Textures! From the smoothness of sleekest satin to soft, furry down, they are found in the leaves of houseplants.
How stimulating they are to the flower arranger searching out materials that will enhance, either by affinity or contrast, the decoration in mind, for that time or season when flowers are few and expensive.
Along with textures, the arranger needs to look beyond their plant window to find variety in foliage form and exciting flower color.
Today’s planters use in the house has brought back succulents and exotics not in vogue for many years.
Most are easy to grow and will afford cuttings for use in arrangements.
There is a natural rhythm and balance in the precise placement of leaves as they occur in the aloes and echeverias, and they lend themselves superbly to uncluttered contemporary designs.
Remember the tubs of dracaenas that were kept in the attic over winter, to be brought down to the front porch along with the swing and the grass rug when spring cleaning was finished?
Dracaenas Textures
Dracaenas are just as indestructible now but are handsome all year round in modern planters, and the Japanese have taught us to make alluring curves with the sleek, dark green leaves.
Textures range from the smoothness of these through the spines and warts of aloes to the baby blanket-wooliness of the panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentose).
Plant textures strengthen any tactile design present in containers and may heighten or subdue colors.
The small-leaf bamboo is a smooth-leaved plant with yellow-green foliage (Phyllostachys aurea). It lends airiness and grace and a touch of the Orient.
There are trailing plants like the too-seldom-seen Tradescantia spironema dracaenoides, whose large terminal leaf cluster is as enchanting in an arrangement as a green orchid might be.
And it grows so rampantly that it can be cut without a qualm. It roots at nodes and probably will root while in the arrangement’s water.
When grown in a vast room, this tradescantia is enriched by tinges of purplish red.
Or we may want the intricacy of the ruffled crests of Begonia bunehii foliage.
Along with its delightful form, this leaf is continually flushed with colors ranging from pink to rosy red; the plant has tall stems of pale pink blossoms, freely borne.
While we do not ordinarily think of vivid color in the more common house plants, we would look far to find brighter color combinations than begonias afford both in flowers and foliage.
Begonia Cuttings
Cuttings from the Begonia semperflorens that edged summer borders can be grown over winter and furnish branches of lovely small flowers and shining leaves for arranging.
The deeply colored foliage of the angel-wing and rex begonias is incomparable.
For color in January and February, no more captivating blend of grayed rose, violet, and yellow could be found than in the tall flower stems of Echeveria gibbiflora ‘Metallica.’
Stems may reach 30″ inches and are splendid for a winter show.
44659 by Mr. And Mrs. A. E. Lundy