A Guide To Choosing and Buying Artificial Flowers
by Julie Cain
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Choosing artificial flowers can be challenging due to the vast range of options and materials available, each with its advantages and disadvantages. We meticulously research the market to offer you the most realistic artificial flowers available.
Artificial flower prices can greatly vary, primarily influenced by the quality of the raw materials and the manufacturing processes. Producing artificial flowers requires considerable labor, and most are imported into Britain from China and Thailand, where labor costs are relatively lower. While a fresh cut flower may be inexpensive, its artificial counterpart can be significantly more expensive depending on the materials used and the manufacturing processes. Using artificial flowers can be a cost-effective solution, especially when the desired fresh blooms are out of season. Generally, most artificial flowers tend to be slightly cheaper than fresh ones, although this is not always the case.
When purchasing artificial flowers, consider the stems, as they are crucial in determining how realistic the flowers appear. All artificial flowers feature wire stems; silk and latex flowers have theirs coated in plastic, while foam flowers have taped wire stems, looking best when placed among other flowers where the stems can be concealed.
Here's the Lowdown on Available Artificial Flowers
Silk Flowers
The tradition of creating silk flowers dates back hundreds of years, originating in China, and made its way to Italy by the 12th century, evolving into a business.
Silk flowers can look incredibly realistic and are a preferred choice for many designers because of their lifelike appearance. Although high-quality silk flowers can be costly compared to fresh blooms, their longevity makes them a worthwhile investment.
Nowadays, silk flowers are generally not made from actual silk; instead, they are crafted from polyester, rayon, or cotton fabrics. This allows manufacturers to employ specialized dyes and heat treatments to create detailed features such as veins in leaves and petals. The stems of silk flowers also vary in realism, ranging from basic thin dark green stems suitable for hidden placements to more realistic fleshy stems with features like flocking or thorns for varieties like gerberas and roses.
Most fabric flowers begin as plain white rayon or polyester, which are then dyed and shaped into petals. They are placed in molds for heat treatment, giving them realistic shapes or forms, followed by hand finishing for added details and colors. Some artificial flowers now feature coatings like flocking or wax, enhancing their realism. For instance, our velvet touch red roses are an attractive imitation of fresh deep red roses, complete with a natural velvety texture.
A potential drawback of silk flowers, like all fabric, is the tendency to fray. However, this issue is usually minimal due to the heat applied during manufacturing, which keeps fraying to a minimum. Silk flowers come in a diverse range of varieties and shades, making them a worthy alternative to fresh blooms.
Latex Flowers
Latex flowers are crafted from molds of actual plants and flowers, resulting in a highly realistic appearance. Latex, being a liquid, emphasizes the veins in petals and irregular flower outlines. The goal, as with all artificial flowers, is to achieve the most realistic look possible. Suppliers often refer to them as “real touch” or “fresh touch,” although these terms are not standardized and are left up to individual manufacturers.
Generally, latex flowers feature thick petals and realistic stems, resembling fresh flowers with fleshy petals. While the variety is somewhat limited, you can find calla lilies, oriental lilies, orchids, and roses, with more varieties becoming increasingly available. However, latex flowers are not suitable for bouquets for individuals with latex allergies.
Foam Flowers
Foam flowers come in a broad array of colors, predominantly featuring roses. Our supplier also stocks carnations, peonies, and calla lilies. Roses are available in sizes ranging from dainty 2cm to larger 10cm, featuring wired and taped stems, although they lack foliage. As with all artificial flowers and foliage, quality can vary.
Initially, foam flowers were not always resistant to fading, but most have improved in colorfastness. However, it's essential to verify this during a purchase, particularly for bridal designs, as stains can ruin your outfit. I believe foam flowers work best when combined with other flowers, such as silk, to help conceal unsightly stems, which are not very realistic. They are popular for buttonholes and easy to work with, making them great for novices. Just remember to hide the stems or tie them with ribbon when creating a wedding bouquet.
Plastic Flowers
Plastic flowers often evoke associations with basic, flashy floral arrangements found in some memorial wreaths during Christmas. While they serve a purpose outdoors due to their durability, they lack realism. Therefore, we do not stock or use them in arrangements or bouquets.
However, we do carry a selection of quality plastic foliage and a carefully curated collection of flowers, such as lily of the valley, grape hyacinths, and alliums. Texture plays a significant role in the realism of any bloom; therefore, smaller clusters are often the most realistic due to the detailing possible with plastic as opposed to silk flowers. Plastic is also a good option for flowers with a silky or waxy appearance, as it provides a more realistic look than standard silks that generally have a dull matte finish.
Higher quality plastic flowers often come with silk leaves, and certain foliage features coatings like flocking, working well for appearances like asparagus fern or the silver-hued dusty miller with its furry surface. Plastic flowers and foliage have advanced significantly in quality over the past few years and should not be overlooked. They are best used as filler flowers, adding texture to any design.
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