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Serra Flowers: Sustainable Floral Design in Mallorca
Oct 7, 2025
- By
Laura Pott
sustainability 2030
Serra Flowers: Sustainable Floral Design in Mallorca
Oct 7, 2025
- By
Laura Pott
At the foot of the Tramuntana mountains in Alaró, on the regenerative Solu Farm, lie the blooming fields of Serra Flowers. Founded by Lucía Serra Unzueta, this family-run business grows flowers from seed without pesticides or imports, offering bespoke floral design rooted in respect for nature. Originally from Madrid, Lucía has lived in Mallorca for four years, where she brings to life her vision of a more sustainable floral culture. With a background in fashion and design, she combines artistry with ecological awareness, transforming local flowers into unique arrangements. As autumn unfolds, we spoke with Lucía about the farm in Alaró, the challenges of growing flowers in Mallorca’s climate, and the island’s emerging floral design movement.
L.P.
Lucia, could you tell us how Serra Flowers began and what inspired you and your mother to start growing your own flowers here in Mallorca?
L.S.:

When I had my third child, Leni, I received flowers from friends abroad. They struggled to find a florist who could offer something both sustainable and contemporary. That experience sparked my curiosity. Soon after, I started researching how to grow flowers myself and took up an offer from my friend Larissa at Solu Farm to experiment with planting at their finca. That was the beginning of Serra Flowers.

L.P.
How do you and your mother share responsibilities?
L.S.:

My mother is based in Madrid but spends long periods of time in Mallorca. She mainly contributes to the flower garden and the arrangement side of things, while I focus more on client relationships, presentations, budgets, and design. We’re very close-knit, in constant communication, and always exchanging ideas about our work.

L.P.
Your fields are located at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains in Alaró. How does this unique setting influence your daily work and the flowers you grow?
L.S.:

I wish it were my farm! It actually belongs to my good friends Giuliano and Larissa from Solu Farm. Being by the mountains means the climate is always slightly cooler than the rest of the island, which helps the flowers. Personally, I love having the Alaró mountains as the backdrop to my daily work, it’s truly inspiring.

"The design process begins months in advance, when you choose your seeds. From the start, you’re already thinking about colours, seasons, and trends. Locally grown flowers have more life and character — they move, they bend, they feel alive."
L.P.
Coming from a background in fashion, how did your creative experience as a knitwear designer shape your approach to floral design?
L.S.:

Knitwear design is all about colour, texture, and shape — and I can’t think of a better career to have had before becoming a florist. It gave me an instinctive understanding of composition and layering, which now translates into my floral designs.

L.P.
Serra Flowers is a regenerative, pesticide-free project. What does sustainability mean to you in practice, and why is it important for floral design on the island?
L.S.:

Sadly, there’s real awareness around sustainability in food and cosmetics, but almost none in the flower industry. Most flowers available commercially are heavily treated with chemicals to the point where you’d want to wear gloves to handle them, and certainly not bring them close to your face. For me, sustainability in floristry means growing responsibly, avoiding harmful pesticides, and showing people that flowers can be both safe and beautiful without compromising nature.

L.P.
How does growing your own flowers, instead of importing them, change the way you design your bouquets and arrangements?
L.S.:

The design process begins months in advance, when you choose your seeds. From the start, you’re already thinking about colours, seasons, and trends. Locally grown flowers have more life and character — they move, they bend, they feel alive. In contrast, catalogue-ordered flowers all look the same and are often heavily treated with pesticides. For larger events, if I need more blooms, I first reach out to other local growers, then to growers on the peninsula who share my sustainable practices. Only if necessary I do import, and then I try to keep it within Europe.

L.P.
What are the biggest challenges of cultivating flowers in Mallorca’s climate, especially with the hot summers and water scarcity?
L.S.:

July and August are the hardest months. Some of the plants go into shock and stop producing. Thankfully, many bounce back in September, almost as if it’s a second spring. To adapt, I focus on planting varieties that can withstand the harsh summer conditions.

L.P.
Which flowers and plants are most prominent in your fields now in autumn? And are there particular ones that you like to include in your autumnal bouquets?
L.S.:

Right now we have cosmos, zinnias, scabiosa, dahlias, sunflowers, and amaranth. At the moment I enjoy using sage. Its silver tone pairs beautifully with the autumn colour palette.

L.P.
Do you have a favourite flower or colour palette that captures the spirit of Mallorca in autumn?
L.S.:

 I’ve really fallen in love with some unique varieties of sunflowers. I actually sourced the seeds on a recent trip to England, from the Royal Agricultural Society. As autumn feels like a continuation of summer or second spring their bright tones still really work.

L.P.
Floral design seems to be experiencing a real boom in Mallorca right now. Why do you think there’s so much new energy in this field, and how do you see Serra Flowers contributing to that movement?
L.S.:

I think there’s growing demand — and understanding — for something different. Spain as a whole doesn’t have a strong floral heritage compared to some other countries, but things are changing rapidly. People are becoming more open to new ideas and aesthetics, and Serra Flowers is contributing to that shift by offering a fresh, sustainable, garden-style approach.

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