Gardeners Tips

Growing Euphorbia for Flower Arrangements

• Spurge, Milkweed or Euphorbia is a genus of hardy shrubs, succulents and perennials that are striking in appearance and invaluable in the garden or for flower arranging.
• Leaves are usually lance shaped and stems contain a milky sap that can irritate your skin.
• Varieties to grow for flower arranging include;
  Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae with evergreen rosettes of dark green leaves and lime green bracts.
  Euphorbia amygdaloides purpurea a marooon stemed variety.
  Euphorbia characias wulfenii with blue green leaves that grow up to 4 feet.
  Euphorbia polychroma with bright yellow bracts.
  Euphorbia myrsinites is a prostrate form with grey glacous leaves
  Euphorbia griffithii is a hardy perennial that dies down each winter but young foliage is reddish green and the flowers are orange-red.
• These plants are interesting and easy to grow and add shape and texture to your garden.

Special Tips for Flower Arranging with Euphorbia

• Do not cut when the Euphorbia are too immature or the stems will wilt.
• Cut stems must immediately be sealed by flame to stop sap oozing out.
• Resinge or reseal if you trim the ends when re-cutting.
• Vase life should be 7-10 days if conditioned in a bucket of water overnight first.

A full array of books on Flower Arranging and related subjects is available from Amazon. You will find more advice and artistic inspiration amongst this selection.

I would also recommend horticultural flower shows where I am always stunned by the floral arrangement amongst the plants on display.

Top Ten Euphorbia selected from a range of a over 2000 varieties in the genus.

Euphorbia are a wide range of plants many of which are suitable for flower arranging where the bracts and leaves both add interest.
Turn your arrangements into botanical works of art – here are some examples and clubs you could join.
To grow a generic mix of flowers for arrangements and bouquets check out Thompson & Morgan

Other plants in this series
Dahlia
Pittosporum
Alstroemeria
Fatsia Japonica
Corkscrew hazel
Phormium

Growing Pittosporum for Flower Arrangements

• Pittosporum is a genus of evergreen shrubs and small trees that grow well in coastal areas and sheltered situations.
• The popular cut foliage has pale green undulate leaves on black twiggy stems.
• Pittosporum tennuifolium is the most popular species with florists and gardeners as it is hardy
• Other colours of leaf are available including Pittosporum tennuifolium Purpureum (above), Pittosporum tennuifolium Variegatum with crinkled greeny white leaves and Pittosporum tennuifolium Warnham Gold.

Flower Arranging by Mark Welford and Stephen Wicks

Special Tips for Flower Arranging with Pittosporum

• The dense nature of the leaves on the black twiggy stems makes Pittosporum a good filler for a hand tied arrangement.
• Before using the stems split them and stand them in a bucket of cold water overnight.
• Bunches can be wrapped in cellophane as a gift or used in a bridal bouquet
• To make a hand-tied bunch hold the stem of the first piece of plant in your hand and gradually add one piece at a time. Spiral the the stems in one direction only as you build up your design. When the bunch is complete tie off with raffia or twine at the point where your hand held the bunch. Finally trim the bottom of the stalks to the same length (it might even stand up on it’s own.)

A full array of books on Flower Arranging and related subjects is available from Amazon. You will find more advice and artistic inspiration amongst this selection.

I would also recommend the Harrogate spring flower show where I am always stunned by the floral arrangement amongst the plants on display.

Credits
Pittosporum Tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’ by áš›Tilly Mint ášœ, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Pittosporum in the rain by wallygrom CC BY-SA 2.0
Pittosporum tenuifolium by chuck b. CC BY 2.0

Pittosporum tenuifolium can be used for flower arranging to good effect due to the dense nature of the crinkly edged leaves on dark stems. grow in sheltered locations to get plenty of useful foliage.

To grow a generic mix of flowers for arrangements and bouquets check out Thompson & Morgan

Other plants discussed in this series
Dahlia
Euphorbia
Alstroemeria
Fatsia Japonica
Corkscrew hazel
Phormium

Bold and glossy Fatsia Japonica is easy to grow and incorporate into your flower arrangements.

Using Fatsia Japonica for Flower Arrangements

• Fatsia Japonica or Aralia Japonica is also known as ‘Fig Leaf Palm’.
• It is a useful evergreen shrub growing up to 15 feet tall.
• It tolerates maritime conditions and temperatures down to minus 10 C.
• Panicles of milky white, globular flowers are produced in Autumn followed by black berries.
• Can be underplanted with Hostas to provide two sources of flower arranging material.

Church Flowers: The Essential Guide to Arranging Flowers in Church by Judith Blacklock

Special Tips for Flower Arranging with Fatsia

• Fatsia has hand shaped, leathery leaves are apple-green in colour.
• The bold shiny leaves work well in traditional flower arrangements.
• The different sized leaves which the plant produces are useful for different types of arrangement.
• The leaves should be cut a day before arranging and given a long deep drink.
• The edge of the leaves or fingers can be clipped to a shape that suits your arrangment.
• The leaves can be laid flat to form a green base of splayed finger shapes.

A full array of books on Flower Arranging and related subjects is available from Amazon. You will find more advice and artistic inspiration amongst this selection.

I would also recommend the Harrogate spring flower show where I am always stunned by the floral arrangement amongst the plants on display.

To grow a generic mix of flowers for arrangements and bouquets check out Thompson & Morgan

Other plants discussed in this series
Dahlia
Euphorbia
Pittosporum
Alstroemeria
Corkscrew hazel
Phormium

Credits
ARALIACEAE 五加科 – Japan Fatsia (Fatsia japonica) 八角金盤 by kaiyanwong223 CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Fatsia japonica Flowers by the justified sinner CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

A well stocked cutting garden can be a flower arrangers delight.
The gardener in the family can earn significant brownie points if they can provide foliage to complement the flowers.

What Makes a Cutting Garden

• A part of the garden dedicated to growing plant material for decoration and flower arrangements is called a cutting garden.
• A cutting garden is not meant for display. You can mix colours and plants. You can plant closer together to encourage quick straight growth and feed plants with a view to harvesting as they reach their peak.
• Good horticultural practice of soil preparation, feeding and caring regimes will boost crops.
• Foliage from trees and shrubs should be harvested when the shrub is sufficiently established to regrow.
• Many trees and shrubs will be located throughout the garden. They do not need to be in a special area but take care with the end appearance after you have harvested for your display.

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Florists are Great

• Florists have knowledge and skill when it comes to conditioning cut flowers to prolong shelf and display life.
• They have methods of keeping displays watered and fresh including the bag of water or the buttonhole test-tube.
• Out of season flowers can be imported by floristry suppliers and we can even get southern hemisphere plants in our winter.
• Good florists display bunches and bouquets of flowers and foliage to artistic advantage.
• A wide range of floral material is part of a florists stock, when a garden may only have a few species ripe for picking.
• Florists produce the wreaths and family occasion flowers when gardeners are too busy or otherwise occupied.

Gardeners and Florists Together

• Gardeners are best if QBE (qualified by experience). Florists can opt to train at a college, either full or part time or on the job.
• Florists want long flower stems and long life of 3 weeks in shop/vase. Gardeners want insect and disease resistance, variety of colors, and fragrances plus a pleasing growth habit.
• One good plant probably equates to the cost of a good bunch of flowers. I know which I prefer.
• Florists are unlikely to be a retail outlet for the produce from a garden. You would need to have a specialism and be able to supply over a long period not just when your crop gluts.
• I am less happy about the florists trend to supply potted plants but that is one area where the allotment gardener could form a trading relationship with the local florist.

Floristry Qualifications

Tips for Selling to Florists

“Consistency is important. Some growers have been disorganized. They want the money up front. This can be a problem in dealing with larger businesses that prefer to send checks once or twice a month.

Bunch properly (check wholesale guidelines). Usually bunches are 10 stems. Bunches should be of consistent quality. Growers who come in with a bucket full of stems in different lengths and quality won’t make a good impression.

Don’t just show up. A lot of local people wait too long to contact the florist. “Someone will just show up with a trunk full of pussy willows, and I’ve already ordered them. Don’t just show up. Call and ask if we’re interested. Have a sample.” And let them know when a product is close to harvest.” source Rodale Institute

Turn your floristry purchases into botanical works of art – here are some examples and clubs you could join.

See flowers as a business

Professional Floristry Techniques from Malcolm Ashwell & Sally Pearson

Opening a florists shop or just selling your excess produce at the garden gate? What ever you chose to do these two books will give you some good ideas and more importantly the confidence to give it a go!

Start Your Own Florist Shop and Other Floral Businesses from Cheryl Kimball

If you are artistic you could start a botanical art company producing and selling your own work. Turn out botanical works of art that display your talents- here are some examples to consider.
This new venture could be for pin money selling at local shows and shops or you could develop a following on the internet.

Growing for Selling needs a good plan and better environmental conditions. Take lots of advice and take it to heart! Read Florists for Gardeners