Hong Kong
Directions: 5 minute walk from Prince Edward Station Exit B1 (walk along Prince Edward Road West)
Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 7pm