Selecting flowers is among the most critical elements in floristry, as it often defines the success of a given arrangement. While many novice florists simply select the most beautiful blooms, professional florists take a more in-depth approach by considering factors such as seasonality, flower condition, color, shapes, textures, and the role of each flower within the composition.
One of the first things to take into account is the seasonality. Flowers in each season act differently. In most cases, seasonal flowers are more fresh, cheaper, and more durable. They also allow for more natural and uniform flower arrangements. Knowing what is in each season can help you to become more confident as a flower arrangement designer.
The second most important aspect is flower condition. The state of the blooms directly influences their longevity. For instance, some might be fully open, while others will only open in the next few days. Consequently, you must take this into account as this impacts your bouquet’s overall life cycle. Professional florists know how to choose the right flower for every flower arrangement design, which allows it to be as long-lasting as possible.
Another factor to be considered when choosing flowers is the colors. Each flower contributes to the overall composition; they add a tone, a feeling, and a color. Pale colors and tones help to bring elegance and calmness, while brighter colors add energy and contrast to the arrangement. You must select colors as if you’re working with a color palette instead of simply picking the flowers that catch your eye.
You should also think about texture and shapes of flowers and foliage when choosing them for your flower arrangements. Flowers have a shape and texture, round, spiky, delicate, sturdy, and each plays a different role in the composition. Your bouquet usually needs to be filled with a combination of shapes and textures so as to give it more life. If you only use round or spiky flowers in an arrangement, it will not look very natural even if the colors are great.
Another vital element to think of when choosing flowers is the role each bloom plays in your arrangement. As you’ll discover in the next sections, flowers and foliage have certain roles: they may be used to accentuate a specific design, or to create a frame, or to fill in gaps. In professional floristry, the flowers in the arrangement are often divided into 3 different categories: focal flower, supporting flower, and filler. Knowing these roles will help you in creating arrangements that seem to be made with a plan and structure.
Another factor to consider when picking flowers is how long it will last. Some flowers might be very durable and you can use it for many days, while some will wilt very soon. Some arrangements might be made of only very durable flowers, while some might be made of a mix of fragile and durable flowers. To extend the life of your arrangements and make them look just as great on day 5 as on day 1, it takes a lot of care, trimming techniques, placement, hydration, and a whole lot more.
At the end, it is essential that you think about your own style. Guidelines and recommendations can definitely be used as a starting point, but floristry is more of an art form that you develop along the way. The flower combinations you use will give a personal touch and help you to establish your own style. As you practice and learn to create arrangements, you’ll eventually be able to tell which combinations are right for you and which don’t convey the emotion or feel you want to project.
With the knowledge we impart through our PetalCraft Course, students learn to choose flowers through a greater understanding instead of guessing. By learning more about how flowers behave and how they complement each other, you’ll be able to select flowers to suit you and your flower designs, and be able to create beautiful and purposeful flower arrangements.
Choosing flowers is more than choosing the ones that look great, you also need to understand each flower and foliage’s role and how each element can help you to create the whole flower arrangement. If you pick out flowers with intention, your flower arrangements will look great, balanced, and professional, and you’ll have a great time creating them!