Flowers and Plants for Floral Design

Waxflower

Chamelaucium

Daisy Pompon Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Eleagnus

Elaeagnus

Weeping Fig

Ficus

Burford Holly

Ilex

Floral Tape

Floral Wire

Asparagus ‘Sprengeri’ Fern

Asparagus

Pothos, Devil’s Ivy

Epipremnum

Dragon Tree, Red-Edge Dracaena

Dracaena marginata

Baby’s Breath, Gyp

Gypsophila

Hybrid Tea Rose

Rosa

Umbrella Plant, Umbrella sedge

Cyperus

Umbrella Tree

Schefflera, Brassaia

Leatherleaf Fern

Rumohra

Lilyturf

Liriope

Wax Begonia

Begonia

Boxwood

Buxus

Oregonia

Buxus

Croton, Joseph’s Coat

Codiaeum

Standard Carnation

Dianthus

Lemon Leaf

Gaultheria

Annual Statice

Limonium

Japanese Pittosporum

Pittosporum

Sansevieria, Mother-in-law’s Tongue, Snake Plant

Sansevieria

Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum

Lomey Bowl

Anchor Tape

Oasis

Snapdragon

Antirrhinum

Safflower

Carthamus

Bittersweet

Celastrus

Cushion Pompon Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Rubber Tree Plant

Ficus

Banjo Fig, Fiddleleaf Fig

Ficus

Sunflower

Helianthus

Monte Casino Aster

Aster

Button Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Spider Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Spiral Eucalyptus; Baby Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus

Stock

Matthiola

Myrtle

Myrtus

Splitleaf Philodendron

Philodendron

What is Floral Design?

Floral design is the art of arranging plants and other vegetation to create a balanced and eye-catching composition. It is a skill that requires mastering certain principles and elements.

Flower Shapes

Not limited to one group and can be classified depending on:

Openness of Blossom, Color intensity, Texture, Adjacent flowers, Size and Style of Arrangement. Flower shapes include: Line, Form, Mass, and Filler.

Line Flower

The skeleton of the design, it is usually placed first. It creates a long, linear pattern and creates height, width and depth. It moves the eye down the design to form flowers and other things incorporated in the design.

Examples of Line Flowers

Gladiolus, Larkspur, Liatris, Snapdragon, Stock, Delphinium, Cattail

Form Flower

The center of interest in the design, it has characteristic forms and distinctive shapes. It is sufficient alone, but it needs space between flowers if multiple are used. If multiple are used, use sparingly. It is directional facing, you don’t know what direction the flower will come in on the stem.

Form Flower Examples

Flower Example: Anthurium, Calla Lily, Lily, Orchid, Gerbera, Bird-of-Paradise

Foliage Example: Caladium, Croton leaves, Ti leaves, Cyperus

Mass Flower

The part of the design that draws attention towards the focal point, it is a single stem flower, with often one solid, rounded head. When placing you want to make sure the flowers are added at different levels at random to avoid creating a line, unless it is intentional. These flowers are used to cover mechanics.

Mass Flower Examples:

Chrysanthemum, Rose, Carnation, Leatherleaf fern, Lemonleaf, Galax leaf

Filler Flower

The background in a design, these flowers create the background in the design. Normally small and delicate, they add accent to the design and fill the empty spaces. These flowers complete the design and are often bunchy or feathery.

Floral Accessories

Serve same function as flowers with different material;

EX: Pine cones, berry clusters, novelty items, ribbon loops, feathers, etc.

Color

Property of light, the eye perceives this in relation to the environment

Primary colors

Foundation colors: Red, Blue, Yellow

Secondary color

Orange, Green, Purple

Tertiary color

Red Orange, Yellow Orange, Yellow Green, Blue Green, Blue Violet, Red Violet

Form

Geometric shape that forms outline of design; 3-D

Has four types: Closed, Open, Classic, Interpretive

Texture

Surface quality of plant material (or other design component) that can be seen or felt.

Often overlooked, can add variety to design; visual interest

Line

The primary foundation; visual path; structural framework; produces motion; created by movement; eyes must move to follow it; potential…

Space

A 3-D area in and around design components

Fragrance

An optional extra, it adds dimension and increases awareness and enjoyment; adds a more complete sensory satisfaction

Composition

The organization or grouping of different parts to achieve a unified whole; Theme, color, size, message, and placement are all considered BEFORE making arrangement

Harmony

Pleasing, aesthetic quality created by careful selection of parts for a composition

Unity

State of being one; Ways to achieve: Proximity, repetition, continuation/transition; too much is DULL

Focal Point

Center of interest; Directs eye location; Use color, size, shape and pattern, spacing, texture, accessories, line direction, directional facing, framing, and isolation to achieve

Rhythm

Flow or movement characterized by the regular recurrence of elements or features; expresses a feeling of motion, not confusion; Achieved by: repetition, radiating lines, transition

Balance

Feeling of both physical and visual stability; quality that gives a sense of equilibrium

Proportion

Comparative size relationship between ingredients within the design as well as to the whole design

Size/Scale

Overall size of an object compared with other objects; Flowers to container; Flowers to flowers; Flowers to foliage; Arrangement to surroundings

Color Wheel

Used to study colors and relationships, twelve colors (hues), with three categories

Neutral Colors

White, Black, Grey, also Brown, Green

Color Value

Measurement of the amount of light reflected

Tint

Color + White

Shade

Color + Black

Color Intensity

Brightness of concentration of a color

Tone

Color + Grey

Color: Psychological Effects

Sets the mood and creates emotion

Warm + Cool Colors

Creates visual excitement and increases depth

Warm Colors

Red, Orange, Yellowā

Cool Colors

Blue, Green, Purple

Color Schemes

Determined by flowers and accessory colors; the green in foliage and stems do not count, along with neutral colors. Scheme Examples: Monochromatic, Analogous

Contrasting Schemes

Visually stimulating, unrelated colors from distant parts of color wheel

Complementary

Orange and Blue; Red and Green; Yellow and Purple

Split Complementary

The two hues that are directly adjacent to the opposite color.

EX. Yellow with red violet and blue violet

Triadic Color Scheme

Three hues that are equally spaced

Discordant Color Schemes

Four different colors, widely spaced on color wheel

Double Complement

Two sets of complementary colors

Tetrad

Four hues that are equally spaced

Closed Form

Solid, Compact, Mass

Open Form

Spreading, Radiating, Space between parts

Classic Form

Simple Harmony, Not “trendy”

Interpretive Form

Variation of a shape, Combination of a shape, Discretion of Designer

Texture is analyzed by:

Comparison between objects, Association with each other, Distance

Texture change should…

be done in a logical and graduated manner; proceed in a sequence; not block continuity

Coarse texture in the background…

Contracts composition; Appears closer

Finer texture in the background…

Expands composition; appears farther away

Texture and Colors

Delicate colors; Brown/ dark colors

Actual Line

Produced by linear material

Implied Line

Produced by placement of round mass flowers