Flowers and Leaves for Flower Arrangements

Flowers and Leaves for Flower Arrangements

Contact: Diane Relf, Extension Specialist, Environmental Horticulture

Posted April 1997

It would be nearly impossible to standardize flower forms, as we standardize the design forms that are based on the pyramid, the cube, and the globe. While species have the same general shapes, these shapes vary with different varieties and even with individual flowers of the same variety. Many are combinations of geometric forms—the daffodil has a circle of outer petals with a cone-shaped trumpet in the center.

Most flowers change their shapes as they open—a rose bud is oval, full blown it is round; a gladiolus will change from a triangular to a rectangular shape as the florets open. But since flowers do have shapes, these shapes must be considered and must be fitted together in such a way that one will complement the other. For flower arranging they can be generally classified in four ways:

  1. Line flowers - These are the tall, spike-like forms with florets attached along the main stem. Florets may be sessile (no stems) - like the mullein; have short stems (called pedicels) -- like the gladiolus; or have longer pedicels—like the lily-of-the-valley. Line flowers are used to establish the main lines, to form the silhouette, and to determine the size of the composition. Some examples of these flowers are: cattails, delphinium, fox-glove, larkspur, lupine, pussy willow, okra, salvia, snapdragon, stock and veronica.

  2. Mass flowers - These may be single stems with one solid flower head (zinnia); a single stem with a cluster of nearly flat-topped florets (Queen Ann's lace); a cluster of ball-shaped florets (glove thistle); or a compact spray (lilac). Other examples or mass flowers are: aster, canna, carnation, dahlia, daisy, geranium, peony, phlox, marigold, rose, sweet william. If used with line flowers, mass flowers are placed near or at the center of interest. If used alone, the buds and smallest flowers should be placed at the outer edges, and growing larger as they approach the focal point.

  3. Filler flowers - These grow on lateral stems and are often quite small and lacking in character, but are useful in the transition area between the silhouette and the focal point. Placed toward the back and low, they do add depth. There are two kinds of filler flowers: Bunchy - many stems with small flowers that have a well defined shape, such as feverfew, pompon asters and mums, ageratum, limonium (Statice sinuata); Misty or feathery - like the baby's breath, sea lavender (Statice latifolia) and white mugwort (Artemesia lactiflora).

  4. Interest flowers - These are the "eye-catchers", the flowers that have different, distinctive, or unusual forms. Among this type would be the calla, gloriosa and rubrum lilies, the parrot tullip, daffodil, crested cockscomb, iris, cleome—and of course the exotics—the orchid, anthurium and strelitzia. These flowers are of greatest value when used at the focal point, but those with strong bold outlines (especially the exotics) can be used to silhouette the design. If they are used in this way, they should not be combined with other flowers, for they are more beautiful when used alone. Foliage and leaf forms are classified in the same way as flowers. It is wise to use the same shapes together—linear flowers with linear foliage, etc.

  5. Line foliage - Linear foliage, like linear flowers, determine the size and the silhouette and strength of the flower lines. They can be roughly divided into: Narrow linear—the iris, gladiolus, daffodil, yucca leaves; the sanseveria plant and the scouring rushes. Broad linear—aspidistra, canna, ti leaves, dracena, tulip. Many of these broader forms can be rolled into narrow shapes. Branching types—that have a linear effect include Scotch broom, eucalyptus, and lycopocium.

  6. Mass foliage - These are broad leaves and shorter, used as backgrounds for mass flowers and to add weight. Wide leaves include the bergenia, hydrangea, castor-bean, hosta, magnolia, peony, pothos and violet.

  7. Filler foliage - This type is used mostly for background and transition material and to increase the depth. These lack well defined forms but are useful to blend the various units together. In this group are some of the ferns (Maidenhair, pluosus, boston), artemesia (Silver King), arborvitae, huckleberry, parsley, wormwood.

  8. Interest foliage - These have distinctive shapes (cut-leaf philodendron) or brilliant colors (caladium), these should be used with much care lest they "steal the show." A few examples are the begonias (Rex and Angle Wing), coleus, calla lily, croton, variegated ti leaf, fancy leaf philodendron, and many variegated leaves (geranium, hosta, ivy, and pachysandra.)

(Prepared by Virginia Nathan, Extension Technician, Consumer Horticulture, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0327, from Basic Floral Design class materials provided by John Martin, former Assistant Professor of Horticulture.)

Visit Virginia Cooperative Extension test