1. Floral Design
Competencies

2. Types of Design Materials
There are four basic types of design materials:
Line flowers
Mass flowers
Form flowers
Filler flowers

3. Line Flowers
Tall spikes of flowers with florets blooming along the stem
Create the outline for an arrangement and establish the height and width as well as the curvilinear lines.
Line flowers are attractive by themselves in a tall vase.

4. Line Flowers-Examples
Snapdragons
Gladiolus
Foxglove
Liatris
Scotch broom

5. Mass Flowers
Have the flower head on the terminal end of the stem, usually round and full.
Draw attention to the focal point and add mass and weight to the arrangement.
Cover floral foam and help fill in empty areas with flowers.
Good choices for a quick vase. Usually sold in bunches.

6. Mass Flowers-Examples
Carnations
Roses
Chrysanthemums

7. Other Mass Flower Examples
Sunflower
Alstroemeria
Gerbera or Shasta daisy
Zinnia
Daffodil
Tulip
Hydrangea
Lemon Leaf

8. Form Flowers Unique in shape or color
Create the accent or focal point or focal area of the arrangement to attract the viewer’s attention

9. Form Flowers-Examples
Bird of paradise
Orchid

10. Other Form Flower Examples
Anthurium
Iris
Calla lilies
Peony
Stargazer
Wax Flower
Ferns

11. Filler Flowers Have small sprays of flowers or are like ferns
Used to fill empty spaces and to accent the other floral materials within the arrangement
Also used to cover or hide the mechanics of the arrangement including the frame, supports, ties, etc.

12. Filler Flowers-Examples
Baby’s breath
Statice

13. Other Filler Flower Examples
Queen Anne’s Lace
Ferns
Heather
Asters
Sprengeri Fern
Bear Grass

14. Floral Design Shapes

15. Round
Flower arrangement is basically round in shape

16. Oval
Flowers make an oval shaped arrangement

17. Fan
Flowers make a fan or semicircle shaped arrangement

18. Triangle
Shape may be an equilateral triangle with all three sides the same length or asymmetrical triangle with sides of different lengths.

19. Right Angle
Flowers make an L shape

20. Inverted-T
The flowers make an upside down T

21. Vertical
Straight up, in a bud vase, tall vertically, narrow horizontally

22. Horizontal
Long horizontal and short vertically

23. Diagonal
Halfway between vertical and horizontal

24. Crescent
Shaped like a quarter moon

25. Hogarth curve
Shaped like an S curve

26. Design Principles

27. Balance
When the flower size and container flow together and complement each other

28. Focal Point
Creates the accent and interest to catch the eye

29. Proportion
Keeps relative size, color and texture of the flowers to create a pleasing arrangement.
Floral designs should be at least 1 ½ to 2 times the height or width of the container.

30. Scale
The principle that the design must be in proportion to the surrounding area where it is placed.

31. Accent
Used to catch attention and draw attention to the design

32. Repetition
Accentuates the flowers and colors by repeating their use throughout the design

33. Rhythm
Creates a sense of continuity or flowing together

34. Harmony
When all parts flow together to give a completed look to the arrangment

35. Unity
When the flowers complement each other through color, size, and shape

36. Floral Design Tools

37. Floral Foam Foam used to hold flowers in a container.
Fresh flower floral foam-absorbs water. Soak it in water prior to starting your arrangement.
Dry flower floral foam-does not absorb water. Used for dried or silk flowers. This floral foam is dense.

38. Styrofoam
Coarse in texture and is used mostly for silk flowers.

39. Wire Supports flower stems or creates artificial stems.
Boxed wire measures 18” in length.
Wire gauge ranges from #6 to #30.
The higher the gauge number the thinner the wire.
#22 gauge wire is a good general purpose wire, used for securing bows.

40. Wire #28 gauge wire is used for wiring average weight flowers.
Paddle wire (wire on a wooden or plastic spool) is used to wire pine cones and accessories to wreaths, etc. and is available in different gauges.
Wire cutters should be used to cut wire-NEVER scissors

41. Picks
Wooden picks with wire increase the stems length and attach bows or ribbon used in the design.

42. Floral Tape
Waterproof tape is used to attach floral foam to the container.
Floral tape (stem wrap) is a tacky tape used to wrap wire. It is used to conceal wire and stems when creating boutonnieres and corsages.

43. Cutting Tools Shears are used to cut woody stemmed flowers/plants.
Scissors are used to cut ribbon or fabric.
Floral Knives are used to cut flower stems.

44. Ribbon
Sold in bolts by number size and textuure

45. Ribbon Number Size #1.5=5/16” #2=7/16”
#3=9/16” commonly used for corsages and boutonnieres
#5=7/8” commonly used for potted plants
#9=1 5/16” commonly used for potted plants

46. Ribbon Number Size #40=2 ½” commonly used for wreath bows
#100=4” commonly used for funeral sprays

47. Ribbon Texture Satin Organza Mesh Burlap Raffia Prints Solid Paper
Wired and unwired

48. Containers Range from bud vases to large containers.
Can be made of glass, plastic, glazed pots and light weight liners.

49. Foil
Paper to wrap a potted plant.
Sold in rolls or pre-cut sheets.

50. Design Techniques

51. Steps in Designing Arrangements
Select a design shape
Select appropriate container, cut floral foam and attach to container
Set container and foam in water for 20 minutes
Select fern or other filler and arrange in foam to cover foam and extend at least 1 ½ times the width of the container.

52. Steps in Designing Arrangements
Insert flower to make arrangement desired height
Insert more flowers to make design outline and focal point
Add other flowers as needed to make arrangement
Arrange filler flowers such as baby’s breath to give a completed appearance