Horticulture Principles and Practices

24
Cut Flowers and Floral Design
PURPOSE AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES
This chapter is designed to discuss the field culture and handling of cut flowers and how
they are used in creating floral displays.
After studying this chapter, the student should be able to
1. List five plant species that make good cut flowers.
2. List five plant species that make good dried flowers.
3. Describe how cut flowers are managed for longevity.
4. Describe how flowers are dried for preservation.
5. Describe the principles of flower arranging.
6. List five tools or materials used by the florist.
7. Describe how plants are chosen in creating a floral design.
8. List four different floral designs.
9. Describe the steps in creating a floral design.
[COLOR PLATES—see color plates 30 and 31 for additional chapter photos]
OVERVIEW
Flowering plants are frequently grown outside (in beds) or inside (in containers) to be
enjoyed and admired as whole living plants in the landscape or interior plantscape.
Flowers are used in a variety of ways to convey sentiments. For most of these uses,
flowers are detached from the parent plant and used individually or in groups. As
such, cut flowers (i.e., detached flowers) are an important part of the horticultural industry.
Florists are the specialists who use cut flowers in their trade. To add value to cut flowers,
florists often use them to create floral designs for a variety of occasions. Using cut
flowers in this art form is called flower arranging. Whereas fresh cut flowers last for only
a short period, flowers may be dried and preserved for a long time. Dried flowers may
also be arranged into durable arrangements.
Cut Flowers
Flowers grown for the
purpose of cutting for
display in a container or
for other uses.
681