Different Types of Silk Flowers
- Although buying silk flowers by single stems is the most expensive way to go, it's also the way to get the most realistic product. Stems have one large bloom and some leaves and may have an extra bud. They can be anywhere from 12 to 42 inches long. Large or tall blooms such as irises, gladioli, peonies and foxgloves work best as single stems.
- Sprays are single stems with several blooms and leaves. Treat these types of silk flowers as single stems, or snip off their side blooms and position them throughout your design. Their versatility makes them a better value than single stems.
- Bundles are bunches of single-stem silk flowers cut to matching lengths and tied with a decorative ribbon or colored raffia. Although they may contain a single type of flower, says Silk Flower Smart, they're frequently an assortment of color-coordinated blooms.
Bundles can also contain nothing but leaves. Fall-colored leaves tied with natural raffia work well for autumn decor. Make your own bundle by cutting single stems of your choice to the desired length and tying them off with a matching bow, dried grass or a length of grapevine. - Cuttings are simply shorter versions of single stems and sprays. These silk flowers are precut, usually in lengths of between 12 and 18 inches. Buying them in a variety of lengths will provide what you need for a quick and balanced arrangement.
- The most economical form of silk flowers, floral bushes resemble bundles except that their individual stems are joined at the base. The best ones contain a tasteful color-coordinated variety of realistic blooms and foliage. When properly shaped with a bow camouflaging its single stem, a quality floral bush becomes a striking hand-held bouquet. Although you can separate floral bushes into individual blooms, cutting through the stem is difficult. You'll also have to tape the exposed wires of the individual flower stems.
- The smallest of silk flower alternatives, floral picks are small decorative clusters that may or may not contain flowers. Instead of flowers, picks can have feathers, themed accents such as sugar cubes for a Sweet 16 arrangement, seasonal nuts or berries, tiny mushroom birds or artificial butterflies. Use floral picks to customize your designs for specific occasions.
- As long as 6 feet, flowering silk branches such as forsythia, pussy willow and crabapple are ideal for large floor arrangements. Shorter branches can substitute for line flowers (used to establish horizontal and vertical structure) in smaller designs.