About Flowers

Scented Flowers

Most people want cut flowers that are high quality, with large flowers, good colour and a long vase life. However, growers want flowers that are disease resistant, and grow strong and profusely. To get all these qualities, some of the scent genes may be bred out in the process. It is an unavoidable side-effect of the molecular structure of flowers. The scent genes are very strongly bound up with those for vase life and flower size - stronger scent often means shorter life or smaller flowers. However, many cut flowers retain a strong and appealing fragrance.

One the first things most of us do when buying a bouquet is smell the flower blooms and so scent is a popular element of cut flowers. Floral scents are also one of the most popular smells; the perfume industry expends a great deal of effort trying to reproduce the authentic fragrance of fresh flowers. It has also been discovered that certain fragrances have an effect on our emotions and wellbeing. Some can act as a sedative, while others are great pick-me-ups. Because of this, plant growers and geneticists have recently started breeding perfume back into cut flowers again.

Flowers and foliage are also beginning to be graded with a scent scale, like a bottle of wine, based on strength of perfume and the type of scent - sweet, spicy, woody, exotic and so forth. In general, white and pale flowers are particularly strongly scented. White flowers contain lots of indole, which is an aphrodisiac; this is the same ingredient as in animal musks.

Oriental lilies are a good example, along with jasmine and narcissi. Freesia are an exception - red and pink varieties have the strongest scent. Bear in mind that a cool room is better for prolonging the life of flowers; but too cool a room may prevent them giving off their full perfume.

The following list of flowers and foliage offers a guide to those with the strongest scent:

SWEET	bouvardia, carnation [especially "Bagatel", "Gipsy", "Candy White"], freesia [especially "Aladin", "Blue Moon", "Cote D'Azur", "Golden Wave", "Oberon", "White Wings"], hyacinth, lilac (Syringa), lily of the valley (Convallaria), phlox, rose [especially "Extase", "Jacaranda", "Nicole", "Osiana", "Sterling Star"], sweet pea
SPICY/PEPPERY	chrysanthemum, florists' broom (Genista), hypericum, pink (Dianthus), stock (Matthiola)
AROMATIC	dill (Anethum graveolens), eucalyptus - rub the leaves for the full effect, hypericum, lavender, marjoram, matricaria (Tanacetum), grape hyacinth (Muscari), rosemary
HEAVY / EXOTIC	gardenia, oriental lily [especially "Casablanca", "Le Reve", "Stargazer", "Pompeii"], longiflorum lily, narcissus [especially "Cheerfulness", "Paperwhite", "Soleil d'Or", "Ziva"], stephanotis, tuberose (Polianthes)
CITRUS	mimosa (Acacia), waxflower (Chamelaucium) - rub the leaves for the full effect

Imogen Stone incorporates scented flowers and herbs into several bouquets from the range of beautiful hand-tied flowers - the scent compliments the visual splendour and enhances the pleasure for the recipient of such a wonderful gift. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com

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Flowers in the Workplace
Are you feeling uninspired at work? Do you need to come up with new ideas? Try putting a vase of flowers on your desk or in the meeting room! A recent scientific study at Texas A&M University showed that just a simple vase of flowers can help to produce 15 per cent more ideas and innovations in an office.

The study was carried out by Dr Roger Ulrich, a professor of landscape architecture and an internationally recognised expert on the influences of surroundings on human well-being and health. He showed a positive link between flowers and workplace productivity, showing that workers' idea generation, creative performance and problem solving skills improve substantially in workplaces that include flowers.

During the eight month study both women and men demonstrated more innovative thinking and generated more ideas and original solutions to problems when in an office environment that included flowers. Men produced 15 per cent more ideas and women generated more creative, flexible solutions when flowers were present.

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Flowers as Corporate Gifts
There are any number of occasions when it may be appropriate to send a gift to a client or customer - so how about a bouquet of fresh flowers? According to a study carried out by Dr Jeannette Haviland-Jones at the University of New Jersey, when given gifts of equal monetary value, people responded most positively to a gift of fresh flowers. And not only that, it's a feeling that lasts! Nearly all surveyed respondents reported to still having that 'warm glow' several days after having received the gift, a result which was not true of other gifts.

Buying for clients is different from buying for loved ones, so here are some tips to bear in mind:
- Men who are beginners in the world of flowers need to start simply - select strong dramatic flowers that make a statement. The flowers need to be carefully chosen: not too fussy, not too frilly, not too delicate. Powerful, elegant, sophisticated and bold colours attract men the most and make a memorable gift for a man.
- Unless you know your client well, flower choices should be beautiful but not too emotional. Exotic and tropical flowers make excellent purchases, as they have unusually structural striking shapes and bright, assertive colours. Their large flower heads and strong stems also lead to easy arranging when they arrive home. Lilies, irises and gerbera are also suitably androgynous, while daffodils, tulips and other spring bulbs are also welcome. As a bonus some flowers - particularly lilies - also have a wonderful fragrance which is sure to be appreciated.
Imogen Stone creates beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets that make an impressive gift suitable for any recipient. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com

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Flowers Make a House a Home
What a difference flowers can make to your environment; a room with no flowers looks cold, uninhabited and uninviting. However, the same room with a vase of luxuriant flowers looks immediately transformed, cared for and welcoming.

Any space in your house can benefit from flowers - they bring colour, fragrance, and a touch of glamour into your home. Flowers can be placed wherever you want to add a splash of brightness or create a focal point; bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens can all be uplifted in this way. A vase of fresh flowers is a thoughtful addition to a guest room, and a lovely arrangement with a selection of scented blooms, placed in your hallway, is a warm welcome home.

Offices can benefit from cut flowers too! Many foliages are highly efficient at absorbing harmful chemicals from the air, which make them ideal for workspaces where printers, photocopiers, and computers are in use. They also replenish valuable oxygen levels, preventing feelings of tiredness and lethargy. Scientific studies show that offices with flowers at reception and by desks make the company look more prosperous and successful, and the workers are more relaxed, healthy and efficient.

Imogen Stone creates beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets that will boost and elevate any environment; home or office. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com

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Feng Shui and Flowers
Living flowers play a big part in harnessing or altering beneficial energy, or "chi". Even if you don't believe in the spiritual aspects of Feng Shui, it has sound scientific basis - flowers and foliages really do improve our air quality and personal health.

Imogen Stone has the following suggestions to improve your surroundings and well-being with the Feng Shui of flowers and plants.
- A vase with red or pink fresh flowers on your bedside table will bring more romance into your life, or help existing relationships, and promote loving feelings.
- A vase of red and yellow fresh flowers will strengthen digestive systems and help combat depression.
- Peonies strengthen male energy - one species is known as "Male Vermilion". Emblems of loyalty and affection; they can strengthen the heart and prevent blood disorders and congestion. Peonies with plenty of flowers and leaves are an omen of good fortune, and attract new friends and partners.
- Chrysanthemums bring laughter and happiness to your home. The Chinese have beautiful names for them such as "Heaven full of Stars" or "Drunk with Wine made from the Peaches of the Immortals". Chrysanthemums are associated with a life of relaxation and retirement.
- Narcissus is known as the "Water Fairy". Grown from bulbs and forced into bloom exactly at the new year, the flower brings good luck for the next twelve months.
- Lilies, considered one of the "Eight Treasures", are regarded as an emblem of summer and abundance, and are very favourable flowers to have in the home. Many varieties are available, from pure white trumpets of longiflorum, to the heavily scented oriental, and brightly coloured asiatic forms.
- Green is the colour of growth. Green foliages reflect peace and harmony and will ease troubled minds. Flowers alleviate all stress, and represent balance, harmony and peace.
- You should have at least one flower display in each room to freshen the atmosphere, clean the air, relax you and bring beneficial "chi". Only fresh flowers will do this!
Imogen Stone creates beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets that will boost the chi in your home. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com

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Easy Ways to Make Your Flowers Look Great
Have you been put off buying fresh flowers in the past, because you think that you need lots of skill to arrange flowers successfully? Well, Imogen Stone has some great ideas for displaying your flowers in stylish yet simple ways.

Everyday Containers

Even if you haven't got a single vase in the house, you can still enjoy cut flowers. Wine, beer, and mineral water bottles come in interesting shapes and colours, and reduce arranging to its basics. Choose flowers with large heads like gerbera, lilies, orchids or sunflowers - add one stem per bottle and line them up on your mantelpiece for instant glamour.

Jugs, teapots, tumblers and even jam jars can all be used for displaying flowers. With smaller containers such as teapots and jam jars, the flowers look better with the stems cut short, so that the flower heads "float" on the rim of the pot. Choose flowers with full heads like dahlias, carnations, chrysanthemums and daffodils, and fill out with interesting foliages for a rustic, harvest-festival feel. Glasses and jars can also be put inside more attractive non-waterproof containers to hold the water for the flowers.

Vases

Maybe you have got a suitable vase, but it's ugly, or the colour doesn't go with your flowers, or you are tired of looking at it. Try wrapping a headscarf around it - place the vase in the middle, pull up the fabric around, and tie with a ribbon or even a rubber band at the neck. If you don't have a scarf, try crepe paper - just take care when you add the water.

Alternatively cover the outside of the vase in double-sided adhesive tape, then stick large leaves vertically around. Tuck the ends of the leaves underneath and stick them down, then tie the vase in the middle with raffia or string for a floral parcel. Some houseplant leaves look wonderful for this as they are glossy, or have exotic markings or colouration. If you have no leaves, wind string - plain or coloured - in coils around the bottles and jars for an ethnic look; or satin parcel ribbon for a shiny finish.

And if all else fails...

If you really are unsuccessful at arranging your flowers, or you have had a few disasters in trying the above, then a lovely way of displaying flowers is to cut off individual flower heads and float them in a low dish of water. You can also add small floating candles for a "delightful" dinner party table centre.

Imogen Stone creates beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets - we also offer vases that can be purchased to display your flowers. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com

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Care and Conditioning of Fresh Flowers
New breeding and growing techniques mean most flowers last much longer than they used to. And by following these few simple steps you can get extra life and pleasure from your flowers.

TOP TIPS FOR CUT FLOWER CARE
- With a sharp knife cut 3cm (1") off all stem ends at a slant.
- Strip off all leaves below the water line.
- Keep vases very clean; and use fresh, lukewarm water.
- Always use a proprietary cut flower food.
- Keep flowers away from direct sunlight and heat; and ripening fruit.
- Remove faded flowers as they occur.
- Remember to top up the water, adding more flower food.
ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS

Do...
- use lukewarm water - it has less oxygen, which prevents air bubbles in the stem blocking water uptake.
- clean your vases thoroughly after use - bacteria kills flowers.
- strip off all leaves that will be below the waterline, to help keep the water clean and direct energy to the flowers
- use flower food as instructed. It contains flower-friendly sugars to feed the flowers and encourage buds to open; preservatives to lengthen their life; an acid-balancer; and anti-bacterial agents, in an easy-to-use sachet.
Don't...
- try old wives' tale remedies in your vases - they don't work! Coins do nothing. Lemonade or sugar will help flowers open but will also encourage bacteria to breed, shortening their life. Aspirin makes the water more acidic, but does nothing else. Bleach may kill the flowers and certainly won't encourage buds to open. And piercing tulip stems will only encourage bacteria to enter the wound.
- break, crush, hammer or split the stems - bacteria grows on damaged stalks, and they can't take up water.
- put daffodils in mixed arrangements - they release latex slime that affects other flowers
- put flowers near ripening fruit, or leave dying flowers in with the rest - they release tiny amounts of ethylene gas which ages flowers.
- place flowers in a draught or bright sunlight, and keep them away from central heating.
Imogen Stone uses the very highest quality fresh flowers from growers around the world to create beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets. The bouquets are packaged in specially designed boxes that will protect the hand-tied flowers during their journey - on arrival they are guaranteed to impress the recipient. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com

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Astrology and Flowers for the Star Signs
Aries are passionate, enthusiastic, adventurous fire signs; Flowers for Aries - red roses, amaryllis, cockscomb celosia, tulips, red flowers

Taurus are home-loving, conventional, gourmand earth signs; Flowers for Taurus - sweet william (Dianthus barbatus), aster, lily of the valley, stock, lilac, sweet pea

Gemini are talkative, lively, intellectual air signs; Flowers for Gemini - ranunculus, solidago (goldenrod), daffodil, acacia (mimosa), yellow-flowered plants

Cancer are secretive, protective, caring water signs; Flowers for Cancer - cornflower, delphinium, iris, hydrangea, pale blue-flowered plants

Leo are extrovert, faithful, larger than life fire signs; Flowers for Leo - sunflower, gerbera, marigold, dahlia, helenium, orange flowers

Virgo are practical, modest, perfectionist earth signs; Flowers for Virgo - aconitum (monkshood), veronica, thistle, alliums, chrysanthemum, hypericum

Libra are elegant, diplomatic, romantic air signs; Flowers for Libra - chincherinchee (Ornithogalum), Cymbidium orchid, tuberose, freesia, tea roses

Scorpio are sensual, determined, dangerous water signs; Flowers for Scorpio - red hot poker (Kniphofia), alpinia (pink ginger), anthurium, amaranthus (love lies bleeding)

Sagittarius are straightforward, optimistic, playful fire signs; Flowers for Sagittarius - carnation, lisianthus (eustoma), liatris (blazing star), gerbera, foxtail lily (Eremurus)

Capricorn are hardworking, ambitious, respectable earth signs; Flowers for Capricorn - statice, snowdrop, ivy and holly, palm leaves, hellebore, tulip

Aquarius are hi-tech, unconventional, independent air signs; Flowers for Aquarius - eryngium (sea holly), arum (Zantedeschia), banksia, bird of paradise (Stelitzia), protea

Pisces are intuitive, humorous, compassionate water signs; Flowers for Pisces - longiflorum lily , lilac, narcissus, gypsophila, eucharis (Amazon lily), Euphorbia marginata

Imogen Stone creates beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets that make an impressive gift suitable for any star sign. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com

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Wedding Flowers
Weddings and wedding flowers are a wonderful opportunity to really express individual tastes and styles - but there are so many flowers and florists out there that where do you start? The best way to find your florist is through recommendation but remember what friends and relatives may consider a fantastic florist may not necessarily share the same taste as you so always make a few appointments with several florists. Try and make time on a weekday because the florist will have more time to discuss your ideas, as the shop will always be busy on a Saturday.

Help the florist out as much as possible - the more info you can give them the better - so save pictures from magazines, pictures of the dress, fabric swatches etc. Give yourself and your florist plenty of time to decide - don't be rushed into choosing until you find something that reflects the feel of your wedding.

When briefing your florist on what you want, set a clear budget. Be prepared to be slightly flexible but do not be pushed into anything you do not want. A good florist can work with any budget and suggest ideas to suit. If you are on a budget then stick to flowers of the season. Remember these flowers are going to be handled so ensure they are hardy. Again your florist will advise you on what will flop!

When choosing a florist, ask to see some of their previous work to ensure that your wedding flowers will be as beautiful as you have dreamed and that they understand the sort of look you have in mind.

Some things for brides to consider:
- Type of flowers - preferred colours and shape of the bouquet so that it compliments what you are wearing.
- Style of dress - Have a clear drawing or picture of both dress and veil, and a swatch of fabric.
- Style of bouquet - traditional wired shower, garden flower posy, loose hand-tied?
- Carrying the bouquet - one hand, both hands, trailing or upright?
- Height and frame - if you are petite, an enormous trailing bouquet will overpower you, and vice-versa.
- Bridesmaids - Bridesmaids' flowers are traditionally smaller, less complicated versions of the bride's bouquet. It is an opportunity to introduce different colours into the overall colour scheme if wanted, or to echo the bride's own flowers.
- Buttonholes - it is traditional to have buttonholes for male members of the wedding party and more feminine version (known as a corsage) for female members - but it is up to you how many or few you decide to have. Choose flowers that will not wilt, particularly in summer.
- Venue and Table - table arrangements should be either tall and thin or wide and low to avoid getting in the way of your guests. Flowers usually echo those used in the bride's or bridesmaids' bouquet - this has the advantage of creating a continuous theme, and can also reduce costs as your florist can buy in bulk - but if you want a different feel between ceremony and reception, feel free to choose whatever you like!
- Collate some ideas from magazines, books.
Imogen Stone creates beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets that make an impressive gift suitable for anyone who has helped to make your special day special. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com

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Wedding Anniversaries
1st is Paper
2nd is Cotton
3rd is Leather
4th is Books
5th is Wood
6th is Iron
7th is Copper or Wool
8th is Bronze or Pottery
9th is Pottery or Willow
10th is Tin or Aluminium
11th is Steel
12th is Linen or Silk
13th is Lace
14th is Ivory
15th is Crystal
20th is China
25th is Silver
30th is Pearl
35th is Coral
40th is Ruby
45th is Sapphire
50th is Gold
55th is Emerald
60th is Diamond

Imogen Stone creates beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets that would make an impressive wedding anniversary gift suitable however many years you are celebrating. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com.

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Seasonal Flower Availability

Some flowers have a short season, and this is part of their charm. Scented narcissi herald the arrival of spring; peonies epitomise the warm days of June. Some flowers - thanks to breeding and growing techniques, coupled with overseas imports - are available all year round. This fact sheet shows the availability of various flowers throughout the year - as you can see, whichever season you pick, there are dozens of beautiful flowers to choose from!

Spring Flowers: February - April
Botanical name	Common name	Botanical name	Common name
Chamaelaucium Convallaria Genista Hyacinthus Muscari	wax flower lily of the valley broom hyacinth grape hyacinth	Narcissus Prunus Ranunculus Syringa Viburnum	daffodil cherry blossom turban buttercup lilac snowball tree

Summer Flowers: May - August
Aconitum Agapanthus Alchemilla Allium Campanula Chrysanthemum frutescens Dianthus barbatus Eremurus	monkshood Nile lily lady's mantle ornamental onion bellflower marguerite sweet William foxtail lily	Helianthus Paeonia Papaver Polianthes Scilla Solidago Trachelium Triteliea	sunflower peony poppy tuberose bluebell goldenrod throatwort Queen Fabiola lily

Autumn Flowers: September - November
Amaranthus Amaryllis Callistephus Celosia Crocosmia Dahlia Echinops Gladiolus Gomphrena	love lies bleeding belladonna lily Chinese aster cockscomb montbretia dahlia globe thistle gladiolus globe amaranth	Helianthus Hypericum Kniphofia Physostegia Saponaria Scabiosa Sedum Solidago Zinnia	sunflower St John's wort red hot poker obedience plant soapwort scabious stonecrop goldenrod zinnia

Winter Flowers: December - February
Chamaelaucium Euphorbia fulgens Hyacinthus	wax flower spurge hyacinth	Narcissus Protea Syringa	daffodil sugarbush lilac

All Year Round - a huge choice!
Alpinia Alstroemeria Ammi Ananas Anemone Anethum Anthurium Antirrhinum Asclepius Aster ericoides Banksia Bouvardia Bupleurum Chrysanthemum Cirsium Cymbidium Delphinium Dendrobium Dianthus caryophyllus Euphorbia marginata Eustoma Freesia	ginger lily Peruvian lily Queen Anne's lace pineapple anemone dill painters' palette snapdragon butterfly weed September flower bottlebrush bouvardia bupleurum chrysanthemum thistle orchid delphinium singapore orchid carnation snow on the mountain lisianthus freesia	Gerbera Gloriosa Gypsophila Heliconia Iris Leucadendron Liatris Lilium Limonium Lysimachia Matthiola Moluccella Nerine Oncidium Ornithogalum Phalaenopsis Phlox Rosa Solidaster Strelitzia Veronica Zantedeschia	gerbera flame lily baby's breath lobster claw iris safari sunset gayfeather lily statice loosestrife stock bells of Ireland Jersey lily dancing orchid chincherinchee moth orchid phlox rose goldenrod bird of paradise speedwell arum lily, calla

Available Most Seasons: 9 months of the year
Acacia Achillea Ageratum Anigozanthos Aster novi-belgii Atriplex	mimosa yarrow floss flower kangaroo paw Michaelmas daisy orach	Craspedia Hippeastrum Hydrangea Lathyrus Paphiopedilum Tulipa	drumstick flower amaryllis hydrangea sweet pea slipper orchid tulip

Imogen Stone creates beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets using the freshest high quality seasonal flowers and foliages. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com.

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Colour & Flowers

Colour is the deciding factor for most people when buying cut flowers; whether they are a favourite shade, or the bouquet tones well with the curtains! Apart from this conscious type of choice, colour also has a profound effect on the human psyche. Attitudes and emotions can be affected by certain colours in certain ways; something to remember the next time you visit the florist...

What colour are you?

Red	is attention grabbing, assertive, and used in supermarkets to persuade people to buy. Red tones make your heart beat faster - hence it's considered a passionate colour!	rose, anthurium, tulip, celosia, amaryllis, anemone, crocosmia, dahlia, carnation, gloriosa
Yellow	is bright, cheerful, and stimulates the memory - it is often used in classrooms. Golden tones are reminiscent of summer, sunshine and holidays.	sunflower, solidago (goldenrod), achillea, daffodils, oncidium orchid, gerbera, chrysanthemums
Blue	is calming, cool, and relaxes the mind - like the sky and sea. Blue tones are popular for bathrooms - a "watery" shade - but rare and prized in nature.	delphinium, iris, cornflower, agapanthus, campanula, hyacinth, aconitum, eryngium, muscari
Pink	is "feminine", unthreatening, and calms the nerves - it is used in 'drunk tanks' to quieten inmates! Pink tones are often associated with fragrance and romance.	carnation, pink, sweet pea, stock, nerine, lisianthus, hydrangea, lily, scented stock
Purple	is dramatic, flamboyant, unusual, and popular with royalty, clergy, wizards and psychics. Purple tones are considered mystical colours.	lisianthus, allium, lilac, liatris, dendrobium orchid, anemone, sweet william, limonium (statice)
White	is pure, clean, futuristic, and seems to glow at night - good for dinner parties. White flowers appear more expensive than the same varieties coloured, and are often highly perfumed.	longiflorum lily, arum, narcissi, phalaenopsis orchid, bouvardia, freesia, ornithogalum, phlox
Green	is caring, homeloving, responsible, and the colour of nature and symbol of ecology. Green tones are a relaxing background for other colours - and there is a huge range of green plants to choose from, of course!	bells of Ireland (Moluccella), guelder rose, chrysanthemums, carnation "Prado", anthurium - and of course, a huge range of foliage

Imogen Stone creates stylish and imaginative hand-tied designer bouquets and flower arrangements using the finest fresh flowers, high quality seasonal flowers, scented flowers, herbs and also interesting foliages. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com.

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The National Flowers of Countries of the World

Country	Botanic name	Common name
Australia	Acacia	wattle, mimosa
Canada: Each province also has its own flower	Acer	maple leaf
China	Paeonia	peony
Colombia, Costa Rica	Cattleya	corsage orchid
Cyprus	Cyclamen cyprium	cyclamen
Denmark	Chrysanthemum frutescens	marguerite
Japan	Chrysanthemum, Prunus	chrysanthemum bloom, cherry blossom
Lebanon	Cedrus libani	cedar tree
New Zealand		silver fern
Nicaragua	Plumeria rubra	frangipane
Paraguay, Philippines	Jasminum	jasmine
Singapore	Vanda "Miss Joaquim"	vanda orchid
South Africa	Protea	protea, sugarbush
Spain	Dianthus caryophyllus	carnation
Taiwan	Prunus mei	plum blossom
Turkey	Tulipa	tulip
Zimbabwe	Gloriosa superba	flame lily
USA: Each state has its own state flower Alaska Arizona California Hawaii Kentucky, Nebraska New Mexico Oklahoma	Myosotis Carnegiea gigantea Romneya coulteri Hibiscus Solidago Yucca Viscum album	forget-me-not giant cactus, saguaro Californian poppy hibiscus goldenrod yucca mistletoe
UK: England Scotland Wales	Rosa Onopordum acanthum Narcissus	rose Scotch thistle daffodil

Imogen Stone creates stylish and imaginative hand-tied designer bouquets and flower arrangements using the very highest quality fresh flowers from growers around the world. The bouquets are packaged in specially designed boxes that will protect the hand-tied flowers during their journey - on arrival they are guaranteed to impress the recipient. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com

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The Language of Flowers
Giving flowers can be a very personal gesture, but a further dimension is implied by understanding the meaning of individual flowers. Although many of us are familiar with Shakespeare's quote "there's Rosemary, that's for Remembrance...", the Persians, Greeks, Chinese and Indians have all used flower language to symbolise emotions for centuries.

The idea was first encouraged in England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montague, wife of the English Ambassador to Turkey, who observed this tradition at the Sultan's court. The popularity of floral language grew in Victorian times when it became an expressive, though discreet, method of communication for both men and women. Not only did flowers themselves have meaning, but their position was crucial too. Wearing a marigold in the hair expressed mental anguish while the same flower pinned to the bosom conveyed indifference.

Although this quaint tradition seems rather coy these days, it can add an element of fun to an otherwise innocent gift of flowers or plants. The language of flowers is still observed, though probably not consciously, by many brides as they make their choice of wedding bouquet.

Imogen Stone creates beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets using the freshest high quality seasonal flowers and foliages. Our designs are characterised by their exquisite seasonal blooms, scented flowers and unique blending of shapes and vibrant colours. The stunning beauty, texture and scent of our exclusive bouquets are guaranteed to arouse the senses of the recipient and fill them with pleasure and well-being. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com

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Winter Foliage
Winter need not be the bleak, barren season it is often imagined to be!

You can create a riot of colour, shape and fragrance from the many fresh flowers now available all year round. Imogen Stone has come up with some ideas for seasonal accompaniments to these unseasonal flowers - some of them lovely enough to be used on their own!

For a fresh green partnering for your flowers

Try tall spikes of pale apple green Bells of Ireland (Moluccella), or the bright green pompon heads of the snowball tree or Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus). Variegated pittosporum or Euphorbia marginata, both with small wavy leaves, make a fresh white-and-green addition to an arrangement.

For a more traditional look, try glossy green ruscus leaves (some may have berries attached too), aromatic eucalyptus or conifer branches; or go totally tropical with huge leaves of exotic anthurium and swiss cheese plant. You could even snip a stem from your houseplants!

If you are looking for complementing colours for your fresh flowers

Try the rusty-maroon spires of orach seedpods (Atriplex) and shiny copper hypericum berries. These mix beautifully with the deep burgundy foliage of photinia "Red Robin" or cotinus, for a late autumn arrangement. Add golden accents with floral fillers : solidago, solidaster, or chamomile are a great choice.

Winter is the time of flowering shrubs, with many flowers appearing on bare wood.

Recreate this indoors with branches of bright Christmassy-red holly berries (Ilex verticillata is best); sunshine yellow forsythia and pink cherry blossom; creamy perfumed sprays of broom (Genista), and the lemon-scented pink-flowered waxflower (Chamelaucium).

For a more minimal display, bare stems of twisted willow or hazel in a simple container make a marvellously dramatic backdrop.

Imogen Stone creates stylish and imaginative hand-tied designer bouquets and flower arrangements using the finest fresh flowers, high quality seasonal flowers, scented flowers, herbs and also interesting foliages. To view our current range of beautiful hand-tied flower bouquets please visit: www.imogenstone.com.

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A to Z of Flowers

Agapanthus
Name: African lily, as is commonly known
Description: Tall stem with umbel (a rounded flower cluster) of funnel shaped flowers on a leafless stem.
Origin: South Africa Colour: Various shades of blue to white. Availability: The main season for agapanthus is the summer but some varieties are available as early as April and as late as December.
Alpinia
Name: After Prospero Alpinio, a doctor-botanist of the 1500s. Also known as Pink Ginger or Shell Ginger. Care Tips: The prawn-like flower will open in warmth.
Colours: Clear pink or red Family: Related to the ginger used in cooking
Alstroemeria
Name: Sometimes called Ulster Mary (a corruption of the botanical name), or Peruvian lily from the country of origin. Pronounced Alstro-MARY-ah. The flower is named after Claus Alstroemer, a pupil of the great botanical classifier Linnaeus who went to South America and sent back seeds of species of this flower.
Description: The flowers are like miniature lilies, with spotted or striped markings, shaded colour, or contrasting patches.
Origin: Peru, Brazil and Chile where where they grow in cool mountainous regions.
Colour: Breeders in the UK and Holland have developed a huge range of hybrid varieties, all with quite different colours and markings. You can buy them all year round, in red, pink, orange, white, cream, yellow, peach and purple!
Availability: You can buy them all year round.
Care Tips: Leaves wilt before flowers, so remove all foliage before putting in an arrangement. They will last about two weeks in water. Take care in transporting the flowers as the stem joints are brittle and easily broken.
Amaranthus
Name: The dark red Amaranthus caudatus is commonly called 'love lies bleeding' .
Description: Amaranthus are not well-known as cut flowers in the UK, but have no other rivals for looks and have a very exotic appearance. Their upright or trailing flowerspikes have an unusual texture like chenille.
Origin: Native to South America
Colour: There are two main colours, a dark red and a lime green. The same colours are found in the upright varieties, though these reds can also have dark brown tints. There is a new bronze version too called "Hot Biscuits".
Availability: The main season is June to October
Care Tips: There are two main forms, an upright version A. hypochondriacus which has almost millet-like textured flowerspikes, and a dramatic trailing version A. caudatus which is like a long fluffy tail, with many smaller tails attached to the main stem.
Care Tips: Remove leaves as these fade quickly and are not very ornamental.
Amaryllis
Name: Pronounced AMMA-rillis, Amaryllis is sometimes called Hippeastrum, which means "knight star".
Description: Amaryllis have large flamboyant starry trumpets which spring from huge papery bulbs. Thick smooth leafless stems, often more than half a metre tall, are topped by four or five of these outsize blooms, making an impressive display.
Origin: South and Central America and the Caribbean
Colour: Pure white, pillarbox red, candy pink, peach. There are also striped varieties and ones with frilled or coloured edges to the petals.
Availability: The main season is September to April. Varieties: Christmas red varieties include "Liberty", "Red Lion", and "Hercules".
Care Tips: The flower heads are often so large the stems cannot support them. Insert a thin stick inside the hollow stem for support. Buy Amaryllis when still in bud so you can transport them without damaging the flowers. The meaty stalk of an Amaryllis sucks up a lot of water, which means the flowers have a water supply within the stalk. This means you can use the Amaryllis as a dry decoration for a limited period. A few stems with fully blown flowers can be placed on a dinner table, or hung upside down above the table, without becoming instantly limp.
Trivia:
Zodiac: Associated with the star sign Aries, being flamboyantly red.
Greek Mythology: Amaryllis was a popular woman's name in ancient Greece.
Medicinal: Contains poisonous substances - but perfectly safe to handle.
Language of Flowers: Amaryllis means "splendid beauty" or "pride".
Ammi
Name: Ammi majus, sometimes called Queen Anne's Lace
Description: Ammi has the same flower shape as dill - a large umbrella-shaped head made up of lots of tiny flowers - but creamy white. The stems are more slender and smooth, and the leaves less feathery, more ferny. Ammi also has very little smell. It is mainly available in high summer.
Origin: The plant is native to the Mediterranean, but is cultivated in major growing areas including Holland, Israel and the UK.
Availability: All year round.
Care Tips: Like dill, it is a cousin of the humble carrot.
Anemone
Name: Comes from "anemos", the greek word for wind. Sometimes called the windflower. Pronounced a-NEM-o-nee
Description: The outsize anemones, which growers have managed to produce in the last few years, are remarkable, and perfect for placing singly in display vases, to show off their fragile beauty. Their ferny leaves make a perfect frame for the flower heads.
Origin: Eastern part of Mediterranean area and Asia Minor. They are now grown across Europe, particularly Italy and Israel.
Colour: Vibrant shades of red, purple and pink, with jet black hearts ringed with white. The all-white anemone is rare, it has a yellow-green heart.
Availability: Main season September to May
Care Tips: Anemones belong to the buttercup family.. The best cut flower varieties are "Mona Lisa" forms, which have large flowers and long, strong stems.
Care Tips: Anemones do not like being out of water for any length of time and take water in quickly, so water levels should be checked regularly. However they should not be placed in water that is too deep
Trivia: Mythology: It is said that the goddess Flora was jealous of her husband's attentions towards the nymph Anemone and so transformed her into the wind flower and left her at the mercy of the North Wind.
Medicinal: Used for cramping pains, menstrual problems and emotional distress.
Anigozanthos
Name: Pronounced ANNY-goz-an-thoss, the word means 'plant with unusual flower' and is commonly known as kangaroo paw, kangaroo's paw or monkey paw.
Description: It has long furry, velvety buds that open at the tip of the stems producing tubular-shaped flowers.
Colour: Ranging from bronze, orange and yellow-green to pink and red. The black kangaroo paw is Maropidia fulginosa.
Origin: Western Australia
Care Tips: Haemodoraceae
Care Tips: It can last up to three to four weeks. Re-cut the stems once a week to aid water uptake.
Availability: All year round.
Anthurium
Name: Anthurium, pronounced an-THOO-ree-um, are once-seen, never-forgotten flowers! You may have come across them on Caribbean holidays or in the Far East. Common names include painter's palette, flamingo flower.
Description: Their unmistakable glossy heart-shaped flower bract (which gives them their popular name of painter's palette) surrounds the true flowers, which are in the form of a spike (or spathe) at the centre.
Colour: Anthuriums come in shades of reds, pinks, white, lilac, green and chocolate brown.
Availability: All year round.
Care Tips: They last three weeks or more. The flowers should not be chilled. The bracts are fleshy and very easily bruised - take care when transporting or arranging these fabulous flowers.
Astrantia
Name: Astrantia major, maxima and carnicolica are commonly known as masterwort or Hattie's pincushion.
Description: Astrantia has clusters of tiny, delicate, starlike flowers.
Colour: From greenish white to rose pink and red.
Origin: Central and S. Europe, West Asia. First cultivated in Belgium in 1574.
Availability: Summer, autumn
Care Tips: Choose when the tiny flowers on the cluster are open. Give them a long drink before use. Their vase life is about 5-10 days.
Bouvardia
Name: The flowers are named after Parisian doctor Charles Bouvard, personal physician to Louis XIII and director of the Jardin des Plantes.
Description: Bouvardia are certainly not common flowers. If you study them closely, you find loose clusters of tubular starlet flowers fringed with leaves and carried on tall stalks. Each stem, resembles a small bouquet in bright firework colours. They also have a faint delicate scent.
Origin: Native to Mexico. Introduced to the UK in 1854, but are chiefly grown in sub-tropical zones and under glass in Holland.
Colour: Shades of pinks and red as well as white.
Availability: All year round.
Care Tips: Their closest relatives are the fabulously fragrant gardenias.
Varieties: They have wonderful names like 'Pink Luck', 'Royal Katty' and 'Albatross'.
Care Tips: Cut the stems at a slant with a sharp knife and don't forget to use the special flower food usually provided for bouvardia. They are particularly prone to water loss and should not be left out of water. If you do not have the special flower food, recut the stems frequently and remove excess foliage.
Carnation
Name: Dianthus, its botanical name, means divine flower. Carnation was the flesh-pink colour Elizabethan portrait painters used as a background wash.
Description: The carnation is available as a standard carnation - one large flower per stem, or a spray carnation with lots of smaller flowers.
Colour: Available in a huge range of colours, almost all except blue. A mauve carnation with a blue tinge has been developed by Florigene in Australia. But they look best in hot Latin shades of red, pink and orange.
Availability: All year round.
Varieties: New varieties have been bred which look like old-fashioned garden pinks, but in bright colours. They have daintier relatives, the fantastically fragrant Sweet Williams and Pinks.
Care Tips: Carnations can last up to three weeks but should be kept away from ripening fruit and vegetables because of ethylene gas.
Trivia:
Facts: Carnations are the UK's best-selling cut flower, by miles. They are an excellent cut-flower, great value, very long-lasting, Since the 1950's they have been frowned upon by the style gurus, but are now making a comeback.
Folklore: Used on mothering Sunday. In Canada you wear a red flower if your mother is alive or a white flower if your mother has died.
Language of Flowers: Red carnation for "alas for my poor heart", striped for refusal, yellow for disdain, pink for woman's love.
Celosia
Name: The type pictured here is Celosia cristata. Its unusual appearance is where the flower gets its common name of cockscomb celosia. Celosia plumosa is often called Prince of Wales feathers.
Colour: Hot pinks, purples, golds and oranges, or strange shades of flesh, bronze and pale green.
Availability: The main season is April to October.
Varieties: Two main sorts - Celosia cristata (pictured here) means crinkled celosia. Some are so crinkled they are almost circular like a brain, though most are a fan or cockscomb shape. They are hardly known as a cut flower in the UK yet every time the Flowers & Plants Association has shown them at exhibitions or on television, they nearly cause a riot! Their weird, wonderful shapes and textures are set to cause a storm as they become better known, they are such an amazing-looking flower. Not only do they look great, they feel wonderful too, with a soft velvety texture. Celosia plumosa is a pointed, flame-shaped flower, very fluffy, like brightly coloured pampas grass.
Care Tips: Celosia last for up to two weeks. Celosia leaves are not very decorative or longlasting and are best removed entirely.
Chincherinchee
Name: Also known as Ornithogalum and Star of Bethlehem. The Greeks used the term "bird's milk" ornithos (bird) and gala (milk) to describe something incredible. The South Africans know them as "tjenkenrientjee" which is where the odd English name chincherinchee comes from.
Description: Their flowers, bell and star-shaped, are showy and sometimes very fragrant . They bloom individually in circles carried at the top of leafless stems.
Origin: Ornithogalum thyrsoides is native to South Africa and the Ornithogalum umbellatum is native to the Mediterranean.
Colour: Usually white but also yellow and orange.
Availability: All year round.
Care Tips: They belong to the Liliaceae (lily) family and grow from bulbs.
Varieties: The best known is Ornithogalum thyrsoides. Ornithogalum umbellatum has larger star-shaped white flowers and narrow leaves. This variety's most eye-catching feature is the beautiful green stripe on each flower. The flower shown here is Ornithogalum arabicum (sometimes called the Star of Bethlehem), which has a long stem with a distinctive umbrella of waxy white flowers carrying a green-black ovary in the centre. Ornithogalum dubium is a lovely clear orange shade, and has cup-shaped flowers.
Care Tips: Sometimes called a "florist's nightmare" because they have such a long vase life. They can easily last a whole month.
Chrysanthemum
Name: Comes from the Greek "krus anthemon" meaning gold flower. However nowadays they come in all colours.
Origin: China and Japan. The Chinese who considered them the highest of flowers, named their royal throne after the flower.
Colour: All colours including bronze, lime green and brick red, except blue (which are artificially dyed for special events).
Availability: All year round
Varieties: "Mums" come in a range of shapes and sizes, including spiders, spoons, buttons and blooms. Blooms are normal chrysanthemum varieties which have undergone intensive and specialised growing care. Instead of letting the plant produce side shoots which would bear flowers, all these shoots are removed, leaving only one central stem. This is then similarly treated so that only one flower bud remains. All the energy of the plant is directed into this bud which then grows to a huge size. Blooms come in many different forms, just like dahlias. Some are tight petalled, with all the petals curling upwards. Some have petals which curve and twist like a huge feather hat.
Care Tips: Relatives include chamomile, tansy, marguerite and matricaria.
Trivia:
Facts: The chrysanthemum is depicted on Japan's imperial weapon and flag. Japan also has a national festival devoted to the flower (9th Sept) Mythology: Some countries (such as Malta) think it is unlucky to have the flower indoors. It is associated with funerals and All Saints Day. In Germany, people put white chrysanthemums in their homes at Christmas, to welcome baby Jesus.
Medicinal: Feng Shui adherents believe the chrysanthemum brings laughter and happiness to your home. History: The Chinese legend tells the story of an elderly emperor who had heard about a magic herb that would give him eternal youth. This herb was said to grow on Dragonfly Island and could only be picked by young people. The elderly emperor therefore sent twenty-four children on what proved to be a long and hazardous journey. Much to their dismay, when they finally arrived at the island they found it totally deserted. There was no sign of the magic herb. All they found was a flower - the golden chrysanthemum, which today still symbolises the Chinese people's ties with their country. Later Mao Tse Tung replaced the imperial golden yellow with the red of the people's republic. The Japanese legend revolves around the god Izanagi and the goddess Iznami, who were sent to earth across a bridge of clouds because there were too many gods in heaven. When she arrived on earth, the goddess created the gods of the wind, the mountains and the sea, but perished miserably in the flames that sprang up while she was creating the god of fire. Izanagi, who missed her, followed her into a dismal place known as the 'Black Night'. When he finally caught a glimpse of the goddess, he was immediately pursued by an old witch. He fled back to earth, where he decided to cleanse himself in the river. The items of clothing he dropped onto the ground turned into twelve gods. His jewels turned into flowers, his bracelet into an iris, a second bracelet into a lotus flower and his necklace became a golden chrysanthemum.
Craspedia
Name: Craspedia globosa is commonly known as drumstick or Billy button.
Description: Small, golden globular head tightly packed with florets on long, leafless stem. Craspedia glauca's flower, however, is not completely circular.
Origin: Native to Australia, New Zealand
Availability: Spring to autumn
Care Tips: Compositae
Care Tips: They last a long time, work well as a dried flower and are not sensitive to ethylene.
Crocosmia
Name: The name name 'Crocosmia' comes from the Latin 'croceus' meaning saffron coloured (ie golden orange). Often called Montbretia as well.
Description: Crocosmia are rich orange tube shaped flowers arranged around a central axis with little clusters of flowers that branch out into a typical freesia-like flower spike.
Origin: Crocosmia originate from South Africa.
Colour: Fiery yellow, orange, red and tan colours.
Availability: Main season June to September
Care Tips: Crocosmia must not be left out of water too long, or else their colourful orange flowers will soon fade. Cut the end of the stems at an angle and place them in lukewarm water containing cut flower food.
Dahlia
Name: Pronounced DAY-lee-a
Description: The native forms are quite simple and daisy-like, but breeding has resulted in some wonderful flower forms, including complete globes full of petals (pompoms), spiky and spidery forms (cactuses), and ones with curled tubes of petals like sea anemones.
Origin: Dahlias are native to Mexico and South America, and have the vibrant intense colours associated with that part of the world.
Availability: Main season June - October.
Varieties: Dahlias and chrysanthemums with many-petalled flowers are closely related and often hard to tell apart. Dahlias have hollow stems, with raised joints where the leaves attach. Their leaves are smooth, usually with points, whereas chrysanthemum leaves are soft, with rounded edges.
Care Tips: Dahlias are thirsty flowers, so check water levels regularly and remove leaves to reduce transpiration.
Trivia:
Facts: The National Collection of dahlias is held at Varfell Farm, Long Rock, Penzance, Cornwall. For a few days each September the collection is open to the public, when over 10,000 dahlias can be seen in full flower, against the stunning backdrop of St. Michael's Mount. For more information please visit their website at www.wgltd.co.uk History: Dahlias were first recorded by Westerners in 1615, when they were called by their Mexican name, acoctli. They disappeared from record until 1787 when a botanical expedition 'rediscovered' them, and sent seeds back to their headquarters in Europe. Their existence was kept secret for another ten years however.
Delphinium
Name: From the Latin "delphis" meaning dolphin, from the shape of the buds. Pronounced del-FINNY-um.
Origin: China, which is appropriate considering their Willow Pattern colour range.
Colour: Shades of blue, purple and white mostly, but salmon and yellow forms available too.
Availability: Some available all year, main season April to October.
Care Tips: Related to larkspur, which is smaller and comes in more pastel shades such as pinks.
Care Tips: The plant is poisonous so wash hands after handling.
Trivia:
Facts: Delphiniums and larkspur make good dried flowers.
Dill
Name: The botanical name is Anethem graveolens. Graveolens means having a strong scent.
Description: Umbrella flower heads carried on thick ridged hollwo stems.
Colours: Delicate lime or golden yellow.
Availability: Cultivated in many countries including Britain it is available from spring to autumn.
Care Tips: Like ammi, it is a cousin of the humble carrot.
Trivia:
Facts: Long grown for its medicinal and flavouring properties. The plant has an aniseed scent, which emerges when the foliage is handled or crushed. The soft feathery green foliage is often used in cooking for its aniseed favour especially with fish. History: It was even known in ancient Egypt.
Eremurus
Name: The botanical name Eremurus comes from the Greek for "desert tail", referring both to the origins of the flower and its shape. Its common name is 'foxtail lily'.
Description: Each flower spike, over one metre long, is made up of hundreds of tiny starry flowers. These gradually open from the bottom to the tip of the spike, revealing long stamens.
Origin: Cultivated in Britain since 1875, originating from Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan.
Colour: Very Middle Eastern coloured flower spikes of yellow, orange, cream and sandy-pink resembling firework rockets..
Trivia:
Facts: The flower spikes grow from tubers like dahlias.
Eryngium
Name: pronounced e-RIN-jum, and commonly called sea holly or alpine thistle.
Description: The plant has deepy-cut leaves shaped like holly, and sometimes just as spiky. The leaves surround the stem like frilly collars, culminating in a raspberry-like flower head at the top of the stem.
Origin: The plant is native to Siberia, the Balkans and Alpine regions, but it has been cultivated in Western Europe since 1567
Colour: All shades of blue-green from navy with bottle green, through steel blues and gunmetal, to a brilliant sky-blue.
Availability: All year round.
Varieties: Eryngium alpinum has the biggest collar around the flower head, a huge fringed affair like an Elizabethan ruff.
Trivia:
Medicinal: It was originally grown for its healing properties.
Eucharis
Name: Eucharis (pronounced YOU-kariss) means charming in Latin. it is also sometimes known as the Amazon lily because of its Colombian origins.
Origin: Native to the Colombian jungle.
Colour: Pure white with a delicate apple green centre.
Availability: All year round.
Care Tips: It does not like cold, warmth has the benefit of bringing out its scent.
Trivia:
Facts: Each stem bears at least two flower heads and often up to eight.
Euphorbia Fulgens
Name: Pronounced you-FORB-eea.
Description: Euphorbia has long, elegantly curved branches with tiny pointed leaves along the whole length. These are densely interspersed with small rounded flowers. It is a little known cut flower in the UK but very popular on the Continent.
Origin: Originally from Mexico.
Colour: Red, orange, yellow, salmon pink or white flowers.
Availability: Main season September to January.
Care Tips: Euphorbia fulgens is a close relative of the poinsettia, but you would never guess this from its appearance. Like its more traditional relative it is available at Christmas.
Care Tips: Like all euphorbias, E. fulgens leaks sap when it is cut. This can be an irritant so those with sensitive skin should wear gloves when handling it. The stems can be sealed by plunging the tips quickly in boiling water, or by placing them in a separate vase for a few hours before mixing with other flowers.
Forsythia
Name: It is named in honour of William Forysth, director of the Chelsea Physic Garden in 1770, maker of the first rock garden in the UK and one of the founders of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Origin: The plant is native to China and was discovered there by Robert Fortune, a great eighteenth century plant-hunter.
Colour: Yellow.
Availability: Early spring.
Trivia:
Facts: Forsythia is well known as a garden plant, but is also available as a cut flowering foliage. It can be one of the first flowers into bloom. Many people have forsythia plants in their garden but they take up a lot of space, and are pretty dull for the fifty weeks of the year they are not in flower. Far better to buy a few fresh branches each week of spring,
Freesia
Name: After Dr Friedrich Heinrich Theodor Freese, a German physician.
Facts: Freesias are among the most popular and widely grown cut flowers in the world, with over 110 million stems sold in the UK each year. In a recent F & PA survey over half the respondents rated them as one of their favourite flowers.
Availability: Although available all year their peak period is spring.
Origin: South Africa, first imported to Europe at the end of the 19th century.
Colour: Wide range including yellows, red, pinks and white.
Varieties: One of the nicest varieties is "Ballerina", which look like elegant dancers.
Care Tips: Freesia belong to the Iridaceae family, including iris.
Care Tips: Buy them with at least one flower open on the stem. Make sure they have plenty of water and never let the stem ends dry out. Pinch out the topmost buds and remove the old flower heads to encourage new ones to open. Keep away from fruit, vegetables, and excess heat, as they are very sensitive to the ethylene gas produced.
Trivia:
Facts: Unlike most other flowers, where the white forms smell most strongly, if you want highly scented freesia look for pink and red varieties. History: Almost unknown until the 1950's it is now one of the UK's favourite flowers.
Gentiana
Name: Common name is Gentian. It was thought to be named after Gentius, King of Illyria (present-day Albania), who was the first to use this plant medicinally. The tall gentians used for cut flowers are mostly the Gentiana makinoi cultivar.
Description: Flowers are trumpet-shaped blue or purple.
Origin: Most of the 400 species gentians are small, short plants including many alpines. The tall varieties used for cutting are principally Gentiana makinoi from Japan especially "Royal Blue" or Gentiana triflora variety "Japonica".
Availability: June-October
Care Tips: They last for 3-4 weeks.
Trivia: The roots are used medicinally to treat weak or underactive digestive systems and also as anti-flammatory medicine.
Gerbera
Name: Named after Traugott Gerber, a German doctor. Usually pronounced JUR-bra. Infrequently called Transvaal Daisy or Barberton Daisy.
Origin: South Africa (Transvaal and Cape Province)
Colour: Gerberas offer an incredibly wide range of colours with every colour except blue represented (including fashionable shades of buff and maroon).
Availability: All year round.
Care Tips: Miniature gerbera (germinis) are available, as well as the standard size, and large headed types (bigger than your palm).
Varieties: There are over 200 varieties of gerbera and breeders have developed many variants from serrated or frilly petals to double flowers and extra wide petals. A new development is the mini-gerbera or 'germini' which have the same wide choice of colours but are smaller and more appropriate for smaller flower arrangements.
Care Tips: Need warmth and bright light.
Trivia:
Zodiac: Associated with the star sign Leo History: Little-known 20 years ago, but now extremely popular and fashionable. Gerbera were first imported to Europe in the 19th century.
Gladiolus
Name: From the Latin "gladius", meaning "sword", relating to their leaf shape.
Origin: South African, like many other bulb flowers (see Freesia).
Colour: White and soft pastels, pinks, oranges, peach, yellow, red and purple.
Availability: May to October.
Care Tips: The daintily-patterned smaller Nanus forms of gladioli are less well-known but delightful cut-flowers.
Care Tips: Remove faded flowers to encourage others to open. Snipping off the top two or three green buds straightens the stem and helps flowers open below. Gladioli like a lot of water, and will suffer seriously if not given enough water.
Trivia:
Facts: Used extensively throughout Mediterranean countries in festivals and saints' days. Dame Edna Everage hurls "gladdies" into the audience at the end of every performance.
Gypsophila
Name: The botanical name means "lover of chalk" - as this is the sort of soil the plant likes to grow in. Its popular name, baby's breath, gives an indication of its delicate airy appearance.
Description: Gypsophila has many slender branching stems, each bearing many tiny button-shaped flowers at the ends.
Origin: The plant is native to Eastern Europe, right across the continent from the Mediterranean to Siberia. It was first grown in the UK in 1759 and is still grown commercially here, as well as in Israel and Holland
Colour: Gypsophila has a chalky white flower, although cream and pale pink varieties are sometimes found.
Availability: All year round.
Care Tips: A relative of the equally well known carnation. Newer varieties of gypsophila such as "Million Stars" are much easier to arrange as they do not become entangled.
Care Tips: Keep the water clean and gypsophila will be very long lasting.
Helenium
Name: Helenium get their name from the Greek word "helios" meaning sun, and from Helen of Troy. Commonly named sneezeweed.
Description: Daisy-like flowers with brown centres. The buds and immature flowers are attractively striped and the flowers last up to two weeks.
Colour: A warm colour range of yellow, gold, tan, rust and terracotta.
Availability: Helenium have a short natural season during late summer and early autumn.
Heliconia species
Name: Common names such as lobster claw and parrot flower reflect their beak-like shape.
Colour: Red, orange yellow, pink.
Description: The real flowers are tiny and inside the "beaks". Some less-common species may have furry beaks. The variety shown here has upright facing flowers; some forms, called hanging heliconia, have flowers which dangle down from the main stem.
Hellebore
Name: Pronounced HELL-e-bore and also called Christmas Rose the botanical name is Helleborus.
Description: The flowers' translucent petals and dotty stamens, combined with delicately pointed leaves, give the flower the appearance of a wild dog-rose. Smooth olive-green stems only reach around 20cms and give the flower a very dainty appearance.
Colour: H. niger is either bright purest white, or a warm deep purple. H. corsicus has green or cream bell-like cups in clusters, while H. orientalis has speckled and streaked flowers in unusual shades of cream, green, purple and pink.
Availability: November to January.
Varieties: As cut flowers hellebores come in three main species - Helleborus niger, the Christmas rose; H. orientalis, the Lenten rose and H. corsicus
Care Tips: Hellebores are short-lived flowers but very beautiful nonetheless. They benefit from a long drink before arranging and keeping them cool will prolong their life. Despite its beauty, the black roots of H. niger are extremely poisonous , so although it is safe to handle, hands should be washed after handling it.
Trivia:
Facts: The flower is used for winter decorations particularly in Scandinavia
Folklore: The Cornish refer to the Christmas rose as "The Virgin's Mantle". In medieval times it was said to be good for breaking bad spells and curses and was often planted near the front door.
Medicinal: H. niger was first described in a "herbal" in 1597, it was then known as the Christmas Herb or the Christmas Flower. Nicholas Culpeper's legendary 17th century herbal refers to it. It was regarded as a suitable treatment for insanity and depression. It was first referred to as the Christmas Rose in the 18th century because of its resemblance to the single wild rose (dog-rose)
Hyacinth
Name: The word hyacinth comes from the Greek Hyakinthos, a handsome young man who in Greek mythology was loved by the sun god Apollo. One day they were practising throwing the discus but the jealous god of the West Wind, who was also in love with Hyakinthos, blew the discus back and it fatally wounded him. From his blood grew a flower which the god Apollo named after him.
Origin: It was brought to Western Europe in the 16th century and was first cultivated in Austria in the 1500's. During the 17th and 18th centuries, like the tulip, it was to be found only in the collections of very rich flower collectors. Because of the hyacinth's pervasive perfume, the bulbs were exorbitantly expensive. The bulbs are now grown in Holland and Great Britain.
Colour: Usually white, pink, peach and blue. More unusual colours to look for include dark wine purples , rosy reds, navy, egg-yolk yellows and soft oranges.
Availability: November to April
Care Tips: Hyacinthus orientalis belongs to the Liliaceae family and so grows from a bulb.
Varieties: Varieties come in all colours including pure white "Carnegie", salmon "Anna Marie", delicate pink " Splendid Cornelia" and baby blue "Delft Blue
Trivia:
Facts: Nowadays the cut flowers are sold with roots intact at the bottom to make the flowers last longer. Don't cut these off, but just give the stems a good rinse
Hydrangea
Name: Hydrangea means 'water barrel' and refers to the shape of the fruit after it has sprung open. In any case hydrangeas need lots of water.
Origin: Japan - introduced into UK in 1788.
Care Tips: Vase life is about one to two weeks.
Description: Small, star-shaped flowers packed closely together to form a rounded or pyramidal head. It is also a popular pot plant and garden plant.
Colours: White, pink, blue, lilac, green, red/brown.
Availability: Spring until Autumn
Care Tips: Hydrangeaceae
Trivia: It is suitable for drying.
Varieties: Two common varieties sold are Hydrangea macrophylla (rounded cluster) and Hydrangea paniculata (pyramidal cluster).
Hypericum
Name: Pronounced hy-PERRI-cum, common name St John's Wort.
Origin: Native to the Himalayas and China, the plant has been cultivated in the UK since 1594 originally for its medicinal properties but now also grown commercially for its ornamental berries.
Colour: Berries in shades of red, orange and brown as well as golden flowers like giant buttercups. Variety: Hypericum has increased hugely in popularity over the past five years. Then there was only one general variety of hypericum widely sold. Now there are at least six or seven named varieties available, all with different characteristics.
Care Tips: Remove the leaves as these fade quickly and are not as ornamental as the berries.
Trivia:
Medicinal: Hypericum has also become better known for its medicinal properties. Under its common name, St John's Wort, hypericum is sold as a herbal antidepressant.
Iris
Name: Iris means "rainbow" in Greek. Garden irises come in a broad spectrum of colours, but cut flower irises are mostly blue, white and yellow like the summer sky.
Colour: Navy, blue, white, yellow and combinations; also browns and lilacs.
Care Tips: Irises belong to the family of Iridaceae, which also includes freesia. Interestingly most of our lovely spring flowers are related to each other, and grow from bulbs or other forms of underground rhizomes (root stocks)! They store their hidden beauty under the earth through the cold months and reveal it suddenly and brilliantly once the new season's warmth appears.
Care Tips: Select flowers in bud with colour showing. Keep cool to extend their life.
Trivia:
Facts: The popularity of irises over the centuries has been demonstrated in the still life paintings of the Dutch masters, and more recently has inspired Vincent van Gogh. Mythology: In Greek mythology, Iris is the messenger of the gods who, cloaked in a robe of dewdrops reflecting the stars, communicates messages via the rainbow, the bridge between heaven and earth. The iris is the symbol of communication and the name itself means "rainbow".
Folklore: In some languages, irises are called flags or sword flags, relating them to symbols of heraldry and royalty, hence the original "Fleur de lys" of heraldry. In Japan the shape is seen to express heroism and the blue colour refers to blue blood, so irises play a key role in their spring festival for boys
Kniphofia
Name: Pronounced ni-FOH-feea, or k-nip-HOF-ia (after Dr. Kniphof - see Origins) . Commonly called red-hot pokers, in reference to their upright silhouette and reddish colouring, which gets more intense towards the tip. Red hot poker is certainly easier to say.
Description: The downward-pointing flowers open from the bottom of the stem upwards, revealing golden stamens.
Origin: Kniphofia are native to South Africa. Named after German physician J H Kniphof.
Colour: Mainly reds and oranges but also available in more subtle shades of pale green, cream and sand
Availability: May to October.
Care Tips: The long stems can sometimes bend in transit which produces interesting curves and shapes for arranging. They will last a week or two in water. The lower flowers can be snipped off as they die. Red hot pokers do not like cigarette smoke.
Leucospermum
Name: Leucospermum, sometimes called pincushion protea.
Description: Leucospermum are very strange looking flowers, almost like plastic pan scrubbers! A rounded head of springy, firm hooks curling upright. They grow as big shrubby bushes. You can tell this from the thick, heavy stems each flower is supported by.
Origin: Originate from South Africa.
Colour: Shades of orange.
Availability: All year round.
Care Tips: Care is the same as for all cut flowers. You will need to cut the stems with sharp secateurs as they are very thick and woody.
Trivia: The plant requires smoke from a fire to germinate their seed
Lilac
Name: Mostly known to florists by its genus name Syringa (pronounced sir-IN-ga)., Lilac is a well known shrub in English cottage gardens.
Description: The cut flower is far more glamorous than the shrub with long branches laden with flowers. The flowers are very labour intensive to grow but the final result is well worth it.
Origin: Lilacs were first cultivated in the middle of the last century in Europe, and most of the varieties developed are those still sold today.
Colour: Available in white, mauve, violet or pink. The purple-flowered varieties, which have the stronger scent are only available in spring for a very short season of perhaps six weeks.
Availability: October to May
Varieties: "Madame Florent Stepman" is the most widely grown lilac, a pure white flower named after the original grower's wife.
Lily (Lilium)
Name: Lilium candidum was the most significant flower symbol for Christians and suggested purity. As a symbol of purity associated with virgins it became known as the Madonna Lily.
Origin: One of the first descriptions of the lily dates from the Chinese Middle Ages "the plant flowers until late autumn and there are three types, red, yellow and purple".
Colour: Some forms (Lilium longiflorum, L. candidum, oriental lilies) are highly perfumed but white only; others (asiatic lilies) are highly coloured but scent-free
Availability: All year.
Care Tips: Remove the pollen stamens by pinching them together and pulling them up out of the flower. This prolongs the flower's life as well. Use sellotape to remove pollen, not water which will fix the stain.
Trivia:
Facts: Lilies have been cultivated for over 3000 years. Feng Shui believers hold the lily as an emblem of summer and abundance; to the Chinese, lily means "Forever in love". The lily was the holy flower of the ancient Assyrians. Until the 16th century the Madonna lily was the only garden variety known, because of this the "lilies of the field" as mentioned in the bible are thought to be this specific lily. A lily has adorned the coat of arms of the kings of France since 1179. King Chlodwig I allegedly received this 'fleur de lys', as it is called in heraldic language, from an angel. But in actual fact his flower wasn't a lily, as the name implies, but an iris. Via Louis XI the motif made its way to the coat of arms of the Medici family, and from there on to the arms of Florence and Tuscany. Interestingly, only the Florentine 'fleur de lys' has stamens like a lily. Mythology: In Greek poetry, the lily stood for tenderness. It was also referred to as the voice of cicadas or of the muses. There is a Greek myth that tells us how the lily was born from the milk of the goddess Hera. The lily still symbolises pure, virginal love in the Christian world.
Medicinal: In the past, various flowers were used to prepare remedies in popular medicine. In China some served as lucky charms, while others were thought to be capable of averting the evil eye. In another historical account we read that people were interested in lilies for their anti-toxic powers and their capacity of curing depressions. In Europe, too, lilies were used as a remedy against a wide range of diseases and ailments right up to the beginning of the last century
Caution: Be aware that lilies can be highly poisonous to cats. Owners should be aware of this risk and keep their pets away from them.
Lily (Lilium) - Gloriosa
Name: Gloriosa Rothschildiana is more commonly known as the Gloriosa Lily or Glory Lily from the latin gloria meaning honour, fame. This splendid and exotic lily was named after Baron Z.W. Rothschild, an authority on birds, who brought the flower from Africa and entered it at an exhibition of the English Horticultural Society at the turn of the century.
Description: The flower bears six delicate reflexed petals with scalloped yellow edges each measuring approximately 3-4" (8-10cm) across.
Origin: Originally from tropical Africa, Gloriosa is the national flower of Zimbabwe. Since then it has mainly been grown in Holland. It was first cultivated in the UK in 1902.
Colour: Red through to cerise with yellow edges.
Availability: April to October
Care Tips: Lilium
Care Tips: These flowers are extremely sensitive to being handled and are therefore often sold in inflatable bags to avoid damage. Wilting flowers can be revived by immersing in deep water for several hours.
Trivia:
Facts: Gloriosa is in fact a vine and therefore can be bought as single stems (short variety) or as a whole top vine with several clusters of flowers (long variety).
Lily (Lilium) - Zantedeschia
Name: Pronounced zanter-DESK-ya or zanter-DEE-sha, but commonly known as calla or arum lilies which are much easier to say! Calla was the old Victorian name for them before they were renamed Zantedeschia.
Colour: Available all year round in shades of pinks, pale creams, and flesh tones, purple-black, yellow and terracotta oranges.
Varieties: White arums are very popular with style gurus for their sculptural elegant shape. Their richly coloured relatives are becoming better known, they have smaller, more elegant flower shape and lend themselves more easily to mixing with other flowers.
Care Tips: They last around two weeks. The petals are fleshy and very easily bruised, take care when transporting or arranging them
Lily of the Valley
Name: Botanically known as Convallaria.
Description: Little white bells arranged up a short delicate stem.
Origin: First cultivated in 1420.
Colour: White.
Availability: Mainly April and May.
Care Tips: Must not be left out of water too long. Keep cool and shaded.
Trivia:
Facts: Signifies a "return to happiness". Lily of the valley is much used in bridal arrangements for their sweet perfume. Traditionally associated with May 1st, especially in France where the "muguet" is handed out at special events.
Limonium
Name: Pronounced Le-MOHN-ium which comes from the Greek word leimon which means meadow. Commonly called sea lavender because it has lilac flowers and grows in coastland areas, or statice because its appearance hardly changes throughout flowering.
Description: Narrow stalks branch off into many slender stems, each branching into further stemlets bearing several tiny papery flowers. The flowers look stunning en masse, by themselves or as an ideal filler.
Origin: The species is native to the Caucasus, but it has been cultivated in the UK since 1791.
Availability: It used to be available as a cut flower in high summer only, but growing techniques and imports mean we can enjoy this flower all year round.
Colour: Shades of purple and pink.
Lisianthus
Name: Pronounced lizzie-ANN-thus. Also called Eustoma, Prairie Gentian or Texan bluebell.
Origin: Native to the prairies of Texas and Mexico, despite their delicate appearance.
Colour: Shades of purple, cream, pink, also pale green, or bold two-tone "picotees" with coloured petal edges.
Availability: All year round.
Varieties: Single forms look like fullblown tulips or poppies; double forms like roses or peonies. In wonderful air-brushed soft dusky tones which spiral beautifully and are unbelievably silky to the touch.
Care Tips: Longlasting flowers, if their stems are recut regularly.
Trivia:
Facts: Has been one of the most popular flowers exhibited by the Flowers & Plants Association. Many people do not know what it is, but everyone loves it! There is no flower that is more evocative of summer than lisianthus. At its best from the beginning of April through to October, its floaty delicate petals remind us of lazy days and perfumed breezes. Their wide open flowers are reminiscent of softly blown roses. Perfect for summer parties and weddings, lisianthus is available in a wide range of colours which will inject the season's sense of fun and relaxation into any event. The official name for lisianthus is Eustoma (pronounced YOU-stow- ma) russelianum. The flower originates from the American states of Nebraska and Colorado. Its name literally means 'a good mouth' or less literally 'a pretty face', hence its natural affiliation to romance and weddings.
Marguerite
Name: Botanically called Chrysanthemum frutescens; frutescens means shrubby.
Origin: Native to the Canary Isles, they have been cultivated in England since 1699.
Colour: White, and sometimes pink or yellow.
Availability: Widely available during the summer months.
Care Tips: Very similar to ox-eye daisies whose botanical name is Leucanthemum. These have been cultivated since 1596 and are widespread as a wild verge and hedgerow flower.
Varieties: Often available as small bushes or potted plants
Muscari
Name: The common name is grape hyacinth, from the way their flower head resembles that of a hyacinth.
Origin: Native to Greece and the Middle East, but has been grown in the UK since 1576.
Colour: Shades of blue including navy as well as lilac and white.
Availability: Winter months, main season January to April
Care Tips: Grape hyacinths are related to hyacinths, and to lily of the valley. They are fairly well known as garden plants, but now they are also available as cut flowers and potted bulbs for indoors
Narcissus
Name: All daffodils are Narcissus, which is the genus name. According to the International Cultivar Registration Authority (for Narcissus and for several other flowers that is the UK's Royal Horticultural Society) daffodil is accepted as a common name for all members of the Narcissus genus. However, most people think of daffodils as the single flower, large trumpet yellow ones, which are the most common kind of daffodils, and call the smaller headed scented varieties, narcissi. The Oxford Dictionary defines narcissus (plural narcissi) as "any of a group of flowers including jonquils and daffodils, especially the kind with heavily-scented single white flowers". In fact, even the growers of the scented varieties call all of their products white or yellow, single or multi-headed, "narcissi". The flower is named after Narcissus in Greek legend (see Trivia below). "Narcissus" comes from the Greek for "numbness" referring to the narcotic properties of the plant.
Origin: South Western Europe. Grown extensively in the UK - we export daffodils to Holland. First cultivated by the Romans.
Colour: Over 25,000 varieties in shades of yellow, white, orange and peachy pink.
Availability: Seasonal availability October to April. The Isles of Scilly start the season off in October with the tiny tazetta types. It finishes in April with large trumpet daffodils from Scotland.
Varieties: There is a huge number of cultivars, in a range of colours including combinations of white, yellows, oranges and pinks. There are multi-headed tazetta types and some with a strong fragrance. Yellow tazetta narcissi "Soleil d'Or'"and white "Ziva" have the strongest scent, and also make ideal indoor plants as potted bulbs
Care Tips: Daffodils and narcissi have sap which is toxic to other flowers. Display separately, leave in water on their own for at least 12 hours before mixing with other flowers and do not recut the stems. Or use specially formulated cut flower food for mixing daffodils with other flowers. If kept cool they will last about 1 week.
Trivia:
Facts: Narcissi are mainly cultivated in the Channel Isles, the Isles of Scilly, Great Britain and Holland. The daffodil is the emblem of Wales and is worn on St David's Day. Poultry keepers thought the flower unlucky and would not allow it in the home as they believed it would stop their hens laying eggs or the eggs hatching. Prince Charles is paid one daffodil annually as rent for the unattended lands of Scilly. The local Environmental Trust is responsible for the payment. The daffodil is used by Marie Curie Cancer Care to raise money on National Daffodil Day. They believe it symbolises new hope and life. Mythology: Narcissus in Greek legend fell in love with his own reflection in a stream. He stayed transfixed by the stream and the gods thought he would die of starvation so they changed him into the flower to stay there forever.
Zodiac: They are good flowers for Geminis, who like the daffodil's yellow cheerfulness; and Pisces who appreciate the white narcissi's scented delicacy. Feng Shui: Feng Shui adherents believe the flower brings good luck for the next twelve months if forced to bloom at New Year.
Language of Flowers: In Victorian times daffodils signified regard, while narcissi meant self-esteem or even vanity.
Medicinal: Daffodils are being grown for Galanthine, a substance in the bulbs being used to fight Alzheimer's.
Nerine
Name: Common names Jersey Lily, Guernsey Lily, and Spider Lily.
Description: The nerine is an elegant and dainty flower with long stems showing off the slender petals curled like gift ribbons.
Colour: The best known are bubblegum pink and bright tea rose tones, however they are also available in pure white and cherry red.
Availability: Virtually all year, main season June to January.
Varieties: The best known variety is Nerine bowdenii, sometimes called the Jersey lily after actress Lily Langtry. The Nerine crispa has a very fine structure, which appears in late autumn, The Nerine sarniensis which has red-orange flowers appears around Christmas.
Care Tips: Nerines prefer cool temperatures but not cold.
Orchids
Name: From the Greek "orchis" meaning testicle, because of the shape of the bulbous roots.
Origin: Indigenous to tropical and semi-tropical regions of the world such as Asia, South and Central America. Some are native to the UK.
Colour: Everything except blue - there are even black and green orchids.
Care Tips: Orchids are the largest family of the plant kingdom with over 25,000 naturally occurring species in the world, as well as all the specially-developed hybrids! Most houseplant orchids are either Phalaenopsis (fa-le-NOP-sis) (moth orchid), dendrobium, vanda, paphiopedilum (paff-eeo-PEDDY-lum) (slipper orchid) or cymbidium (sim-BIDDY-um).
Care Tips: Orchids can last 2 or 3 weeks cut and over a month on the plant. They like regular misting. Some, like Phalaenopsis adapt to central heating better than others.
Trivia:
Facts: The world's largest orchid can grow to 20 metres long. History: Confucius acknowledged orchids saying, "the association with a superior person is like entering a hall of orchids". In 1595 a Chinese flower-arranging book "A Treatise of Vase Flowers" by Chang Ch'ien -te said orchids were in the top ranking of desirability.
Orchids - Cattleya
Name: Commonly known as the Corsage orchid.
Colour: Huge frilled flowers in pinks, purples, yellows and white.
Availability: All year round.
Care Tips: Cattleya will last just over a week. They like cool air and regular misting, and are sensitive to ethylene gas so keep them away from fruit, vegetables and dying flowers. Snip off old flower heads.
Trivia:
Facts: Often sold singly. The leaves are sold as Orca foliage

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