Berzelia Flowers: A Unique Element in Floral Designs

Floral design is a captivating art that allows creativity and individual expression through the means of nature. When it comes to adding a unique touch to bouquets and arrangements, few flowers can rival the allure of Berzelia, commonly known as button bush. With its distinctive spherical blooms and textured foliage, Berzelia is the perfect choice for flower lovers looking to create something unique.

Berzilia Lanuginosa and Red Jelly

Berzelia is native to South Africa and is part of the Restionaceae family. It’s recognized for its flower heads, which are comprised of tiny, round florets. The flowers bloom in clusters, creating a beautiful button-like appearance hence its common name. Berzelia flowers come in a range of colors, from soft whites to vibrant greens, making them an excellent addition to diverse palettes.

One of Berzelia’s standout features is its texture. The round, fluffy flower heads add a playful and soft touch to arrangements. This textural variety can complement many flower types, from the delicate petals of serruria to the sleek bracts of protea.

When it comes to floral designs, longevity is also key. Berzelia is a durable flower that can last for weeks when properly cared for, maintaining its charm and structure long after other more delicate blooms have wilted. This makes it a fantastic option for arrangements that require a shelf life, such as event displays.

To ensure that Berzelia remains vibrant and fresh in your arrangements, here are a few care tips: 

1. Keep the stems submerged in clean, cool water. Change the water every few days to prolong life. 
2. Trim stems at an angle before placing them in water to enhance absorption. 
3. Keep arrangements away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
   
4. Adding floral food may help extend the life of your arrangements further by providing essential nutrients.

In the world of floral design, Berzelia stands out as a unique and versatile botanical. Its striking appearance, durability, and ability to adapt to a range of styles makes it a favorite choice among designers. Berzelia reminds us of the intricate, often overlooked beauty that exists in the natural world, waiting to be admired.

Quick Tips to Improve Protea Life

The demand for Protea has reached fever pitch as their sturdy stems and long-lasting blooms make them the perfect cut flowers. The family tree originates in South Africa and these blooms love sun and sugar, especially Eximia, Latifolia, and Dutchess varieties.

Contrary to popular belief, Protea are not tropical flowers… they are actually Mediterranean flowers, and they can be stored in a floral cooler, especially during warm summer days. Here are some quick tips to improve protea life: 

• Unpack the flowers immediately. 
• Cut up to 1/2 inch off the stems and remove leaves that will end up in the water. 
• Store flowers in a well-lit floral (protea prefer to rest with the light on) cooler or refrigerator between 43-50 Fn. 
• Removing a few leaves around the flower head will enhance the flower display. Note, some Protea are prone to leaf blackening and even with the best post-harvest care, it can still happen. So, if the flower looks fresh and healthy to you, just remove those leaves as well.
• Use a flower preservative or a teaspoon of sugar for added longevity. 
• Check water levels frequently as protea get very thirsty. 
• Keep then out of direct sunlight whenever possible. 
• With proper care, blooms can last weeks in a vase. Then, they don’t die… they dry beautifully! Many Proteas retain their structural design and to some extent their color. When used in dried flower arrangements or wreaths, they are as permanent as almost anything the botanical world provides.

Visualizing Your Next of Work of Art

If a flower field is a living, sprouting, and evolving creative display, then a floral arrangement is a three-dimensional, interactive art installation. There’s no doubt, I find that I am most inspired when I'm in the field or my garden surrounded by lots of gorgeous blooms. My imagination simply takes over and I start visualizing what I'll use in my next arrangement. So, if you’re contemplating about your next work of art, I’ve got a few suggestions to help you get those creative juices flowing.

Leucospermum, like the Erubescens pictured above, are exquisite and incredibly long-lasting cut flowers, with vibrant, colorful blooms. Then, adding some textural varieties of Banksia and Grevillea take an arrangement from being ordinary to extraordinary.

If you'd like even more variety, mix in blooms like alstroemeria, ranunculus and snapdragons. Sturdy stem flowers are a big benefit, as they will stand up better in the container. Don’t forget to use some lush foliage like Grevillea Ivanhoe as a filler which, by the way, will add even more texture to the design. Most importantly, you're the artist so select colors and blooms that inspire your creativity. Flower arranging is a practice of resourcefulness, which requires experimentation and imagination. If you like what you've made, then you've accomplished the goal!

Spring Thoughts

Spring may officially begin on the 20th of March, but for anyone who loves Leucadendron as much as we do, spring starts in early January when the first Leucadendron take on vivid shades of cream, white, yellow, gold and maroon. Inca gold turns a bright yellow color with a touch of red on the tips. Gold Strike transforms into beautiful yellow ‘tulips’ and Maui Sunset is simply stunning in hues of white and pink. The Safari Sunset, which is red or burgundy most of the year, lives up to its name as it changes to ‘Tricolor’ with lovely multicolored bracts in hues of maroon, green and gold.

As the weather gets cold the leaves or bracts of the Leucadendron change colors becoming brighter and more intense. This fabulous foliage seems to ‘wake up’ and turn into vibrant flowers in their own right. Our bouquets and wreaths take their inspiration from the wonderful colors and textures of this long-lasting accent foliage.

Flower News: November’s Articles and Blogs of Interest from Around the World

Power Up Your Protea

With alluring colors, exotic shapes and rugged woody stems, proteas are the new ‘it’ bloom. The family tree originates in South Africa and these blooms are vibrant and hardy. Vase life is always a concern for flower farmers, wholesalers, florists and consumers. Proteas have a reputation for having a long vase life, and they do, but even most resilient cut flowers will not last if they do not receive proper care.

Farmers see proteas when they are at their best - in the field on the bush! Once harvested, proteas slowly start deteriorating. It's slowing down that waning process that makes all the difference!

Read more here.
____________________________________________________________

Australian native flower industry looking for growers
to stock booming local, international markets

As demand for native flowers booms across Australia, the flower industry is lobbying for new players to enter so they can reclaim sales into their lucrative export markets.

With wedding and event trends favouring natives and florists pushing the product, demand is at levels not seen since before the global financial crisis. According to Flowers Australia, sales have increased five-fold since 2010 and the industry is now worth about $350 million.

It has brought smiles back to growers who have stayed in the industry through tough times.

But there are challenges ahead.

Renewed demand is now being driven by domestic consumers and as export markets like Japan look to source from Australia, growers are concerned about lack of supply.

Read more here.

See more here.

_____________________________________________________________

Petal It Forward Generates 90 Million
Consumer Impressions

The hits keep coming for the Society of American Florists’ 2018 Petal It Forward. This year’s initiative didn’t just create goodwill and good feelings around the country — it’s also generated 90 million consumer impressions and counting, including high-profile placement in national publications and on highly trafficked websites and social media pages.

Among the biggest hits? An upbeat one-minute video compilation of the day, created by the team at USA Today’s Humankind Facebook channel from video footage provided to SAF by local member participants. The video, titled “Unexpected gifts bring strangers joy” had more than 400,000 views at press time.

Read more here.

In the Field: Brunia Albiflora

Whenever this beautiful botanical is seen, it is often greeted with surprise as if it has never been seen before. The mysterious, almost alien looking Brunia albiflora or also called Coffee Bush after it's coffee scented flowers is a summer favorite. Albiflora has long leafy branches with beautiful dark green foliage that resembles a pine tree, but is much, much softer. The flowers or ‘bobbles’ are crowded into tight spherical knob-like inflorescences that are clustered into flat, rounded heads in a deep green hue touched with silver. The flower-heads are very striking, and branches are mostly sold with the flower-heads still in bud.

However, in late summer the flowers start to open in a ring, starting on the outside of the bobble and working inwards. Each tiny flower is about ¼” long, white with yellow stamens sticking out, giving the inflorescence a yellowish tinge.

Whether in a bud stage or flowering, Brunia Albilfora adds a unique and long-lasting touch and texture to any floral arrangement or bouquet.

What to look for

• If possible, buy before the flowers are open as branches with cones last longer than open flowers; 
• Leaves should have a glossy green appearance; 
• Avoid bunches with flowers showing brown marks.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool. 
2. Strip leaves from the lower half of each stem. 
3. Recut at least ½” off each branch and place in water. 
4. Don’t use a preservative as this may open the flower-buds. 
5. Add a half cap of bleach to the vase. 
6. Replace vase water with fresh water every 2 days.

It’s summer: Time for Pink Ice

Pink Ice is truly the perfect summer flower. That's why when August arrives and the heat is on, we say, why not ‘chill out’ a bit… enjoy something hardy and long-lasting? With a few Pink Ice, some gorgeous foliage and the twist of your wrist, this beautiful bouquet will survive any heat-wave!

Pink Ice Bouquet – Here’s What You’ll Need:

• 5 stems of protea Pink Ice
• 2 stems of leucadendron Safari Sunset
• 2 stems of leucadendron Salignum Red Blush
• 2 stems of leucadendron Inca Gold
• 2 stems of grevillea Ivanhoe
• 2 stems of Australian Pine

Leucadendron Safari Sunset

Leucadendron Salignum Red Blush

Leucadendron Inca Gold

Grevillea Ivanhoe

Australian Pine

How to Make It:
In the palm of your hand place a stem of Pink Ice and 2 different stems of foliage. By turning the bouquet slightly in the same direction every time you add another protea and 2 stems of mixed foliage, you ensure that the same stems aren’t placed next to each other as you create the bouquet. The binding point determines the size of a bouquet: if you hold the stems lower down, the bouquet will be looser and the stems will be longer. A slightly higher binding point, holding the bunch of flowers about halfway up the stems will create a more compact bouquet.

Banksia Integrifolia - Fabulous Foliage

If you’re looking for thriving organic floral displays in your home or office, you need to ponder beyond just flowers – the foliage is just as important as the blooms you choose.  Leaves come in all shapes, sizes and colors and now, Banksia integrifolia is in the limelight.  If you are not familiar with integrifolia or sometimes called Coast banksia or white honeysuckle, the foliage is fickle: the younger leaves are usually broad and irregular toothed, while the mature leaves are smooth and spear shaped.  They have white undersides that tend to give the leaves a silvery look in the wind.

Integrifolia is the perfect textured foliage for any season – it makes a lush and long lasting base for wreaths, it blends well with just about any flowers and combined with other Australian greens makes a wonderful bouquet!