Florists are feeling the pinch of higher prices for flowers.

A number of retailers say the price for both a stem or a bunch has been steadily rising in the past seven years.

Owner of Snickel Lane Florist in Auckland Amanda Brown told Mike Hosking she saw prices for roses around Valentines Day soar to $35 a bunch.

She says it is a real blow for businesses still recovering from the financial impact of Covid-19.

"Sometimes I'll go to the market and I will see flower prices come through and I just won't buy those flowers. I feel like sometimes it just prices them out of the market.

Brown adds a lack of flower imports is just the latest factor to contribute to the rise.

"The Auckland auction is on a market clock - the bidding is set buy the people actually bidding on it, and demand is high and there's not enough products coming through [and] that increases the prices."