The Flower Book Read online

  13/10/2016 17:32

  152 Late Summer & Fall

  Aster

  Various genera

  This unpretentious garden

  stalwart adds color and frothy

  texture to fal bouquets.

  The genus Aster has recently been divided into several smaller genera, although many

  have retained the common name aster.

  A hardy perennial that bears a froth of small, single or double daisies on multi-branched

  stems, aster flowers well into the fall

  months. The blooms attract pollinating

  insects, and bring life and color to

  end-of-season arrangements.

  STEM HEIGHT 1–5ft

  FROM THE FLORIST Check the lower stems for

  (30–150cm), depending on

  brown or decayed leaves. The centers of the flowers variety; S. novae-angliae,

  should be a bright yel ow and there should be four 4–5ft (1.2–1.5m)

  or five flowers open on each branch.

  FLOWER SIZE 5/8–3in

  (1–8cm), depending on

  IN THE GARDEN Aster will grow in full sun or variety; S. novae-angliae,

  partial shade. Some varieties are prone to mildew, up to 2in (5cm)

  but a moisture-retentive soil will help prevent this.

  Cut back in the early spring and divide every 3 years LONGEVITY 10–14 days

  to keep plants flowering wel .

  FORMS single, double

  CONDITIONING Strip the lower leaves and cut the COLORS pink, purple,

  stems at a sharp angle before conditioning overnight.

  blue, white

  FRAGRANCE none

  DISPLAY Aster is an invaluable frothy fil er for autumnal displays. The rich pinks and purples match BEST COMPANIONS

  chrysanthemums, dahlias,

  the season’s palette wel , and it provides volume and love-lies-bleeding

  texture among larger, bolder focal flowers.

  CARE Refresh the water every 2–3 days to maximize the plant’s vase life.

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  25/10/2016 10:33

  Aster 153

  In the language of

  flowers, asters are

  a symbol of patience.

  Symphyotrichum novae-

  angliae ‘Violetta’ is a hardy

  variety commonly referred to

  as New England aster.

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  12/10/2016 12:46

  154 Late Summer & Fall

  Briza maxima is native to

  southern Europe, North

  Africa, and western Asia.

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  Quaking Grass 155

  Quaking

  Grass

  Briza

  Quaking grass’s elegant,

  hanging seedheads are animated

  by the slightest of breezes.

  Although there are several varieties

  available, I tend to use the largest, greater quaking grass ( B. maxima). This form has silver-green seedheads that are shaped like scaly, heart-shaped lockets and turn

  golden as the summer progresses.

  STEM HEIGHT 18–24in

  FROM THE FLORIST Look for a good, silver-

  (45–60cm)

  green color and tight seedheads.

  SEEDHEAD SIZE

  IN THE GARDEN A hardy annual grass, quaking up to ½in (1cm)

  grass is best sown from seed directly in fall or spring, LONGEVITY 10–14 days

  and then thinned out. It will take some shade and in water; longer if dried

  a richer soil than most grasses. I like planting it in pots to decorate outdoor tables.

  FORMS greater,

  common, lesser

  CONDITIONING Trim the ends and careful y

  COLORS green, golden

  place in water overnight, ensuring that the stems FRAGRANCE none

  do not become tangled.

  BEST COMPANIONS

  DISPLAY Like most grasses, quaking grass adds Icelandic poppies,

  movement and elegance to arrangements, and

  nigella, zinnias

  is the perfect final flourish. It also dries very well if harvested as it is turning golden, but if cut and dried before this point, it starts breaking up.

  To dry, bunch and hang the stems upside down in a cool, dark place.

  In the language of flowers, grass

  CARE Grasses are always long lived in an

  arrangement. Check the water level every 3–4 days is a symbol of submission.

  and they will age and dry graceful y in the vase.

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  13/10/2016 17:27

  156 Late Summer & Fall

  Chrysanthemum

  Chrysanthemum

  Primarily a striking focal flower,

  chrysanthemum’s diversity makes

  it a versatile flower to arrange.

  Chrysanthemums come in a huge variety of

  shapes and sizes, separated into ten categories depending on the form. Florists’ chrysanthemums generally have either one large flower head per stem (disbudded stems), or multiple smaller flower heads (spray stems). Both groups have early and late- flowering varieties, so they are available from late summer through winter.

  STEM LENGTH 8–78in

  FROM THE FLORIST Choose stems with ful y

  (20–200cm), depending on open flowers as they do not open once cut.

  variety; C. ‘Fuego Bronze,’

  up to 28in (70cm)

  IN THE GARDEN Chrysanthemum is an easy

  FLOWER HEAD SIZE

  plant to grow. Plant in an open, sunny spot with 1–12in (2.5–30cm),

  wel -drained soil. Some varieties are designed for depending on variety;

  indoor cultivation and, if given protection from frosts, C. ‘Fuego Bronze,’ up to

  will continue flowering until midwinter. Other hardier 4in (10cm)

  varieties will do well outside, as long as they are supported and sheltered from winds. Pests can prove LONGEVITY

  2 weeks

  an issue. Regular feeding and bud removal will produce quality flowers for cutting.

  FORMS multiple,

  such as single, incurved,

  CONDITIONING Cut the stems at a sharp angle intermediate, reflexed,

  and remove any leaves that would be under water.

  ful y reflexed, pompon

  COLORS pink,

  DISPLAY Disbudded stems provide the perfect purple, red, orange,

  focal flower for autumnal displays, while spray stems yellow, white, green

  and pompon (or button) forms work best as a fil er.

  FRAGRANCE musky

  CARE Chrysanthemums are renowned for their long Chrysanthemums are grown as

  BEST COMPANIONS

  vase life—refresh the water every 2–3 days and they dahlias, hypericum

  will happily last for 2 weeks. Chrysanthemums release competition flowers by amateur and

  berries, roses

  hormones that shorten the vase life of other flowers.

  Replace other flowers to increase longevity of professional flower growers alike.

  chrysanthemum arrangements.

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  Chrysanthemum 157

  Chrysanthemum ‘Fuego

  Bronze’ has an intermediate

  form with two-tone florets.

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  12/10/2016 12:46

  158 Late Summer & Fall

  Copper & Bronze

  These showy, bronze-toned chrysanthemums are the epitome of fall. I decided to maximize this seasonality with an old copper pot and plenty of fencerow-foraged branches and berries. The wide shape of the pot coupled with the scale of the flower heads and foliage led me to create a low, wide arrangement.r />
  YOU WILL NEED

  ARRANGE

  5 eucalyptus stems

  1 Place a chicken-wire ball inside the pot. Secure (Eucalyptus gunnii)

  it with a cross of floral tape and fill the container 4 American cranberry bush

  three-quarters full of water.

  stems (Viburnum trilobum)

  2 Cut the eucalyptus so that it is about twice the 2 hawthorn branches

  width of the pot and position into the arrangement (Crataegus monogyna)

  at various angles—some should be upright, others 2 red-leaved rose branches

  horizontal or draped over the side.

  (Rosa glauca)

  8 chrysanthemums

  3 Cut the American cranberry bush stems short and (Chrysanthemum ‘Fuego

  use them to fill in the center and at the front. Cut the Bronze’ )

  hawthorn and red-leaved rose to around three times 4 great burnet stems

  the width of the pot. Place them so they stretch out (Sanguisorba officinalis)

  beyond the eucalyptus.

  3 strawflowers

  4 Cut the chrysanthemums’ stems quite short, so that (Xerochrysum bracteatum)

  when they are positioned in among the foliage, only 6 zinnias

  the flowers are visible. Angle some toward the back (Zinnia ‘Jazzy Mix’ )

  and side for a natural look.

  round, copper flower pot

  5 Leave the stems of the great burnet, strawflowers, chicken wire

  and zinnias long, and nestle them in among the floral tape

  chrysanthemums so that they look like they are floral snips

  hovering above the flowers.

  pruning shears

  CARE

  Top off the water every 2–3 days and the arrangement will last for 7–10 days.

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  12/10/2016 12:46

  160 Late Summer & Fall

  The word cosmos comes

  from the Greek word kosmos,

  meaning “the world.”

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  Cosmos 161

  Cosmos

  Cosmos

  Cosmos has an understated

  elegance with its crinkled

  petals and open flowers.

  Two types of cosmos are used as cut flowers.

  C. atrosanguineus (chocolate cosmos) is readily found in florists and has a chocolate-like color and scent. C. bipinnatus is easy to grow and has delicate, ferny foliage; it produces an abundance of single or semi-double flowers, the semi-doubles having more petals, in

  a range of whites, pinks, and reds.

  STEM HEIGHT

  FROM THE FLORIST Choose stems when the

  C. atrosanguineus, up to

  first flower is just starting to open and there is no 30in (75cm); C. bipinnatus,

  sign of pol en in the center. C. bipinnatus has fragile up to 5ft (1.5m)

  flowers that do not transport wel , so it is better when FLOWER SIZE

  sourced local y.

  C. atrosanguineus, up to

  1¾in (4.5cm); C. bipinnatus, IN THE GARDEN C. atrosanguineus likes a fertile, up to 3in (8cm)

  moist, but wel -drained soil, and can be mulched or lifted and stored indoors over winter. C. bipinnatus is a LONGEVITY 10 days

  half-hardy annual that is grown from seed. Start it in FORMS single,

  a greenhouse or sow it directly into the soil after the semi-double

  danger of frost has passed. It likes full sun and a moist, but wel -drained soil. Deadhead and pick regularly COLORS white, pink,

  red, brown

  to prolong flowering.

  FRAGRANCE

  CONDITIONING Strip the lower leaves, then cut C. atrosanguineus has

  the stems at an angle and condition overnight.

  a chocolate-like scent

  BEST COMPANIONS

  DISPLAY C. atrosanguineus makes the perfect bishop‘s weed, larkspur,

  finishing flourish, appearing to hover above the rest of scabious

  the flowers on its wiry stem; its maroon color works with soft and bright color palettes. C. bipinnatus looks beautiful in a simple pitcher by itself, or as an airy C. atrosanguineus is now extinct

  addition to casual, country-style arrangements.

  in the wild. Cultivated plants are

  widely available, and are all clones

  CARE Refresh the water every 2–3 days to encourage of a single original plant.

  the buds to open.

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  Cosmos 163

  Cosmos Cloud

  I chose a simple large pitcher to enhance the casual style of the design. The beautiful, lacy foliage meant there was no need for other flowers, just a few stems of bishop’s weed to complement the cosmos’s fragile, daisylike flowers.

  YOU WILL NEED

  ARRANGE

  20 cosmos stems of

  1 Fill the pitcher with water, then cut the cosmos different varieties (Cosmos

  stems to around three times the height of the pitcher.

  bipinnatus ‘Fizzy White,’

  C. bipinnatus ‘Picotee,’

  2 Position the cosmos in the pitcher to form a round, C. bipinnatus ‘Seashells’ )

  open shape. Hold the stems up to the arrangement 7 bishop’s weed stems

  to judge position and stem length before cutting (Ammi majus ‘Snowflake’ )

  and placing.

  floral snips

  3 Fill in any gaps between the cosmos stems with large turquoise pitcher

  the voluminous bishop’s weed stems.

  CARE

  Top off the water every 2 days. Keep the arrangement in a cool spot. It should happily last 7 days.

  Combining a few varieties of cosmos

  en masse creates an arrangement akin to

  how the plant looks in growth.

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  164 Late Summer & Fall

  Crocosmia

  Crocosmia

  Natives to South Africa,

  crocosmia herald high summer

  with their blaze of hot colors.

  Crocosmia, or montbretia, are known for

  their graceful, arching sprays of brilliantly colored funnel-shaped flowers, accompanied

  by emerald-green bladelike foliage. The

  seedheads that appear after flowering are

  also decorative and dry well. They are one

  of my favorite flowers to arrange.

  STEM/BRANCH

  FROM THE FLORIST Choose stems that have

  HEIGHT 2–5ft (0.6–1.5m), the first two or three florets open.

  depending on variety;

  C. ‘Lucifer,’ 3–4ft (1–1.2m)

  IN THE GARDEN Crocosmia are grown from

  corms (bulbs) that quickly form clumps in wel -

  FLOWER SIZE ¾–2½in

  (2–6cm), depending on

  drained soil. They are slightly tender, so need variety; C. ‘Lucifer,’

  protection during a cold winter. Lift and divide every up to 2in (5cm)

  4 years. They will not flourish in poor, dry soil and must have plenty of fertilizer and moisture to thrive.

  LONGEVITY 7 days

  FORMS spikes of

  CONDITIONING Remove the outer leaves and

  Crocosmia derives from the Greek

  funnel-shaped flowers

  trim the stems at a sharp angle before conditioning them overnight in water.

  words krokos, meaning “saffron,”

  COLORS red,

  orange, yellow

  DISPLAY Crocosmia’s eye-catching color is

  and osme, “odor,” refer
ring to the

  FRAGRANCE none

  tempered by the delicacy of its form. This makes it a very useful addition to mixed compositions needing smell of the dried leaves.

  BEST COMPANIONS

  dil , sea hol y, zinnias

  a pop of color and a feathery outline. They work especial y well with daisy- and umbel-shaped flowers.

  CARE Refresh the water every 2–3 days and the buds showing color may open.

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  Crocosmia 165

  Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ has

  furnace-red, trumpetlike flowers

  on tal , upright stems, and pleated,

  bright-green leaves.

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  166 Late Summer & Fall

  Dahlia ‘Ivanetti’ is a small

  member of the ball group of dahlias.

  It has good stem length and vase life,

  so it is an excel ent variety for cutting.

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  Dahlia 167

  Dahlia

  Dahlia

  No other flower is as generous

  in its variety of colors and forms,

  or in its prolific flowering.

  There are literally hundreds of varieties of dahlias to choose from: they are available in five sizes and ten different forms, and can be found in a breathtaking range of colors.

  To make selecting varieties for cutting easier, I focus mainly on small and medium sizes,

  and ball, decorative, and waterlily forms,

  which all tend to have a longer vase life.

  STEM HEIGHT 2–5ft

  FROM THE FLORIST Check the undersides and

  (0.6–1.5m), depending on

  reverse of the flowers to ensure that none of the variety; D. ‘Ivanetti,’ up to

  petals are soft or discolored.

  3½ft (1.1m)

  FLOWER SIZE 2–12in

  IN THE GARDEN Dahlias can be planted in pots (5–30cm), depending on

  in spring, and grown under cover until after the last variety; D. ‘Ivanetti,’ up to

  frost. Then plant them outside. Dahlias need a sunny 4in (10cm)

  position and wel -drained soil. They are hungry and thirsty plants that will produce better flowers when LONGEVITY 5–7 days

  given a high-potash feed. Deadhead and pick FORMS multiple, such as

  regularly to prolong flowering, which should go single-flowered, waterlily,

  on until the first frosts.

  col erette, pompon, bal ,

  cactus, decorative

  CONDITIONING Cut the hol ow stems under