Bouquet Flowers and Greenery: A Florist’s Glossary

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Received a bouquet and wondering what that blue star or sprig of berries is called? This glossary lists the flowers and greenery you will most often find in bouquets, with a short note on how to recognise each one and why florists use it. Each name links to a detailed article on varieties, care and vase life.

Focal flowers: the stars of a bouquet

Large blooms that an arrangement is built around.

• Roses — the main bouquet flower; the article covers popular varieties for bouquets.
• Kenyan and Ecuadorian roses — how small-headed Kenyan roses differ from large Ecuadorian ones.
• Floribunda roses — spray roses with several buds per stem.
• Chrysanthemums — single-headed and spray types, lasting up to 2–3 weeks.
• Lisianthus (eustoma) — a delicate flower resembling a rose or a poppy.
• Alstroemeria — a lily-like flower with speckled petals, very long-lasting.
• Stock (matthiola) — spikes of double flowers with a spicy scent.
• Snowball viburnum — white globes of decorative viburnum, in season in May.

A few more focal flowers you will find in our bouquets: cymbidium, gentian, Jumilia rose, Avalanche rose, Mondial rose.

Fillers and accents

Small flowers that add volume, airiness or a touch of colour.

• Gypsophila — white clouds of tiny blooms.
• Spray chrysanthemum — sprays with dozens of small flowers.
• Tanacetum — tiny daisies with yellow centres.
• Oxypetalum — rare natural blue, star-shaped flowers.
• Hypericum — stems of glossy berries in many colours.
• Ozothamnus — the rice flower, made of tiny round buds.

Detailed guides to more fillers: waxflower, trachelium, solidago, veronica, skimmia, astilbe.

Greenery and decorative foliage

• Ruscus — glossy cladodes that last 2–3 weeks.
• Eucalyptus — silvery-blue, lightly scented leaves.
• Leucadendron — a South African shrub with flower-like tips.
• Salal, bear grass, aspidistra, pistache — an overview of 10 popular greens.

Broad, tough leaves for wraps and loops come from aspidistra.

Dried flowers that keep their looks

• Statice — bright papery clusters that keep their colour when dried.
• Ozothamnus — dries beautifully; also sold preserved and dyed.
• Ruscus — dries olive green and is often painted gold or silver.

Dried flowers make lasting home decor once the fresh blooms in a bouquet have faded.

Other great dryers are craspedia, brunia, eryngium (sea holly).

How to read a bouquet’s contents

Product cards usually list the focal flowers, fillers and greenery. If a name is unfamiliar, look it up here — it helps you understand how long the bouquet will last and how to care for it. Ruscus, hypericum and chrysanthemums last longest, while stock and snowball viburnum need frequent water changes. Browse ready-made bouquets in roses and chrysanthemums.

FAQ

Which bouquet flowers last longest?

Chrysanthemums, alstroemerias, hypericum and ruscus usually last 2 weeks or more.

What is a filler flower?

Small flowers or sprigs that fill the gaps between large blooms and add volume: gypsophila, tanacetum, ozothamnus, spray chrysanthemums.

Which bouquet flowers can be dried?

Statice, ozothamnus, ruscus, gypsophila and eucalyptus dry best.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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