Palm Sunday and Tropical Flowers

Palm Sunday is upon us and here at Club Botanic we want to take a look at the many varieties of tropical greens and flowers that are available for floral designers and others to use. The palm branches laid down in front of Jesus’ on his return to Jerusalem - celebrated on the Sunday before Easter - were most likely from Date palm trees. Here, we want to share some of the palms and tropical flowers currently favored by florists in the 21st century.  

One of the benefits to florists when designing with tropical flowers is that the blooms and greens often have a long lifespan, and their sturdy nature does not require a lot of care by the recipient of a tropical design.  These qualities make tropical flowers a great option for office gifts or office flowers, where they can look beautiful with little attention.  Also, the blooms generally have no fragrance either, so tropical flowers are ideal as "get well" flowers in a hospital setting.  

Among the leaves and flowers from warm and tropical climates are the following:

Anthurium flowers - These shiny statement flowers never take a back seat in any design! They can be found in many colors now, including the classic red, pale green, white, orange, and this pale shade of purplish pink.

Monstera leaves from the monstera plant are lavish. They are very large and shiny with unique markings. The plants themselves make beautiful houseplants or office plants.

Ananas or Decorative pineapple - Like decorative kale, cabbage or large king protea, decorative pineapple possesses a strong texture and packs a wallop of presence!

Torch Ginger  - Like decorative pineapple, it has a distinct texture and can vary in color.

Heliconia - Heliconia has many varieties, varying in color and shape/number of what are called "brachts". The one picture is Heliconia caribea, in a shade of orange-red. They are visually stunning and offer both line and vibrant color in a design.

Sabal palmetto - These large leaves are very dramatic in any setting and also make beautiful houseplants or office plants.

Strelitzia reginae - Bird of Paradise is it's common name. They will grow prodigiously in warm climates, like Southern California or Florida. The bracht usually opens with a yellow tuft of leaves over a lower red bracht.

Ti leaves, also known as Cordyline fructosa are commonly used in many different kinds of floral designs. They can be twisted or wrapped, sometimes being used inside a glass container as an organic lining that gives a tropical look. Ti leaves can be found in many varieties of striations and colors. They range from green to red, to a mixture of the two, and sometimes can be found with slight white striations as well.

Whichever tropical green or flower you select, you can be certain that your design will make a strong visual statement and it will last longer than a floral design with conventional blooms. Enjoy!