Using Native Flowers in Floral Arrangements

Have you seen the stunning native flower displays created by NZ’s finest florists? It seems like Pinterest and other social media platforms are overflowing with gorgeous photos of native flowers and fauna in floral arrangements! So, we could stay silent no more, making it time for us to share some of their floristry secrets for you to try at home too.

Using NZ Native Flowers for Floral Design 

Here is a list of some of the most suitable NZ native flowers to use in floral arrangements – that you may even have already in your garden!

•           Kowhai – one of our favourites, the magnificent Kowhai has yellow bell-shaped blooms, usually grown in clusters
  
  
•           Harakeke – NZ native flax has large handsome flowers
  
  
•           Pohutukawa and Rata – providing a big bright red splash of colour
  
  
•          Manuka and Kanuka – with delicate pink or white flowers and a woodsy fragrance
  
  
•           Kakabeak – clusters of bright red flowers which resemble the beak of the Kaka

Unlike traditional floral arrangements, native flowers cannot really be picked and included alone. Instead, they will be displayed together with the small branches and greenery from the tree or shrub the flower is from.

Tips for Floral Art Using NZ Native Flowers & Fauna 

Our top tips for creating stunning floral displays using native flowers include:

• to create arrangements using native flowers, it is important to know that many do not last long once cut. Kowhai and Pohutukawa are two flowers which are not long lasting but still can be used in last minute displays.  This may mean you need to cut pieces and then add them to pre-designed arrangements.
  
  
• incorporate lots of greenery into your arrangements, such as Hen and Chicken ferns and pittosporum (hebes). Aim to have a large focus on greenery with pockets of floral colour. NZ has so many wonderful types of foliage!
  
  
• use sturdy containers that are bottom heavy to create arrangements in, due to the weight of the small branches and leaves can easily result in it toppling over.
  
  
• harakeke spikes can be handcrafted into pieces of art, including flowers, koru and statement pieces. Flax leaves can be easily curved into shapes and woven too.
  
  
• native flowers and foliage work together brilliantly when used in wide sprays to be displayed on a table or flat surface. Wide dramatic displays can be easily achieved; use a floral frog if you have one (there’s a lot of used options available on TradeMe), shaped blocks of floral foam, or chicken wire placed over a bowl.
  
  

We just love NZ native trees, and we’re excited to learn how you have used their flowers and branches in your latest floral designs! We’d love to receive a photo via email or Facebook!