Fashion Flowers For Spring
The New Collection : Fresh Folklore

< Tulip

The third-biggest selling flower in Holland, and are popular in the UK too.Some of the more exotic forms - such as parrot (ruched and frilly), fringed (with ice crystal edges), waterlily (layers of petals) and lily (pointed, curly petals) - look as if they come from a tropical island.

Their plain wine-glass shape has a modern simplicity, and tulips are very popular for spring wedding bouquets as well as home displays. In their natural season they are very reasonably priced flowers, and a perfect emblem of spring for many of us.

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Ranunculus >

Little known here in Britain as a cut flower, but are very popular on the continent. Their botanical name (ran UN kew luss) derives from the latin for "frog", as the plants like wet ground. They are sometimes called Persian buttercup - which refers to their native origins in the Middle East.

They are close relatives of this common garden weed, but much more decorative! The cup-shaped flowers are very full - a mass of tissuey petals - on hairy stems, with very few small ferny leaves. They come in yellow, like their lawn relatives, and also red, orange, pink, peach, white and maroon.

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< Anenome

Anenomes are becoming more popular as a cut flower, and their clear colours suit the spring trend Fresh Folklore very well.

Originally from the Mediterranean, anemones are now grown across Europe, particularly Italy, and Israel. They are also related to buttercups, like ranunculus, but come in jewel colours - ruby, sapphire, amethyst, diamond white - with jet black hearts. The best cut flower varieties are "Mona Lisa" forms, which have large flowers and long, strong stems. Their soft grey-green ferny leaves make a perfect frame for the flowerheads.

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< Waxflower

Botanically named Chamelaucium, waxflower is related to the eucalyptus. Both are native to Australia; indeed Chamelaucium is often called Geraldton wax after the town in Western Australia where it originates. Delicate rounded cup-shaped flowers occur in sprays along woody stems. The leaves are long and narrow like pine needles; and have a lovely scent of lemons mixed with almond when crushed.

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Gerbera >

First imported to Europe from South Africa in the 19th century. Few people then would have suspected gerbera would become so popular, with over 200 varieties, in almost every colour but blue, green and purple. Breeders have also developed new forms of gerbera, as well as colours; with petals that look ragged and shredded - as seen in Fresh Folklore - to frilled double flowers and extra wide petals. A new development is the mini-gerbera, or "germini"; ideal for smaller flower arrangements. They have the same bright colours, but are easier to handle in bouquets.

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<Amaryllis

Flamboyant starry trumpets on thick smooth stems springing from huge papery bulbs. Up to four or five dramatic outsize lily-like flowers appear in white, red, pink, peach or combinations of these - making an impressive display or stunning bouquet - especially for Valentine's Day! Amaryllis (amma RILL iss) are sometimes known as Hippeastrum (hippie AST rum), which is the botanical name of the family of flowers to which certain species of amaryllis belong. The flowers are native to South America, but are grown commercially in Netherlands and UK. Buy them when still in part-bud if possible - this make them easier to transport as the flowers are large and can be easily bruised.

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