Floral Arrangements Inspired By China Patterns

When it comes to setting the table, there are two things Southerner hosts love: a classic china pattern and fresh blooms. We asked Carolyn Chen, owner of the Birmingham, Alabama, flower shop Wild Things, to dream up a trio of colorful centerpieces inspired by our most beloved china patterns. Just in time for Mother’s Day, the floral pro shares three beautiful spring arrangements informed by mom’s favorite dishes, along with instructions and expert advice for each.

Beloved Blue and White

The Pattern: Blue Willow

The Arrangement: Informed by the timeless china, florist Carolyn Chen made the most out of the color palette in this runner-worthy display. Verdant blooms, stems, and leaves (no additional greenery needed here!) deliver a beautiful balance and allow the blue and white blooms to shine.

How-To: Soak florist foam in water, and secure it to a tray or long dish with tape. Start by adding bigger flowers like hydrangeas to fashion an elongated centerpiece that mirrors the table’s shape. Then sprinkle in favorites like tulips, peonies, hyacinths, viburnums, hellebores, clematis, and tweedias so it resembles a lush garden. For a fuller look, cover up the tray and exposed foam with moss.

Pro Tip: When working with florist foam, cut the stems at a sharp angle so the flowers can drink better and last longer. To avoid wearing out the foam unnecessarily, don’t poke stems in more than once.

Credits: Chargers and napkins, Bromberg’s. Plates and glassware, Tea and Old Roses.

Subtle Blush

The Pattern: Herend Chinese Bouquet in Rust

The Arrangement: Because the china itself is restrained, Chen opted to keep the flowers elegant but understated. She lightened up the autumnal pattern for spring by incorporating shades of pink, cream, and yellow.

How-To: Bring the composition to life by using a footed bowl (like the gold compote shown above). Place a ball of chicken wire in the bottom of the vessel. Begin building the arrangement with larger blooms like peonies, and then add in some smaller ones (lisianthus, hyacinths, and proteas) to form a robust round shape. Fill it all out with longer-stemmed flowers such as sweet peas, tulips, and ranunculus. Finally, tuck in simple greenery (Chen used eucalyptus) at the bottom to echo the softness of the pastel blossoms.

Pro Tip: Balance the heaviness of the wooden table and amber glassware with light-as-air textiles.

Credits: Plates, Bromberg’s and The Flower Store. Glassware, Tea and Old Roses.

Punchy Florals

The Pattern: Mottahedeh Tobacco Leaf

The Arrangement: Chen took cues from the fanciful china for this equally bright and busy bouquet featuring rich oranges, zippy pinks, and fresh mint greens.

The How-To: Ensure the rim of a low bowl is completely dry. Then make a grid by placing 1⁄4-inch strips of florist tape across the top of the bowl, affixing them all the way around. Fill the bottom of the vessel with greenery (like salal and sword fern clippings) as a base to steady the flowers. Add hearty stems like roses before layering in more delicate ones (tulips, peonies, viburnums, stocks, larkspurs, and hypericum berries). Let the ranunculus float above the other elements for a playful style that mimics the plates.

Pro Tip: Know your angles. Set some blooms deep within the display to create 360 degrees of “wow” moments.

Credits: Chargers, The Flower Store. Plates, Bromberg’s and The Flower Store. Glassware, Tea and Old Roses.