If they are picked young and air dried, they retain their FRAGRANCE none
color wel . I like to use them as a final flourish where BEST COMPANIONS
they can add a pop of color to complement larger yarrow, hypericum, zinnias
focal flowers. They are also excel ent for buttonholes and hair flowers, lasting reliably out of water.
Strawflower’s botanical name,
CARE Refresh the water every 2–3 days.
Xerochrysum comes from the
Greek words xeros meaning dry,
and chrysum meaning golden.
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Strawflower 199
Xerochrysum bracteatum
Monostrum Series cultivars produce
large, ful y double flower heads in pink, red, orange, yellow, or white.
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200 Late Summer & Fall
Zinnia
Zinnia
The party animals of the
cut-flower world, zinnias appear
in a festive array of bright colors.
Zinnias are single or double daisylike flowers.
Their brightly colored, papery petals and
intricate, jewel-like centers make them look almost artificial. There is a fantastic range of varieties available to cut-flower growers, from smaller, long-stemmed varieties to the bigger, dahlia-shaped types.
STEM/BRANCH
FROM THE FLORIST Choose flowers that are
HEIGHT 16–30in
ful y open, but display tight, clean centers with little (40–75cm), depending
pol en formation. The center of the flower becomes on variety; Z. elegans,
more prominent as the flower ages.
24–30in (60–75cm)
FLOWER SIZE
IN THE GARDEN Zinnias love hot weather, so
up to 1¾in (4.5cm)
plan on sowing outdoors when the weather is warm and settled. Keep deadheading and picking them and LONGEVITY 7–10 days
the flowers will continue to replenish themselves from FORMS single,
midsummer until the first frosts in fal .
semi-double, double,
ful y double
CONDITIONING Handle zinnias with care as they bruise easily. Condition them in water overnight in COLORS red, orange,
a cool room.
yellow, pink, purple
FRAGRANCE none
DISPLAY Zinnias are strong focal flowers—both in color and form. They work well with acid-green BEST COMPANIONS
dahlias, tobacco plants, dil
foliage and fil ers. For added texture and variety, I like to use berries, grasses, and seedheads with them.
CARE Refresh the water every 2–3 days.
In the language of flowers,
zinnias are a symbol of affection
for an absent friend.
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Zinnia 201
Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giant Coral’
is a ful y double, annual form, meaning it has more petals than single or double forms, and survives for only one season.
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Zinnia 203
Collection of Color
The clashing colors of zinnias work well
mixed together with greens in varying shades and textures. To display as many colors and varieties as possible, I used a cluster of simple, cut-glass vases.
YOU WILL NEED
ARRANGE
24 zinnias of different
1 Fill each vase with water and position them as you varieties (Zinnia elegans
want them to be displayed, arranging them in situ.
‘Benary’s Giant Mix,’
Z. elegans ‘Sprite Mix,’
2 Cut the zinnias at varying lengths between one and Z. ‘Jazzy mix’ )
three times the height of the relevant vase, arranging 4 sea hol y flowers
them so they all have plenty of space around them.
(Eryngium x planum)
1 berried hypericum
3 Add in the sea hol y and hypericum, cutting them stem (Hypericum
short so they sit on the rim of the vases.
‘Magical Beauty’ )
5 nasturtium stems
4 Fill any gaps in color with the nasturtiums.
(Tropaeolum majus)
5 Finish with the dil , geranium leaves, goldenrod, 4 dill stems
tobacco, and quaking grass stems, creating some (Anethum graveolens)
vertical and horizontal interest to the col ection.
5 scented geranium
leaves (Pelargonium
CARE
‘Lady Plymouth’ )
Keep the small vases topped off with water every 3 goldenrod stems
day and the arrangement should last a week.
(Solidago ‘Ladsham’ )
3 tobacco plant stems
(Nicotiana langsdorfii)
4 quaking grass stems
(Briza maxima)
5 smal , cut-glass vases
floral snips
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TROPICALS
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TROPICALS
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206 Tropicals
Agapanthus
Agapanthus
Also known as African lily,
agapanthus is an exotic beauty in
stunning shades of blue or white.
The Greek word for love,
agape, is part of agapanthus’s
Agapanthus flower heads are large, round
botanical name.
umbels of trumpet-shaped flowers in shades
of light blue to deep purple, and white.
These magnificent heads sit upon strong,
tall stems above lush, green, straplike
foliage. Originally from southern Africa,
not all varieties are completely hardy.
STEM HEIGHT 2–5ft
FROM THE FLORIST Choose stems on which the
(0.6–1.5m)
first flowers are beginning to open. Avoid those that have flowers that are drooping or facing downward.
FLOWER HEAD SIZE
4–8in (10–20cm)
IN THE GARDEN Agapanthus are sun lovers, so LONGEVITY 2 weeks
place them in full sun. Try to find a wind-sheltered position with wel -drained soil as they dislike having FORMS rounded,
wet roots during the winter. Protect their crowns in intermediate, pendant
the winter with a good layer of mulch. The clumps will COLORS purple,
gradual y increase and can be divided after some blue, white
years in the spring.
FRAGRANCE none
CONDITIONING Cut the stems at a sharp angle BEST COMPANIONS
and condition in water overnight.
cosmos, larkspurs, roses
DISPLAY Keep the stems long for a bold, dramatic display where they are a focal flower—especial y in the eye-catching blue shades. Alternatively, cut them short and work them into mixed compositions as a textural fil er flower alongside blousy focal flowers.
CARE Remove spent florets by pinching them off.
Keep the water clean by refreshing it every 2–3 days.
Agapanthus campanulatus
is a hardy variety with
a rounded form.
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Agapanthus 207
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208 Tropicals
African Lilies
I
chose this vase to mirror the globe-shaped agapanthus. The subtle shades of this particular variety called for a sympathetic color, and the celadon glaze of this pot was the perfect match.
YOU WILL NEED
ARRANGE
8 agapanthus (Agapanthus
1 Push a ball of chicken wire into the vase, then fill
‘White Heaven’ )
the vase with water.
8 larkspur stems (Consolida
ajacis ‘Misty Lavender’ )
2 Cut five of the agapanthus fairly short—around one-and-a-half times the height of the vase—and 3 dahlias (Dahlia ‘Eveline’ )
position them at a sharp angle so they nestle around 5 roses (Rosa ‘Queen
the rim. Add in the last three at a slightly longer of Sweden’ )
length—around twice the height of the vase—so 5 dusty mil er stems
that a domed outline is formed.
(Cineraria ‘Silver Dust’ )
3 Break up the dome outline using the larkspur round, hand-thrown vase
stems—they should be cut to two to three times chicken wire
the height of the vase. Fill in the gaps between the floral snips
agapanthus with the dahlias and roses. Hold them up to the arrangement to judge position and stem length before cutting and placing.
4 Finish with the dusty mil er, creating a col ar of foliage to drape down the sides of the vase.
CARE
Top the water off every 2–3 days and the arrangement should last for 7 days.
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210 Tropicals
Celosia
Celosia
Celosia’s velvety flower
head makes it an extraordinary
and unique cut flower.
This opulent, striking flower comes in
a beautiful range of luminous colors. Celosia is categorized into two groups: the Plumosa Group, with its plumelike flowers, and the
Cristata or Cockscomb Group, which has
crested flowers. Both offer a distinctive
textural dimension to arrangements.
STEM HEIGHT
FROM THE FLORIST Check that the flowers
Cristata Group, 8–48in
have not been damaged by rough handling—the (20–120cm); Plumosa
velvety fril s are quite delicate and can bruise easily.
Group, 8–20in (20–50cm)
FLOWER SIZE
IN THE GARDEN Celosia requires hot, dry
Cristata Group, 3–5in
conditions to thrive. It is a half-hardy perennial that is (8–13cm); Plumosa Group,
grown as an annual. Sow indoors with heat, and then 4–10in (10–25cm)
plant outside or under cover after the last frosts.
LONGEVITY 2 weeks
CONDITIONING Remove any excess foliage; then FORMS Cristata, Plumosa
cut the stems at an angle, before placing them in clean water to condition overnight in a warm place.
COLORS pink, red,
orange, yellow, cream
DISPLAY Celosia’s key addition to arrangements FRAGRANCE none
is its texture—I like to nestle it in among other flowers and foliage so that the fril y crests are seen.
BEST COMPANIONS
hypericum berries,
roses, zinnias
CARE Keep the arrangement in a warm, wel -
ventilated environment as the flowers wilt more quickly when cold.
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Celosia 211
In Mexico, celosia is
known as Flor de terciopelo,
meaning “velvet flower.”
Celosia argentea var. cristata
‘Supercrest Mix’ is a large
Cristata Group variety.
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212 Tropicals
Jasminum officinale is
a deciduous, frost-hardy
variety known as common
jasmine or poet’s jasmine.
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Jasmine 213
Jasmine
Jasminum
This sweetly scented climber
is smothered in white flowers
during the summer months.
Each jasmine flower’s petals are combined
into a tube—spreading open at one end into
a star shape. Its fine, pinnate foliage and twining stems make it equally useful as
a decorative foliage material to add movement to floral designs. The sweet, heady fragrance is mainly produced by the buds rather than
the flowers themselves.
STEM HEIGHT
FROM THE FLORIST Look for clusters with
up to 39ft (12m)
a few flowers already open.
FLOWER SIZE 1/2–2in
IN THE GARDEN Jasmine enjoys a sunny,
(1–5cm), depending
on variety; J. officinale,
sheltered spot in the garden and is fairly drought up to 2in (5cm)
tolerant, so it does very well against a south-facing wal . If happy, it will put on a lot of growth in a season LONGEVITY 5–7 days
and will need a lot of picking or pruning to keep it FORMS single,
from taking over. When harvesting for foliage, wait semi-double
until after flowering so that the stems are ripe enough to hold without wilting.
COLORS pink,
yellow, white
CONDITIONING Cut and sear the stems (see
FRAGRANCE sweet,
pp.22–23). Then condition them in water overnight.
heady, and exotic
DISPLAY I consider jasmine to be an excel ent BEST COMPANIONS
foliage plant. With its twisting, long stems it creates a In the language of flowers,
beautiful wild outline for a bouquet or arrangement.
white jasmine is a symbol of
CARE The foliage will last longer than the flowers.
Pull or pinch out the flowers when they shrivel or amiability, and yel ow jasmine
drop, and refresh the water every 2–3 days.
a symbol of elegance.
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214 Tropicals
Leucospermum cordifolium is
a frost-tender, rounded shrub that
produces solitary flower heads.
This cultivar is cal ed ‘Succession.’
Pincushions’ bright
flower heads attract
nectar-eating birds.
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Pincushion 215
Pincushion
Leucospermum
Pincushions are instantly
recognizable with their brightly
colored flower heads.
Pincushion’s common name relates to its
collection of arching styles, the brightly
colored structures that look like pins pushed into a pincushion. At the end of each style is a stigma, which is the pollen-bearing part of the plant. The tough, leathery leaves grow
in a spiral formation around the stem.
STEM HEIGHT 61/2–13ft
FROM THE FLORIST Check that the needlelike
(2–4m), depending on
styles are all intact.
variety; L. cordifolium,
up to 61/2ft (2m)
IN THE GARDEN These plants are indigenous to FLOWER HEAD SIZE
Zimbabwe and South Africa, and can only be grown 2–6in (5–15cm), depending elsewhere in control ed greenhouse conditions.
on variety; L. cordifolium,
4–43/4in (10–12cm)
CONDITIONING Cut the woody stems at a sharp angle, remove any of the leaves that would fall under LONGEVITY 2 weeks
water, and condition overnight in water.
FORMS flower heads can
be clustered or solitary
DISPLAY This is an unusual focal flower that works well with other tropical flowers and foliage. For a COLORS yellow,
orange, red, pink
more informal garden style, it can also be mixed with roses, berries, grasses, and umbel-shaped FRAGRANCE none
flowers. The stems are very stiff and not particularly BEST COMPANIONS
attractive, so I prefer to cut them short and hide bishop’s weed, celosia,
them in among other flowers and foliage so that hypericum berries
the only visible part is the flower head.
CARE Top off the water every 2–3 days and they will have a long vase life.
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216 Tropicals
Red Heads
Although the soft green color of the vase works really well for this arrangement, the narrow neck proved difficult with the stiff pincushion stems.
To create some width, I used arching eucalyptus and bishop’s weed stems. The celosia and hypericum berries provide variation in texture and form.
YOU WILL NEED
ARRANGE
5 eucalyptus stems
1 Fill the vase with water—because of its narrow neck, (Eucalyptus parvifolia)
no extra support is needed.
7 bishop’s weed stems
(Ammi visnaga ‘Green
2 Place the eucalyptus and bishop’s weed stems Mist’ )
around the rim of the vase so that they create an arching outline.
10 pincushion stems
(Leucospermum
‘Succession’ )
3 Cut the pincushion stems to varying lengths between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half times 5 celosia stems (Celosia
the height of the vase. Position the tal er stems in the argentea var. cristata)
center, angling out the shorter stems at the edges.
5 berried hypericum stems
(Hypericum ‘Magical
4 Work the celosia and hypericum stems in between Pumpkin’ )
the pincushion, nestling them in fairly low so that you floral snips
cannot see the stems.
large, hand-thrown,
glazed vase with
CARE
a narrow neck
Top off the water every 2–3 days and the arrangement will last for 10 days.
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