AN INTRODUCTION TO AUTUMN FLOWERS

---

The leaves are turning, the air is crisp and fall is just around the corner — who’s ready to learn about autumn flowers? I’ve partnered with Rebecca Dawn Design to make flower education accessible here at JustineCelina and today we’re continuing our FLOWER EDUCATION series with An Introduction to Autumn Flowers. While most of us tend associate flowers with the spring and summer months, fall’s cooler weather also yields gorgeous seasonal blooms — and we’re excited to share them with you!

In today’s informational post we’re answering your most common questions about flowers and sharing some insider tips and tricks. You’ll learn about what’s in season, how to identify flowers, what to look for when purchasing, as well as how to care for and condition them. Rebecca also shares her inspiration for this stunning autumnal arrangement! We hope it inspires you to embrace autumn’s arrival by bringing fresh flowers into your home. If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving dinner and looking for some floral inspiration or have always wanted to learn about fall flowers, you’ll love this post!

---

AN INTRODUCTION TO AUTUMN FLOWERS

---

Here are a few words from Rebecca about her inspiration for today’s post:

“This autumnal arrangement is a jubilant celebration of the texture and flora of the season. A collection of fall’s most coveted blooms set in a palette of rich, natural tones evokes the change of seasons with their spicy musk. Hues of eggplant, terracotta and marsala are juxtaposed with soft apricot, blush and cream — complimented by fresh, earthy greens. This warm, welcoming arrangement includes Dalihas, Eremurus, Astilbe, Stock, Amaranthus, Queen Anne’s Lace, Thlaspi and Continus arranged with a rustic touch.”

This transitional month is my favourite time of year, because I truly believe September combines the best of both seasons. In keeping with that theme, Rebecca has created an arrangement that incorporates both warm and cool tones as well as lights and darks to be seasonally appropriate. We hope to lessen the intimidation factor surrounding flowers today and inspire you to welcome the season by embracing Autumn’s gorgeous blooms. If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving dinner party or entertaining this season, we invite you to get creative with flowers and use this post as a guiding resource! Rebecca has provided DIY flower arrangement tips previously, so if you’re looking for a a step-by-step tutorial on how to arrange flowers, be sure to hop over there. We’re so lucky to be able to learn from the best!

A special thank you to Rebecca’s son MacEwan for being the cutest little assistant / model for this shoot. He also helps us create our ‘flower messes’ (a.k.a. Digital Blooms)! How adorable is this miniature autumn bouquet Rebecca created?

In keeping with tradition, we’ll start today by breaking down the different flowers varieties in our arrangement and identifying them. After that, you can read about each of these seasonal blooms, how to care for them and learn what to look for when purchasing. Here’s our definitive guide to autumn flowers!

---

WHAT’S IN OUR AUTUMN ARRANGEMENT

---

1. Eremurus
2. Astilbe
3. Amaranthus
4. Stock
5. Dalihas
6. Queen Anne’s Lace
7. Cotinus
8. Thlaspi
9. Chrysanthemum

As we mentioned in our DIY Summer Flower Arrangement post, every arrangement has a list of ingredients. Our primary flowers in this autumnal arrangement are Dahlias and Eremurus. Our secondary flowers include Astilbe, Stock, Amaranthus, Chrysanthemum and Queen Anne’s Lace. Rebecca used Thlaspi and Continus foliage to around everything out with a natural, organic note.

---

AN INTRODUCTION TO AUTUMN FLOWERS

---

1. Eremurus

---

Alternate Names & Meanings
Foxtail Lily, Desert Candle

History
Eremurus is native to the Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains in central Asia that is often used as an ornamental plant.

Colours Used in Our Arrangement
Coral Pink

Colours & Varieties Available
Yellow, orange, white and coral pink.

In Season
Summer through Early Fall

Vase Life
7 to 14 days

Purchasing Tips
Look for Eremurus with the first 2-3 flowers on the spike open.

Special Eremurus Care & Conditioning
1. Strip leaves that will be under water.
2. Replenish water daily.
3. Remove wilted flowers as they are a source of ethylene. Ethylene gas is a naturally-occurring plant hormone. It is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas released during the natural ripening process of fruits and vegetables.

Did you know?
The Eremurus species can grow to over ten feet in height, making it one of the tallest flowers known to man.

---

2. Astilbe

---

Alternate Names & Meanings
False Goat’s Beard, Spirea

History
Originating in Asia, the Astilbe is a member of the saxifrage family. Many varieties are perennials in our climate and make excellent additions to shadier areas of your cutting garden.

Colours Used in Our Arrangement
Pink

Colours & Varieties Available
White, pink, peach and a spectrum of shades ranging from purple to red.

In Season
Year round

Vase Life
5 to 7 days

Purchasing Tips
Look for bunches with half to a third of flowers open and colour on the upper buds.

Care & Conditioning
See General Guidelines for Flower Care & Conditioning at the bottom of this post.

---

3. Amaranthus

---

Alternate Names & Meanings
Tassel Flower, Love-lies-bleeding, Cat’s Tail, Velvet Flower, Foxtail

History
A native of South America, the Amaranthus’ name is derived from the Greek word amarantos (meaning “unfading”) and is an appropriate reference to the flower’s long-lasting deep red, green or yellow blooms. Many parts of the plant, including the leaves and seeds, are edible — and are frequently used as a source of food in India and South America.

Colours Used in Our Arrangement
Red

Colours & Varieties Available
Green, orange, brown, yellow, shades of pink and red.

In Season
Year round

Vase Life
5 to 8 days

Care & Conditioning
See General Guidelines for Flower Care & Conditioning at the bottom of this post.

---

4. Stock

---

Alternate Names & Meanings
Gillystock, Virgina Stock, Hoary Stock, Ten-Week Stock

History
The botanical name for Stock is Matthiola Incana, named after Dr. Matthiole (1527 – 1576). He was a personal physician to Emperor Maxmillian of Austria, who wrote several medical and botanical books. The plant is native to the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.

Colours Used in Our Arrangement
Peach

Colours & Varieties Available
White, pink, peach and a spectrum of shades ranging from purple to red.

In Season
Year round

Vase Life
5 to 7 days

Purchasing Tips
Look for bunches with half to a third of flowers open and colour on the upper buds.

Care & Conditioning
See General Guidelines for Flower Care & Conditioning at the bottom of this post.

Did you know?
Stock is quite fragrant and has a spicy, clove-like scent.

---

5. Dahlias

---

Alternate Names & Meanings
Peony of India

History
Dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America. The first dahlias cultivated outside their native environment and were then grown in Madrid, Spain in the late 1700s. Dahlias are members of the Compositae family and are related to daisies.

Colours Used in Our Arrangement
Cream

Colours & Varieties Available
Reds, pinks, oranges, purples,  yellows, white and bicolor. Dahlias are available in a wide array of shapes and sizes.

In Season
Summer through Winter

Vase Life
7 to 10 days

Special Dahlia Care & Conditioning

1. Unwrap dahlia bunches from their plastic casing. Carefully separate the stems and remove any lower foliage that would fall below the water line. Give each stem a clean cut at a diagonal. You’ll want to cut at least 1” off each stem and then quickly place in water.
2. Dahlias hydrate better in warm water. Make sure your vase is clean and filled with at least 3” to 4” of warm water (around 100ºF).
3. Discard any decaying leaves or flowers because gases and bacteria form on wilted or decaying flowers.
4. Let the dahlias take a drink of water. If the blooms are particularly droopy afterwards, you can give them more support by loosely wrapping the stems with paper to keep them upright. You’ll want to make sure there is no moisture on the blooms to avoid molding. Keep them wrapped for a few hours until the flowers perk back up. Some dahlias will open up more after 1-2 days in water.
5. For the best vase life, you’ll want to re-cut the stems and change the water daily. Dahlias can dirty water pretty quickly, so a daily cut and change of water will keep bacteria from forming and clogging up the stems.

---

6. Queen Anne’s Lace

---

Alternate Names & Meanings
Bishop’s Weed, Bullwort, Greater Ammi, Lady’s Lace, Laceflower

History
In ancient Egypt, this plant was used to treat skin diseases.

Colours Used in Our Arrangement
White

Colours & Varieties Available
Green, white and chocolate.

In Season
Year round

Vase Life
5 to 8 days

Purchasing Tips
Look for flowers that are are half-to fully open and thicker stems to support the flower heads. Avoid bunches with wilted heads and yellow leaves.

Care & Conditioning
See General Guidelines for Flower Care & Conditioning at the bottom of this post.

---

7. Cotinus

---

Alternate Names & Meanings
Smoke Bush, Smoke Tree

History
Cotinus is native to the northern hemisphere.

Colours Used in Our Arrangement
Shades of purple, red or orange-yellow.

Colours & Varieties Available
Green, orange, brown, yellow, shades of pink and red.

In Season
Summer through Early Fall

Vase Life
7 to 10 days

Care & Conditioning
Remove any foliage that would fall below the water line.

Did you know?
Cotinus gets its common name (Smoke Tree) from the loose, branching clusters of flowers that appear like puffs of smoke around the plant.

---

8. Thlaspi

---

Alternate Names & Meanings
Green bells, Pennycress, Stinkweed

Colours Used in Our Arrangement
Green

In Season
Year round

Vase Life
7 to 12 days

Care & Conditioning
Remove any foliage that would fall below the water line.

Did you know?
Thlaspi is considered a herb.

---

9. Chrysanthemum

---

Alternate Names & Meanings
Button Poms, Pom Poms

History
The name Chrysanthemum is derived from the Greek chryos (meaning gold) and (anthemon meaning) flower. Early depictions of Chrysanthemums show them as small, yellow, daisy-like flowers. Chrysanthemums belong to the Asteraceae or daisy family — it’s one of the largest families in the botanical world.

Colours Used in Our Arrangement
Salmon

Colours & Varieties Available
Reds, browns, oranges, yellows, green, purple and bicolor.

In Season
Year round

Vase Life
7 to 15 days

Special Chrysanthemum Care & Conditioning

1. Chrysanthemum foliage deteriorates more quickly than the flowers themselves, so remove the foliage as soon as it begins to droop.
2. Chrysanthemums are susceptible to stem blockage, so recondition them daily by giving them a fresh cut and replacing their water.
3. They release a relatively high amount of ethylene, a natural gas emitted by plants. Ethylene is damaging to other flowers, so chrysanthemums are best kept to themselves in arrangements.

Did you know?
Chrysanthemums are the longest lasting and most inexpensive flowers in our arrangement!

---

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR FLOWER CARE & CONDITIONING

---

While certain flowers require special care (as noted previously), here are some common flower care and conditioning standards to get you started!

1. As soon as you get the flowers home, remove the cellophane wrapping and release them from any bindings. This allows air to circulate freely between blooms.

2. Re-cut the stems at an angle. This enlarges the stem surface area and enables them to take more water up.

3. Remove any foliage from the lower part of the stem before arranging. This will help keep the water clean.

4. Use the flower food sachet that may be provided with your flowers. Flower food will help keep a vase clean and bacteria-free — prolonging the life of your flowers and helping buds and flowers open.

5. Always place freshly cut flowers in lukewarm water. Warm water molecules move faster than cold water molecules, therefore are more easily absorbed — the objective is to get water and nutrients to the head of the flower as quickly as possible.

---

I hope you enjoyed another post in our flower education series and learned something new today! I always learn so much working with Rebecca on our collaborative content and I’m happy to be able to share it with you. If you have any flower related questions, feel free to leave us a comment and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request in an upcoming post! Also, let us know if you have any flower related requests for the upcoming holiday season.

---

Craving more flowers? Hop over to our September Digital Blooms post where you can download 3 free wallpapers for your digital devices inspired by these gorgeous autumnal blooms!

If you’re looking for some autumn entertaining inspiration with a gorgeous, inexpensive centrepiece, you’re in luck! Rebecca incorporated these blooms into our Al Fresco Summer Dining Inspiration post, where I share my tips for hosting al fresco parties on a budget, along with my favourite sources for decor and entertaining essentials. But if you bring the party inside this fall, these blooms and tips work just as well!

If you’re into wildflowers, Rebecca and I also foraged the prairies last month and she created an absolutely stunning, 100% foraged (read: free!) wildflower bouquet. Hop over to that post to learn more about foraging and come spend a peaceful afternoon on the Alberta prairies with us (and maybe pour yourself a glass of wine)!

---

Disclaimer: Thank you to Rebecca Dawn Design for partnering with me to create this post. This post is not sponsored and contains our genuine thoughts, ideas and recommendations. Thank you for supporting the brands and businesses that support JustineCelina.com!