Transcript Flower Choice Considerations

Flower Choice Considerations
Tips from Years of Experience
Problematic
Dahlias – short vase life & damage easily
Asiatic Lilies (stargazer & casablanca
good choices)
Hydrangeas – esp. summer – they must
always be in direct water (they even have
trouble in foam – put them in a vase with
just water)
Gardenias – blemish easily, short vase life
Problematic – Short Vase Life/Wilt
Sweet Pea
Pansies
Anemone
Any wispy-looking garden flower
Problematic – the color blue
Most blue flowers are either:
Actually purple
Dyed (artificial)
Recommended real blue flowers:
Delphinium – light & dark blue
Iris (will always have a yellow accent in center)
Eryngium (Blue Thistle)
Seasonal – aka only available certain
times of year
Dahlias
Daffodils, Hyacinth, Ranunculus, Allium –
any spring flowering item (EXCEPT
TULIPS – they are available all year)
Peony
Lilac
Viburnum
Order Ahead of Time to Prepare – They
need time to open
 Alstroemeria
 Any type of Lily
 Flowering branches (few weeks ahead)
 Freesia
 Gladiolus
 Iris
 Order them for the beginning of the week and
keep out of cooler to allow to open
Not problems, but steps that should be
taken to avoid them
 Gerbera – always wire & tape
 Tulips – put further into the design because they
will grow/elongate and become taller
 Hydrangea – dip stems in alum (pickling spice)
after you cut them from the wholesaler
 Hypericum – take larger leaves off, as they
yellow quickly
 Bird of Paradise – must open yourself
 Snapdragons – put in vase only – don’t like foam
Strong, Easy Flower Choices
 Dendrobium, Cymbidium Orchids, Vanda (NOT
Phaleonopisis- very delicate)
 Carnations
 Chrysanthemum of any type
 Roses
 Tropicals – Ginger, Bird of Paradise, Leucodendron
 Stock
 Calla/Mini Calla
 Asters
 Sunflower
Flowers of Higher Price
Lily of the Valley
Gloriosa Lily
Stephanotis
Calla Lily/MiniCalla
Orchids (except dendobiums- inexp.)
Suggestions to Help Brides
 Hydrangea in the summer – not in the bouquets
OR silk/dried hydrangea in the bouquet
 Garden Rose varieties = Peony
 Use dendrobium orchids to substitute for
Phaleonopsis
 Purple stock can be a good sub for lilac (similar
look & a fragrant flower)
 Use stargazer/casablanca varieties of lilies
instead of asiatic