The “great blue yonder” of the flower world
Between perishability, seasonal availability, shortages due to changing weather patterns – and the skyrocketing prices that can ensue as a result – you would have to be wearing rose-colored glasses not to see that the cut flower industry is no “bed of roses”. The field – from grower to designer – is far from fancy-free. In fact, it is most often times an atmosphere of taut, nail-biting suspense. Our white knuckles practically grip the edges of our design tables as we wait with baited breath to hear if there are in fact any living, blush pink peonies this side of the universe that could be delivered to us before Saturday’s wedding. Blush pink peonies that would be neither bursting open prematurely nor so new as to be closed tighter than a baby’s fist… to replace the ones currently melting like gobs of strawberry ice cream on to the table before us. Yes, very high-blood-pressure-inducing, indeed…
One of the most long-standing frustrations surrounding wedding flowers in particular is the fact that there simply isn’t enough variety in the way of cool-hued flowers. The vast majority of any cut flower color chart is, alongside cream or white, emblazoned with fiery pinks, reds, and oranges. This sultry palette provides for nearly endless possibilities for color combinations, but it leaves those with a more cerulean disposition much to be desired.
Enter delphinium, a versatile bloom available in light and dark blue. Most immediately recognizable as “garden-y”, it also performs impressively in more classical compositions. It also has the added benefit of faring well in loose, splaying arrangements as well as closely compacted designs, due to its light-weight stem and lateral, clustered bloom formation. Think tall, wild, dramatic splashes of painterly blue atop a lemon-filled cylinder vase. Alternatively, imagine lush mounds of hydrangea studded with cream roses, yellow ranunculus, and frills of light blue delphinium. Since delphinium comes in not one, but many shades of blue, you can really get a lot out of the refreshing color that it affords. All told, delphinium is a humble and versatile flower, doing what it can to feed the demand for the ever-elusive blue hue.
Delphinium Facts:
Season: Available year-round
Pairings: Works well solo, in monochromatic color schemes, garden-y mixes, etc. Avoid tropicals!
Colors: White, pink, purple, but most notably light to dark blue
When to use: Stuns in wild, garden-y designs, but also works well in classic compositions
For more delphinium deliciousness, check out our Pinterest board.
