Sparkling shapes, trendy shades and, of course, that legendary resilience: the Chrysanthemum is justifiably the undisputed heart and soul of the October party. No other cut flower offers so much choice, from sparkling stars and volumous spray Chrysanthemums to cheerful pompoms and spectacular soloists, which can reach a diameter of 10 centimetres.
Perfect for classic Autumn bouquets, but also the ideal material for modern arrangements in trendy colours, such as ochre, pink, lilac, brown and yellow. Because pushing the envelope is something else that Chrysanthemums are very good at.
FLORAL TREND MOODBOARD OCTOBER
CHRYSANTHEMUM FLOWER FACTS
ORIGIN
Chrysanthemums were being grown in China as a flowering herb as early as the 15th century BC. They were seen as an exulted plant with special properties. So special that only noblemen were given permission to plant them in their gardens. Chrysanthemums can therefore also be found on the finest Chinese porcelain, painted in the refined Asiatic style. In Japan, the flower plays an even more prominent role – as the national symbol and in the form of the imperial Chrysanthemum Throne. The succession – Emperor Akihito abdicated in favour of his son Naruhito earlier this year – meaning that Chrysanthemums are particularly relevant this year.
RANGE & ASSORTEMENT
The offering consists of spray Chrysanthemums (multiple flowers per stem), disbudded Chrysanthemums (one flower per stem) and Santini (maximum flower diameter – 40 mm, stem length – 55 cm).
In terms of flower shapes, we have:
- Single-flowered;
- Double-flowered;
- Anemone;
- Spider;
- Pompom.
The range consists of more than 400 varieties, so there is plenty of choice to welcome Autumn 2019 in a surprising way.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING CHRYSANTHEMUMS?
- When buying, check the length of the stem, the weight expressed in grams per stem, the ripeness expressed in stages from 1 to 5, the type of Chrysanthemum (spray, disbudded, Santini), the colour and flower shape.
- The flowers must be healthy and free of pests and diseases. Chrysanthemums can sometimes suffer from botrytis (= blight, grey mould) – a fungus, which manifests itself as brown spots on the flower or patches on the leaf.
- The stems can somewhat droop if the flower is too heavy for the stem.
- When the flowers or the foliage are damaged or flawed, this is often the result of shipping or storage.
- A Chrysanthemum’s leaf can sometimes contain small white tunnels, which are caused by the larvae of the leaf-miner fly.
- Good nurseries pre-treat Chrysanthemums by pre-watering them, as a result of which they can better cope with dry shipping in boxes. Outdoor Chrysanthemums are transported in water and pre-treated with a wetting agent, which encourages the woody stem to take up water.
CARE TIPS FOR PROFESSIONALS
- Place Chrysanthemums in clean buckets or vases with clean water with a preservative added. This ensures that the flowers open well, the leaves do not turn yellow, and the water is not contaminated by bacteria.
- Trim 3-5 cm off the stems with sharp secateurs or a sharp knife and remove the bottom leaves. Make sure that there’s no foliage in the water.
- Ensure that the flowers and the foliage cannot get damp due to excessive humidity or from condensation in the cellophane. This will encourage botrytis – a fungus, which rapidly diminishes the decorative value. With Chrysanthemums, this is often called blight because of the small spots on the flowers, or grey mould when it’s between the leaves.
PROFESSIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM PRESENTATION TIPS FOR YOUR SHOP
Exploit the power of the Chrysanthemum by using the length of the flowers for energetic arrangements, whereby you abandon classic techniques and arrange the flowers in a new way. The disbudded Chrysanthemums sparkle at the top, whilst spray and Santini Chrysanthemums create a rich base at the bottom. Three things are important in this style trend. The first, is to strike a balance with the flowers between fullness and space. The second, is to choose flowers with a colour progression for extra dynamism. And the third is the container. It should be clean and sober: white, shiny, smart, plastic. The sleeker the vase, pot or bowl, the more the Chrysanthemums will stand out.
