You walk into the store and that scent hits you—the specific mix of fleece remnants, wood shavings, and heavy-duty adhesive. It’s familiar. But if you’re heading straight for the back corner where the JOANN fabrics silk flowers live, you’re likely looking for something that doesn't actually exist.
Real talk: "Silk" is a total misnomer. Almost nothing in those long, plastic-sleeved bins is made of actual silk anymore. We’re talking polyester, people. Most of the stems you’ll find at JOANN are synthetic blends designed to survive a dusty wreath on a front door for five years.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed. You see the Bloom Room branding everywhere, the seasonal shifts from pumpkins to poinsettias, and the constant "40% off" signs that make you wonder if anyone ever pays full price. (Pro tip: they don't, and you shouldn't either). But there’s a massive difference between the $2.99 filler stems and the high-end "real touch" varieties that actually look like they belong in a vase and not a graveyard.
The "Real Touch" vs. Cheap Polyester Debate
Most shoppers grab whatever color looks "close enough" to what they want. That’s a mistake. If you want your house to look like a curated Pinterest board and not a craft fair from 1994, you have to hunt for the specialty textures.
JOANN carries a line often labeled as "Real Touch" or "Natural Touch" within their Bloom Room collection. These aren't just fabric; they’re often coated in a thin layer of latex or a specialized polymer. When you squeeze the petal, it gives. It feels cool, almost damp, like a real petal. Compare that to the standard JOANN fabrics silk flowers that have those frayed, white-threaded edges. Those frayed edges are the ultimate giveaway of a "fake" flower. If you see threads, put it back.
The physics of a flower matter. Real peonies have a certain weight to their heads. They droop slightly. Cheap fakes stand up perfectly straight like plastic soldiers. When you’re browsing the aisles, look for stems that have a wired core that extends all the way into the smaller offshoots. This lets you mimic gravity.
Why seasonality is a lie (but a useful one)
JOANN operates on a retail calendar that is roughly two months ahead of reality. You’ll see spring tulips in January and Christmas pine needles in September. This is actually the best time to buy.
👉 See also: Why the Man Black Hair Blue Eyes Combo is So Rare (and the Genetics Behind It)
The "New Arrivals" are always the most expensive, but they also have the best structural integrity. Faux flowers that have been sitting in those metal bins for three months get "crushed petal syndrome." Once that polyester leaf gets a sharp crease in it, it’s basically permanent. You can try a garment steamer—and honestly, every serious crafter should own one—but some creases are forever.
Understanding the Bloom Room Hierarchy
JOANN consolidated most of their floral under the Bloom Room house brand a few years back. It’s their way of vertical integration. But not all Bloom Room stems are created equal.
The Seasonal Value Stems: These are usually near the front of the store or on endcaps. They’re cheap. They’re bright. They’re also usually very "plastic-y." Great for a kid’s school project or a cemetery wreath where UV rays will destroy them anyway, but terrible for home decor.
The "Luxury" Stems: These are the ones usually sold individually rather than in pre-made bushes. Look for the ones with "flocked" stems. Flocking is that fuzzy, green texture that mimics the peach fuzz on a real gerbera daisy or poppy. It hides the plastic shine.
The Greenery: Honestly? This is where JOANN usually wins. Their eucalyptus and lamb’s ear varieties are surprisingly high-quality. The secret to a good faux arrangement isn't the flower; it's the dirt and the leaves. If the leaves look like stamped plastic, the whole thing looks fake. If the leaves have variegated colors—darker greens on top, lighter on the bottom—you’ve hit the jackpot.
The UV Problem Nobody Tells You About
Here is a hard truth: JOANN fabrics silk flowers are generally not UV-treated unless specifically marked for "Outdoor" use.
✨ Don't miss: Chuck E. Cheese in Boca Raton: Why This Location Still Wins Over Parents
If you put a standard purple hydrangea from the indoor aisle on your porch, it will be a sad, dusty blue in three weeks. The sun eats the dye in polyester. If you’re decorating an outdoor space, you have to look for the "Outdoor" tags, which are usually made of a thicker, more rubberized material. They feel "waxy." That wax is the barrier against the sun.
How to Shop JOANN Without Getting Ripped Off
Never pay full price. Seriously.
The JOANN business model is built on the "High-Low" strategy. The "Regular Price" of a high-quality peony stem might be $12.99. That’s insane. Nobody should pay $13 for one fake flower. But JOANN almost always has a 40% or 50% off coupon in their app, or the entire floral category goes on sale every other week.
If you’re buying in bulk for a wedding, wait for the "Buy 1 Get 1 Free" or the "60% off entire floral" events. They happen frequently. Use the app. Scan the barcode in the aisle to see the actual price, because the signs on the shelves are often misleading or outdated.
Dealing with the "Smell"
New faux flowers have a chemical off-gassing scent. It’s the dyes and the glues. If you’re making a bridal bouquet, don't finish it the night before. Give those stems a week to breathe in a garage or a well-ventilated room. Some people swear by spraying them with floral scents, but that usually just creates a weird "perfumed plastic" vibe. Just let them air out.
Technical Tips for Working with JOANN Stems
Don't use your good sewing scissors. You’ll ruin them.
🔗 Read more: The Betta Fish in Vase with Plant Setup: Why Your Fish Is Probably Miserable
The stems of JOANN fabrics silk flowers are made of thick steel wire wrapped in plastic. You need heavy-duty wire cutters. If you try to bend the wire back and forth until it snaps, you’ll just fray the plastic coating and end up with a mess.
- The Steaming Trick: If your flowers arrive flattened from a shipping box or a crowded bin, hold them over a boiling kettle or use a clothes steamer for 5 seconds. The heat softens the plastic "memory" of the polyester, and the petals will bloom open.
- The Glue Gun Dilemma: High-temp glue guns can actually melt the thinner "silk" petals. Use a low-temp gun if you're doing delicate work.
- Vase Water Illusion: If you’re putting them in a glass vase, don't use real water. It will rust the wire cores and turn the water brown. Use "acrylic water" kits (also sold at JOANN) or just keep the vase dry. If you must use water for the look, coat the bottom of the wire stems in clear nail polish or hot glue to seal the metal.
The Sustainability Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about the fact that "silk" flowers are essentially permanent plastic. They aren't biodegradable. While they last longer than a bouquet of real roses that dies in four days, they eventually end up in a landfill.
To mitigate this, buy the higher-quality stems that you won't want to throw away in six months. Look for "timeless" florals—creams, soft greens, muted blushes—rather than the neon-dyed "glitter" roses that scream "temporary decor."
Also, check the clearance section at the end of every season. JOANN marks down their seasonal floral to 70% or even 90% off. This is the "hidden" graveyard of the store. You can find incredible greenery in the Christmas clearance that works for year-round arrangements if you just snip off the stray red berry or pinecone.
Final Verdict: Is it worth it?
Is shopping for JOANN fabrics silk flowers better than going to a high-end wholesale florist? Maybe not for a million-dollar wedding. But for the average person who wants a dining room table that doesn't look depressing in February? Yeah, it’s a solid choice.
The variety is the real selling point. You can touch the product, which you can't do on Amazon or specialized online floral sites. You can hold a stem of dusty miller up against a ranunculus and see if the colors actually vibrate together.
Just remember: check for frays, feel for the "real touch" coating, and for the love of all things holy, use a coupon.
Actionable Next Steps
- Download the JOANN app before you go. Check the "Weekly Ad" section specifically for "Bloom Room" discounts.
- Perform the "Fray Test." Run your finger along the edge of a petal. If threads come off, it's a low-quality stem.
- Invest in wire cutters. Stop ruining your kitchen shears or craft scissors on those steel-core stems.
- Buy a steamer. It is the single most important tool for making "fake" flowers look like "faux" flowers.
- Mix your textures. Buy three different types of greenery for every one type of flower. It creates the "wildflower" look that is currently trending in high-end floral design.