How Silk Flowers Help San Diego’s Businesses and Restaurants Thrive

There’s a new botanical hero in town. Silk flowers (also known as faux flowers) are having a major moment, and San Diego business owners are reaping the rewards. 

From Anthro-inspired window displays to epic restaurant entrances, faux flowers are transforming storefronts and interiors across America’s finest city. But this isn’t just another design fad, there’s data and history behind the rise of “not-real.” Let’s dig into how silk flowers are helping small businesses and restaurants thrive.

A Modern Movement of Silk Flowers in the U.S.

While faux flowers have been around for decades, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that silk flowers truly began to blossom in the American floral design scene. Thanks to advances in manufacturing, silk flowers become more realistic, durable, and accessible. Interior designers, hospitality groups, and small business owners across the U.S. started to see the potential with this low-maintenance decor option. In San Diego, the movement took off as local shops, restaurants, and boutiques embraced the idea of keeping their spaces colorful and floral year-round, without the expenses of needing to invest in landscaping services to maintain live plants, or install an irrigation system to keep plants looking their best. 

Why Silk Flowers Work

Silk flowers are more than just a pretty way to get customers in store. Studies published in peer-reviewed journals like the Food Quality and Preference journal shows that floral displays, real or faux, can boost your mood, which may increase time spent at a restaurant or cafe, and can even encourage spending. Businesses with floral installations, including ours, have seen an increase in positive customer feedback and more return visits.

For small businesses and restaurants, it’s more than a petal-powered placebo, it’s a proven way to build loyalty and create photo-worthy moments that keep customers coming back.

How Silk Flowers Transform Spaces

Here are four creative ways Native Poppy has helped local San Diego businesses bloom with silk floral installations:

1. Show-Stopping Storefronts

Native Poppy Exterior Store Installs

Eye-catching faux flower arches and window displays draw in foot traffic from busy San Diego streets. For our flower shops in South Park and Solana Beach, we’ve created bold and colorful entrances that make passersby stop and snap a photo (hello, social media buzz!)

2. Restaurant and Bar Ambiance

From intimate beer gardens in South Park to relaxing getaways at a Del Mar hotel, our team has created silk florals to help set the perfect mood for any night out. Faux flowers means no wilting, no allergens, and no fuss – just a lasting and fresh look that acts as a beautiful backdrop while your customers enjoy time with friends and family.

Estancia La Jolla Estancia in Bloom

For Estancia La Jolla, we transformed the Greenfinch Bar into “Estancia in Bloom,” a stunning botanical speakeasy filled with vibrant, floor-to-ceiling silk floral installations. The floral installation was a huge success, drawing guests eager to experience the unique atmosphere and enjoy the hotel’s seasonal cocktails. Our design created an inviting space that encouraged visitors to linger, snap photos, and share their experiences, helping to boost the hotel’s appeal and foot traffic.

Bock Beer Garden

Silk flowers paired with ribbons help transport you to Oktoberfest at North Park’s newest hotspot, Bock Beer Garden. To celebrate its opening, we brought the space to life with vibrant silk floral installations, adding a fresh pop of color that perfectly complements the laid‑back, European‑inspired vibe. Silk flowers created an inviting backdrop for guests to sip, relax, and snap plenty of photos, making this beer garden as beautiful as it is fun.

3. Popups and Events

From L’Auberge’s vibrant poolside installation to Kendra Scott’s Coastal Cowgirl pop-up, we’ve seen how silk and dried florals instantly elevate events and retail spaces. These designs not only create a memorable atmosphere but also draw guests in, inspire photo moments, and turn everyday spaces into destinations.

Kendra Scott Jewelry Boutique

We loved creating a dried and silk floral installation for Kendra Scott’s Coastal Cowgirl pop-up, instantly adding character and charm. Our designs are inspired by the natural beauty of Southern California’s deserts and beaches. This installation transformed a simple retail moment into an experience guests couldn’t resist photographing.  

Au La La Boutique

Au La La is a stunning boutique featuring modern, timeless clothing. We absolutely love their floral dress designs. When shop owner Au Nguyen reached out to us to create these cloud-shaped hanging dried floral installations for her display windows, we couldn’t wait to bring her vision to life. Her beautiful shop is located in the Valley Fair Westfield Fashion Center, and has been a great way to get foot traffic into her shop.

L’Auberge Hotel and Rooftop Bar 

Opening Day at L’Auberge was all about creating an unforgettable experience, and we loved transforming the pool deck into a lush, floral destination that drew guests straight to the bar. With vibrant seasonal blooms and eye-catching installations framing the space, every detail was designed to capture that perfect Opening Day energy. Guests couldn’t resist snapping photos, sipping cocktails, and soaking up the elevated atmosphere we brought to life with flowers.

4. Floral Experiences in Public Spaces

In today’s digital age, businesses including malls and shopping centers need creative ways to attract customers for in-person shopping. We love collaborating with shopping centers like One Paseo to bring floral designs into public spaces, creating inviting spots where friends, families, and even pets can enjoy time together while shopping. Vertical floral or plant walls and large-scale floral installations not only enhance the experience but also inspire customers to share their photos online, helping spread the word and drive new traffic to these locations.

One Paseo Red Studebaker Truck

We had so much fun dressing up One Paseo’s Red Studebaker Truck with silk blooms to create the perfect display - a popular photo-op all summer long.

North City Shopping Center in San Marcos

We brought a seasonal floral experience to North City, the vibrant shopping and dining hub in San Marcos, to make every visit memorable. For the past two years, our installations have created photo-worthy backdrops for families, friends, and even pets to enjoy while grabbing a bite or an ice cream. It’s a tradition we love refreshing each year to keep the experience fun and inviting.

Ready to Elevate Your Space with Silk Flowers? 

Native Poppy creates artful, one-of-a-kind silk flower installations for both individuals and business clients – we’ll help you dream up something magical. We can help you determine whether walls, ceilings, entryways, or unexpected nooks can receive a floral glow up. 

Silk flowers are more than just a trend–they’re a strategic and beautiful way to help businesses thrive. Whether you’re looking to elevate your spaces and charm shoppers, or just to make the space feel a little more special, faux flowers offer endless possibilities with none of the fuss. Ready to see your business bloom year-round? Native Poppy is here to help you plant the seeds of success, one silk petal at a time.