Ornamental Horticulture

Western flower arrangement

Basic principles:
Characterized by mass of flowers and foliage
A balanced formal style which may be for front viewing or to be viewed from all sides.
The flower arrangement can be a centre-piece on a table, placed on a window-sill, shelf, trolley, bookshelf or cupboard or may be hung on the wall

Types of Western floral arrangements:
Circular
Triangular
Radiating
Crescent
Horizontal
Hogarthian curve

Circular arrangement:
Designed to be viewed from all sides and makes an excellent centre piece for low table.
It lacks focal point.
Containers - low round containers or baskets

Courtesy: Dept. of Floriculture & Landscaping,
TNAU, Coimbatore



Triangular arrangement:
Height and width of the arrangement are important criteria.
Equilateral triangle-shaped arrangement - will be equally as tall as it will be wide.
The tallest flower is placed exactly in the centre of the container.

Courtesy: Dept. of Floriculture & Landscaping,
TNAU, Coimbatore
The two ‘skeleton’ flowers are then placed at each side at equal distance preferably.
A short-stemmed flower is placed at the front of the arrangement to form the focal point. The triangular arrangement is completed by filling in with the remaining flowers and foliage.
Asymmetrical triangle - height and width of the arrangement will be altered.

Radiating arrangement:
Has a fan-like outline.
Line flowers or foliages are used to form the outline - gladiolus, snapdragons, flat fern, and palm fronds are commonly used.
The height of the arrangement is established first.


Courtesy: Dept. of Floriculture & Landscaping,
TNAU, Coimbatore

The width of the design is determined by the placement of flowers at each side.
The fan shape is created by placing flowers or foliages to give the rounded appearance.

Crescent arrangement:
The overall outline is crescent / half-moon shaped.
The curved foliage is placed to the side (usually left of the centre).
The focal point is located directly beneath this point at the base of the arrangement.


Courtesy: Dept. of Floriculture & Landscaping,
TNAU, Coimbatore
The flowers used in this design will be smallest at the points and largest at the center of interest of the arrangement.

Horizontal designs:
The horizontal design makes an excellent centerpiece because it is beautiful when viewed from either the front or the back.
The height of the arrangement is reduced so that the horizontal length
becomes 1½ - 2 times the length of the container.

Courtesy: Dept. of Floriculture & Landscaping,
TNAU, Coimbatore

This gives the arrangement the appearance of being nearly like an inverted crescent design.
A focal point may then be established on each side to attract attention to the design.
This style of arrangement may easily be used with candles for an evening dinner party. All foliage and flowers located near the candles should be low enough so they will not be burned as the candle is shortened by the flame.

Hogarthian curve:

The Hogarthian curve is a sophisticated asymmetrical design.
It has the outline of an ‘S’
Tall stemmed raised containers are used for this design, because a portion of the floral line extends below the rim of the container
The S shape is separated into two elements, with the upper curve consisting of two-thirds the height of the total design.



Courtesy: Dept. of Floriculture & Landscaping,
TNAU, Coimbatore
The focal point is often depicted by a cluster of grapes gracefully dangling over the rim of the container.