Shape Up Your Arrangement by Choosing the Right One

Who knew that eight basic flower shapes could hold a world of difference? Use shape to achieve your design goal, whether the simple or dramatic result of using one shape en masse, or creating a particular effect in mixed arrangements.

Excerpted from Fresh Flower Arranging
Filed under: Decorating, Flowers, Vases, Color, Wildflowers

Spire

Spire flowers are often quite delicate, but their pointed flower heads add height and interest to mixed flower arrangements.

Summer Harmony
The small purple spires of veronica in this front-facing display soften its edges and balance out the large, round, eye-catching hydrangeas and roses (image 1).

Cream Basket
Stocks are used here for their scent and shape, which breaks up and adds height to a long and low design. This helps to give it a more relaxed, informal look (image 2).

Summer Bouquet
This hand-tied bunch includes deep pink loosestrife, which have been deliberately left long to make the bunch more informal and less rounded (image 3).

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Fresh Flower Arranging © 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited
Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Fresh Flower Arranging © 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited
Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Fresh Flower Arranging © 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Rosette

These flowers, with petals that open in a rosette, circular shape, make great feature blooms. Some varieties, such as carnations, work well en masse.

Spring Bouquet
These orange ranunculas, set among other spring flowers, contrast beautifully with the grape hyacinths. They are grouped in threes for a stronger look (image 1).

Green Bouquet
Roses are a typical rosette flower, and here they hold their own — even when mixed with large, brightly colored flowers such as these anthuriums (image 2).

Carnation Sculpture
A large quantity of carnation flower heads pressed into a floral foam ball together create a dense geometric shape that echoes the shape of a single carnation (image 3).