Rooted in Tradition: Using Native Flowers in Floral Arrangements
Photo by Greta Rhuberg
As I often announce to my loved ones, I am a simple creature. If you want to make my day, you can provide me with flowers, a place to look at flowers, or even a little drawing of a flower. One of my favorite hobbies is floral arranging, whether I’m taking the route of heading out to my local (but still an hour away) Trader Joe’s to pick up some seasonal blooms or just stepping into my backyard and taking a look around. Having flowers in the home can dramatically increase your mood, keep you in touch with the world around you, and provide a great artistic outlet with minimal costs.
The presence of flowers has been linked to a positive impact on mood and emotions. A study conducted by Rutgers University researchers (Haviland-Jones et al., 2005) found that even just seeing flowers causes a spike of happiness, and seeing them regularly increases general life satisfaction. Participants in the study who received flowers reported feeling less depressed, anxious, and agitated. Adding to the effects, being the one to select and arrange them yourself provides a stress relieving activity that helps you stay mindful.
Floral arranging provides a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with nature. It's a way of inviting the outdoors into indoor spaces, bridging the gap between the natural world and our daily lives. For those of us in Appalachia, we’re often finding ways to stay connected to the outdoors, and this provides an easy way to keep this practice in our everyday lives. Engaging with flowers allows individuals to appreciate the changing seasons, fostering a deeper awareness of the beauty that surrounds them. If you are the type to forgo picking out your varieties from the store, this can also lead to a bit of an adventure. Flowers can be found and identified on the side of the road, in meadows, and deep in the forests.
One of arguably the best reasons to get into the craft of floral arrangements is simple: it looks great and is easier than it looks! Taking the time to set out a spread of seasonal flowers, cut them to exactly where you want them, and arrange them is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Plus, at the end, you have a piece of art to display in your home (or give as a gift) that you can change out as often as you want. It can be a great way to add a pop of color to any room, flatter your already existing design choices, and totally transform a space.
Flowers are all around us in the Appalachians, it just takes some searching. Dedicate an afternoon to exploring your area’s woods and fields, or take a hike and make sure to bring something to carry your flowers in. I like to make sure I have a nice mix of greenery, filler plants, and larger flowers as the main pieces. When you get back home, cut the stems on a 45 degree angle with a very sharp blade to allow for maximum water absorption and leave them in cold water for a few hours to perk back up, especially in the case of plants with more delicate stems or vines.
If this isn’t feasible or doesn’t sound appealing, buying flowers is definitely an option as well. Your local wholesale florist is a great resource when it comes to buying by the stem or bunch. I am personally partial to Trader Joe’s flowers, as I mentioned above. If you look carefully on their flower wall, native plants will have a sticker designating them as such. This is a great way to start your journey of being able to recognize these plants. To get some inspiration on what to look for, you can also search for native gardens near you. If you’re in Western NC, my personal favorite is Daniel Boone Native Gardens in Boone.
Then, you’re ready to arrange. Cut the stems again to whatever height you need for your vase or mason jar and just start adding. Personally, I like to add my greenery and filler first, leaving out a few stems of each to fill in later. Then, I add in my main flower as needed, making sure to check all angles for any spots that could use more of any element. Don’t be afraid to pull stems out and rearrange them however many times you need until it feels perfect. My best tip, though, is that it will look ugly until suddenly everything falls into place.
If shopping isn’t your style, get your pruners and head outside to find some of these beauties. Click the links for more information!
Mock Orange - A shrub with small, white, sweet smelling flowers. Outside of flowering times, the greenery is a great addition to bouquets as well.
Turk’s-cap Lily - Found throughout all of Appalachia, bright orange and a standout in any bouquet. Extremely toxic to cats, though, so beware!
Catawba Rhododendron - Native to Southern Appalachia, super pretty and pink, and the state flower of West Virginia. It’s highly poisonous to humans, so wash your hands after arranging.
Sunflower - You probably know this one– big yellow blooms, many different varieties, as they’re part of the daisy family. They make great centerpieces.
Southern Magnolia - These are huge and hard to cut, but plentiful all throughout the south. They were even my parents’ wedding flower, and common enough that they cut them from all their friends and neighbors’ yards the day before the wedding in lieu of a florist!
Black Eyed Susan - There’s loads of these, and they come in all sizes and colors! I think the traditional yellow look great with sunflowers for some size disparity.
Smooth Hydrangea - Hydrangeas are a southern favorite, and surprisingly common to see out and about. The smooth hydrangea in particular is white, but you’re likely to find other varieties in alternative colors.
Bergamot - Wild bergamot is a fun addition to any arrangement with a spiky appearance and bright shades of purple and red.
