In our book, Secrets from the Flower Farm, and on our seed packets we include icons to indicate key information and features about a particular plant. You can find the index on page 233 of the book.
Growing
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Cut and Come Again (CCA) |
Useful as you'll have multiple stems per plant to cut. (e.g. Italian Ranunculus, Dahlias) |
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Easy to Grow |
Great if you're new to gardening or just want a plant that's not going to need lots of TLC. |
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Fast Growing |
Useful for succession sowings and for extras at the start and end of the season (e.g. sunflowers and zinnias) |
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Low Water |
Especially important in periods of drought or if you have limited reserves. (e.g. sea holly, echinacea, echinops) |
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Forage |
Indicates where a plant might grow naturally or as part of an existing landscape and can be foraged (with permission). (e.g. foliage) |
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Cold Tolerant |
Useful for cooler areas. May indicate the seed to sow in Autumn. Cold Hardy Annual (CHA) is a linked term. (e.g. snapdragons, stocks, brassicas) |
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Heat Tolerant |
Heat loving plants that can withstand tough summer conditions. (e.g. zinnia, rudbeckia) |
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Succession Sow |
Sow multiple in batches for an extended flowering period (e.g. sunflowers) |
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Bulb |
Loosely applied to also cover corms, tubers etc. I.e. not generally grown from seed. (e.g. anemones, gladioli) |
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Perennial |
Grows for multiple years. A permanent or longer term plant in your garden. (e.g. roses, veronica) |
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Long flowering |
Flowers for a longer period of the year. (e.g. dahlias) |
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Annual |
Plant completes it's lifecycle within a year then sets seed and dies. Faster growing as a result. Normally grown from seed. (e.g. cornflowers, china asters) |
Arranging
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Focal | The largest, most visible flower in an arrangement. Includes our Hero flowers for each season. (e.g. roses, dahlias, heirloom chrysanthemums) |
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Filler | Smaller flowers in an arrangement. (e.g. gypsophilla, paper daisies) |
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Foliage | The green element, adding structure to an arrangement. (e.g. scented geranium, eucalyptus). |
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Herbs | These add amazing fragrance to your bunch. (e.g. basil, parsley, lemon balm) |
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Dried | Flowers and foliage that are great for drying. (e.g. statice, paper daisies, sea holly) |
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Scented | Flowers or foliage with fragrance. (e.g. roses, lilies, carnations) |
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Trending | Flowers that are in fashion or on the rise. (e.g. dahlias, zinnias) |
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Long vase life | Once arranged and in the vase, these flowers should last 7 days or more (e.g. carnations, lilies, sedum) |
Flower Shape
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Cup | Rounded base with vertical sides. (e.g. tulips, roses) |
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Round | Often focal flowers, perfect in a rounded bunch. (e.g. dahlias, ranunculus) |
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Globe | Balls. Eye catching and fun. (e.g. allium, echinops, ball dahlias) |
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Daisy | Often yellow centre with radiating petals. (e.g. feverfew, sunflowers, anemones) |
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Line / Spike | Adds height and creates vertical accents. (e.g. stocks, snapdragons, larkspur). |
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Plume | Adds fine texture and movement. (e.g. celosia, astilbe, grasses) |
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Umbel or Flat Topped | The umbrella shape fills gaps between focal flowers. (e.g. Ammi, Queen Anne's lace, yarrow) |
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Trumpet | Trumpet shaped! (e.g. gladioli, alstromeria). |
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Texture | Changes the feel of an arrangement and adds interest. |
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Airy | Airy elements add movement and lightness. (e.g. gypsophilla, limonium) |
Season of Flowering
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Spring | Spring bulbs, cold hard annuals and early flowering shrubs. |
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Summer | Roses, Mediterranean perennials and fragrant herbs. |
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Autumn | Dahlias, heirloom chrysanthemums, and heat loving annuals. |
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Winter | Brassica family of stocks, wall flowers, and ornamental kale. |