Flower arranging tips when using berries

Berries are excellent fillers for flower arrangements. They are also great for adding colour and texture to your bouquet without increasing the price. When working with berries, it is important to follow a few guidelines. Knowing how to present and preserve them will ensure you get the most out of every project. It is also essential to know the difference between poisonous and safe berries. Here are some flower arranging tips for bouquets with berries.

Choose your berries

When selecting berries for flower arranging you’ll want to base your choices on the colour scheme and your other preferences, such as size and texture. Below is a list of some of the most popular berries to use in bouquets.

Brunia

Beautyberry

Berzelia Berry

China Berry

Hypericum

Juniper Berry

Mistletow

Rose Hips

Snowberry

Waxberry

Winterberry

Berry preservation

Berries, like any other fruit, have a life cycle, so keep this in mind when flower arranging with berries. This means they rot naturally over time. This, of course, is not the effect we want to achieve, so preservation is essential. Start by removing the berries from the stem, checking each one for damage or decay. Clean each berry thoroughly with water and a soft cloth. Once dry, apply a little Vaseline and buff to shine. Alternatively, you can apply acrylic craft spray or acrylic floor wax to achieve the same effect. If, for any reason, you need to alter or enhance the colours of the berries, you can spray paint them.

Berries on the stem

If you want to keep the berries on the stem, you can follow the same process mentioned above, but simply remove the damaged berries and leave the rest on the stem. Washing the berries will take a little longer, because you don’t want them to fall off the stem and you don’t want the stem to get soggy. Like fresh flowers, you should also check your berries every couple of days for any signs of decay. Remove dying berries before they cause death of surrounding plant material. This will make the results of all your flower arranging efforts last that much longer.

Always use berries with extreme caution when flower arranging. Some of the most popular berries used in bouquets are toxic and should be avoided if you have pets or small children. They should be avoided especially if you plan to display the bouquet near food or food preparation surfaces. The good news is that even if you skip your favourite berries, you can always replace them with another, safer option.