Floral Forms & Shapes
Forms & Functions of Flowers & Foliage Floral designers classify flowers and foliage based on their shape, form, and use within an arrangement. Classifications based on these characteristics include:
Forms & Functions of Flowers & Foliage Floral designers use floral materials from any single group or combination of groups to create an attractive floral arrangement. A specific flower or foliage type is not limited to one group.
Functions of Line Flowers develop the outline and geometric shape of the design.
Functions of Form & Mass Flowers Form flowers create the focal area. Mass flowers add visual weight and balance to the arrangement.
Functions of Filler Flowers Filler flowers provide an accent or finishing touch to the arrangement.
Line Flowers Line flowers are tall spikes of blossoms with florets blooming along the length of the stem. Most have larger, more open blossoms toward the base of the stem.
Line Flowers Snapdragon Delphinium Liatris Gladiolus Stock Cattail Pussy willow
Line Flowers
Linear Foliage Foliage with linear shapes is effective in repeating and complimenting the lines established by the line flowers.
Linear Foliage Bear Grass Flax Flat Fern Scotch Broom Spiral Eucalyptus Ivy
Linear Foliage
Form Flowers Form flowers are the most unique and distinctive flowers within an arrangement. They are positioned in the focal area of an arrangement because their unique shapes and colors attract viewer attention.
Form Flowers Iris Anthurium Calla Bird of Paradise Lily Orchid
Form Flowers
Form Foliage
Form Foliage In contemporary floral arrangements, altering the natural appearance of a common type of mass foliage creates unusual and unnatural form foliage.
Mass Flowers Mass flowers characteristically: Consist of a single stem with one solid, rounded head at the top of the stem. Add mass or visual weight to a design. Draw viewer attention to the form flowers. Create depth in a design.
Mass Flowers Carnation Daisy Gerbera Rose Chrysanthemum
Mass Flowers & Foliage
Mass Foliage Mass foliage adds mass and visual weight to a floral arrangement. Mass foliage also functions to cover the floral foam and hide other design mechanics.
Mass Foliage Floral designers often use more than one type of mass foliage in an arrangement to create variety and to avoid monotony.
Mass Foliage Leatherleaf fern Lemon leaf Chamaedorea palm
Filler Flowers Filler flowers consist of small sprays of flowers. They function to fill in open spaces among the mass flowers within the framework of an arrangement.
Filler Flowers
Filler Foliage The small leaves of filler foliage is effective as an accent in creating unity and harmony. Fine textures of filler foliage lighten or soften an arrangement. Coarse textures provide contrast.
Filler Foliage