Make your own protea bouquet

Proteas are one of the most unusual flowers that we are lucky enough to be able to enjoy. They are large, colourful and they have plenty of amazing textures. The King Protea, as you may have guessed, is the top choice when it comes to these beautiful blooms. Remember, while these flowers are available at florists, they should never be plucked from the wild. In South Africa, these native plants are protected and picking them results in severe penalties. If you are able to order some from your florist, here’s how you can put them to great use by making a very special Protea bouquet.

Things you need:

  • 1 King Protea

  • Roses to surround your King Protea (ideal colours are light pink and cream)

  • Foliage that will suit the pastel shades of the bouquet

  • Elastic bands

  • Scissors

  • Ribbon (silk preferably) and two large pins (decorative variety)

Instructions:

Start with your Protea since it will be in the middle of the bouquet.

  • Add a cream rose and then a pink one and alternate all the way around the Protea. You should make sure that your Protea is slightly higher than the roses so that it literally stands out.

  • When your Protea is completely surrounded by pink and cream roses, you can then add some foliage followed by another rose (pink or cream), then more foliage and a different coloured rose. Continue like this until you have created another layer around the first layer of roses.

  • If you want to play it safe, you can wrap an elastic band around the stems to hold them in place. Use a strong band or several thinner ones to ensure that they are all firmly secured.

  • Use a grapevine branch or something similar and flexible and wrap it around the stems with two ends trailing down. Do this with about three or four pieces of vine and make sure that they are all falling in different directions.

  • Wrap another elastic band around the arrangement to secure everything in place.

  • Cut all of the stems to the same length using a sharp pair of scissors or cutting tool to avoid crushing the stems.

  • Complete the bouquet by wrapping the stems with some silk ribbon. Secure the ribbon to the top of the stems with one of your pins and to the bottom using another pin.

  • Place the bouquet in some fresh water until the bride is ready to walk down that isle.