FLOWER ARRANGEMENT : Principles, Elements and Types of flowers

Dr.T.Suseela, Professor
Dept. of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture, Dr.YSRHU, V.R.Gudem

Dr.A.V.D.Dorajee Rao, Professor
Dept. of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture, Dr.YSRHU, V.R.Gudem

Dr.Ch. Sai Ratna Sharavani, Assistant Professor
Dept. of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture, Dr.YSRHU, V.R.Gudem

The flowers blooming all around us are so beautiful and also meditative. Picking blooms and arranging a bouquet, when done mindfully, becomes a fragrant, calming and moving meditation – one that may help feel relaxed.

Arrangement of flowers aesthetically is very old in our country. The Japanese art of flower arrangement (Ikebana) was laid 1000 years ago. Flower arrangement can be defined as an art of organizing and grouping together plant material (flower, foliage, fruits, twigs and so on) to achieve harmony of form, colour and texture, thereby adding cheer, life, and beauty to the surroundings.

Principles to be followed for making different flower arrangements:

1. Emphasis is achieved in a floral design by creating an accented area or a focal point.. Emphasis can easily be achieved in a design when the smallest, least-open flowers are placed at the perimeter of the arrangement and the large, fully developed ones are located at the focal point.

An accent will exist whenever contrast is present in a design. The most striking contrast in a design is created by use of brightly colored flowers at the center of interest, with less vibrant tones or tints used as the flowers approach the perimeter of the design.

Coarser textures will appear to have more visual weight so they will be best used at the focal point. An accessory such as ribbons or bow is often used by retail florists to create emphasis in bouquets and corsages. The contrast in texture or color will place the emphasis at the lip of the container.

Balance : A well-designed arrangement will appear to be stable and self-supporting. An arrangement should possess both mechanical and visual balance. Mechanical balance is achieved when the container is the proper size and weight for the size of flowers being used with it. Visual balance can be achieved through symmetrical or asymmetrical means.

An arrangement may be composed of symmetrical or asymmetrical balance. A symmetrical design will appear to be the same on each side of a vertical centerline.

Many floral design styles are arranged with asymmetrical balance. This gives the appearance of a more natural design and allows the arranger more originality.

Flower heights are gradually lowered, as each flower is placed closer to the front of the arrangement. Balance is maintained by grading flowers by color, texture, size and spacing.

3.Proportion: Good proportion in an arrangement is created by establishing a pleasing scale relationship of the flowers to the container.

A generally accepted rule of floral design states that for a tall container, plant material should be at least one and one-half to two times the height of the vase. For low, flat containers, the height of an arrangement is at least one and one-half to two times the width. This rule is not ironclad and may be altered provided that good proportion in the design is maintained.

4.Rhythm : Rhythm may be achieved in several ways – through opposition, repetition, or transition.

When flowers having the same color, texture, or form are placed at opposing points away from the focal point, the center of interest is emphasized. These opposing flowers create a balance in the design that naturally leads the eye from one point, through the focal area, and on to the other side of the design. This eye movement is the result of the visual motion within the design

A transition in color and texture or the gradation of scaled flower sizes can also be used to create motion in a design. The darkest or brightest color may be placed at the focal point. From the center to the outer edges of the arrangement, the intensity or tone of the color is graded to be more subdued..

5.Harmony : When an arrangement possesses harmony, all the design parts will fit together into a pleasing composition of flower shapes, colors, textures, and sizes.

This could be interpreted to mean that the idea or theme of the design has been successfully created. In order for harmony to be achieved all the component parts of the design must be in an appealing relationship.

6.Unity: Unity is created when all the design parts blend together without a noticeable separation. Although each flower or area of the arrangement may be distinctive, all elements must visually blend together.

Unity is best achieved by repeating related flower types, colors, and textures throughout the design. This helps to pull the components together with the focal point as the center of interest.

Elements of Floral Design:

Line:

Line in a flower arrangement is the visual path the eye travel as it passes through the arrangement.
The line establishes the skeleton of the design particularly when linear flowers or foliages are used.
A vertical line gives the arrangement an appearance of strength. A curved line adds gentleness or gracefulness and gives the impression of motion.
A horizontal line is more relaxing or informal, so is used most often for table arrangements.

Form:

The flowers, foliages and containers used in flower arrangements have various shapes or forms.
This add a visual quality that is important in developing harmony, creating rhythm and establishing a focal point.
Form is also expressed by the geometric shape that creates the outline of the design.

Texture:

Texture refers to such surface qualities of flowers and foliage as smoothness glossiness, and roughness.
This may be expressed either as a physical or a visual characteristic of the plant material.

Pattern:

It applies to the contour of a composition and the grouping of material within it.
Pattern is monotonous if placements are uniform and forms unvaried.
Pattern relates to continuity, since the distribution of lines and forms can proceed logically
Patterns are different kinds – intricate, bold, open, dense, regular, and irregular. The pattern of the material often identifies the style, as traditional, modern, oriental, or naturalistic.

Colour:

Probably the most important factor in the compatibility of materials is their color, because color commands the most attention, causes the strongest reaction, and often accounts for success or failure.

Space:

It is difficult to think of space as a positive element of design.
Usually we regard it as emptiness without limits or definition.
In a design, if we mark off space or enclose it, or if sections are cut and left over.

The Four Basic Types of Design Material:

a) Line Flowers b) Mass Flowers c) Form Flowers d) Filler Flowers

Line Flowers:

Tall spike of flowers with florets blooming along the stem.
Create the outline for an arrangement & establish the height and width as well as curvilinear lines.
Examples: Snapdragon, Gladiolus

Form Flowers :

Unique in shape or color such as Bird of paradise and Orchids .
Create the accent or focal point or area of the arrangement to attract the viewer’s attention.

Filler Flowers:

Have sprays of flowers such as Gypsophila and statice, or they are like ferns are used to fill empty spaces and to accent the other floral material within the arrangement.
They are used to cover or hide the mechanics of the arrangement including the frame, supports, ties, and etc.