Birthday
HydrangeasA flower cake is an arrangement of fresh flowers shaped like a cake: round, sometimes tiered, with "iced" sides of ribbon or leaves. It is not a dessert but a gift that lasts a week and replaces both a bouquet and a card. Here is how to make a flower cake yourself: materials, step-by-step instructions and care tips.
Ready-made foam arrangements are available among our flower boxes and flower baskets.
What a flower cake is
The base is floral foam that holds water, so the flowers stay fresh without a vase. A flower cake makes a great gift for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings or corporate events, or a table centrepiece. Do not confuse it with a real cake decorated with fresh flowers — we covered the safety of those in fresh flowers on cakes.
What you need
- A round floral foam block (or two sizes for two tiers) and a tray.
- Wide ribbon or salal or ruscus leaves for the sides, pins or glue.
- Flowers with dense heads: spray roses, Santini chrysanthemums, carnations, alstroemeria, hypericum.
- A sharp knife, secateurs and picks (if adding sweets).
Step by step
Place the flowers tightly so no foam shows. Start at the edge of the "tier" and work towards the centre. For impact, alternate large and small heads or create a pattern with different shades.
Design ideas
- Classic — white and pink roses with a pearl ribbon.
- Berry — red roses, hypericum and blackberries (decorative, not for eating).
- Party — bright carnations and chrysanthemums with a number topper.
- Sweet — flowers and sweets on picks; see DIY candy bouquet for ideas.
Care
Every 2 days, gently water the foam from above so it does not drip onto the table; keep the arrangement cool and away from radiators and sun. A flower cake lasts 5–7 days, with chrysanthemums and carnations up to two weeks.
FAQ
Can you eat a flower cake?
No, it is an arrangement of fresh flowers in floral foam, not a dessert.
How many flowers do I need?
For a 20 cm cake, roughly 30–50 short heads depending on their size.
How do I transport a flower cake?
In a lidded box on a flat surface; do not overwater the foam before the trip — water it on arrival.
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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.
