Flower of the Week

Tulip

Source - www.wallconvert.com

Common Name:  Tulip

Botanical Name:  Tulipa

Colours:  White, Yellow, Pink, Peach, Orange, Red, Lavender, Purple and Bi-colours. Almost every colour except true blue and black.

Origin:  The origin of the tulip can be traced back to Hungary, Turkey and the Middle East.

Description:   The Tulip is a genus of single seed-lobe from the Lilium family or Liliaceae. There are up to 75 wild species of tulips in existence and an astonishing 3,000 different varieties of cultivated tulips. Most tulips produce only one cup or star shaped flower per stem however the tulip comes in a multitude of different forms including the gorgeous ruffled Parrot Tulips or Fringed Tulips.

White Parrot Tulips
Source - www.redbubble.com

The Tulip first became a popular spring flower in Turkey where it was adopted as a symbol for life and fertility.The name tulip stems from the Persian word for turban 'tulipan' after its rounded form and in fact it is believed that Ottoman Sultans would wear a tulip in their turban as a symbol of their importance. It was first introduced to Europe in the middle of the 16th Century via Antwerp to the Netherlands where it has remained and become synonymous with Spring. The season lasts from late December to early April and during this time the flower fields of Holland become a striking display of flowering tulip bulbs bursting with colour.

Tulip Fields in Netherlands
Source - www.idealmagazine.co.uk

Flower Of The Week

Pincushion Protea 

Pincushion

Common Name: Pincushion

Botanical Name: Leucospermum

Colours: Red, Orange, Yellow

Origin: This flower is native to South Africa in particular the Cape Region. It hails from a massive family of over one hundred species including trees, shrubs and plants. This family is commonly known as the Proteaceae family.

Description:  The Pincushion is a long lasting cut flower and adds beautiful texture to arrangements. It has a very distinctive appearance. It gets the name Pincushion because it resembles a pincushion filled with pins. This blossom is very popular with the more contemporary florist. It has an all year round availability but some of the species are limited by season.

Pincushion Vase Arrangement
Source: flowerville.net

Flower of the Week

Bird of Paradise

Source: Sunipix.com

Common Name: Bird of Paradise or Crane Flower

Botanical Name: Strelitzia

Colours: Blue and Orange

Origin: South Africa

The Bird of Paradise flower is an unmistakable exotic flower with a large head which is said to resemble the beak and head plumage of a bird of paradise. It derives from a plant family known as Strelitziaceae, which was named after the birth place of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The Bird of paradise plant can reach a height of 5 feet or more and the distinctive head consists of three upright orange sepals and vibrant blue petals beneath. Therefore the flower is admired not only for its unusual structure but also for its height and vibrance. Nevertheless they are not as long lasting as their other exotic cousins and only last up to 2 weeks. They are in season in late Autumn and Winter. The Bird of paradise is  favoured by modern floral designers who often use them in modern arrangements and tropical bouquets.

Source: Examiner.com

Flower of the Week

Brassica

Source: tumblingshoalsfarm.com

Common Name: Cabbage Rose or Ornamental Cabbage

Botanical Name: Brassica 

Colours: White, Pink or Purple

Origin: Western Europe, Mediterranean and some parts of Asia. 

The Cabbage flower is an unusual addition to a bouquet of flowers mostly because it is not in fact a flower at all but a cabbage plant with beautifully coloured leaves. They thrive in cool weather and are in season in late autumn and winter. Their popularity as a cut flower has increased exponentially in recent years due to its durability and distinguished appearance. Strangely Brassica are an edible plant but not as tasty as their well known cousin, the common cabbage. 

Source: www.gapphotos.com

Flower of the Week

Sunflower

Common Name: Sun Flower

Botanical Name: Helianthus

Colours: Bright Yellow but can sometimes come in pale yellow and deep orange or red.

Origin: USA

The Sun flower is a strikingly large daisy like flower and belongs to the Aster family. They are recognised from their large brown centre with bright yellow petals. The centre is actually made up of hundreds of tiny flowers arranged in a spiral pattern which will eventually turn into seeds and can then be used for sunflower seeds and sunflower oil. Its botanical name Helianthus comes from the Greek words 'Helios' which means sun and 'anthus' meaning flower. Sunflowers are also one of the tallest flowers and can grow to an astonishing 20 feet however the average sunflower will grow between 5 and 10 feet tall. They are a very popular cut flower and extremely versatile. Sunflowers are quite heavy so are perfect for arrangements and bouquets but can also be used in wedding work too. Check out this beautiful sunflower bouquet we did for a bride last year.

Flower of the Week

Gerbera Daisy

Common Name: Gerbera

Botanical Name: African Daisy, Transvaal Daisy, Barberton Daisy

Colours: Yellow, Orange, White, Red and Pink

Origin: South Africa

This pretty little flower was named in honour of the German botanist Traugott Gerber. It is the fifth most popular cut flower in the world and is available all year round. They are available with a large head or a small head known as germini. These bright and happy flowers come in intense vibrant colours as well as soft pastel hues. The Gerbera is a sensitive flower and it's longevity will depend on how its cared for. It is much loved for its daisy like appearance and cheerfulness.