YELLOW was definitely the hottest trend for floral designs at the Texas State Florist Convention just a couple of weeks ago. So many designs used the color, and why not? Yellow is the perfect color for summer! Sunflowers were one of the most popular flowers used.

Hottest Floral Trends For Summer 2011:

Continue reading “Yellow – The Hottest Flower Trend For Summer” »

One of the most well known symbols, the fleur-de-lis is seen all over the globe! While it’s name means “Lily Flower” it’s beginnings did not start with the lily. Instead, it’s widely thought to be a stylized version of the species Iris pseudacorus or the Flag Iris.

As you can see, the flag iris is a bit different from the normal irises we usually see in our gardens. The upper petals are not as pronounced as regular bearded irises, but it looks just like the fleur de lis.

According to Pierre-Augustin Boissier de Sauvages, a French naturalist and lexicographer:

This flower, or iris, looks like our fleur-de-lis not just because of its yellow colour but also because of its shape: of the six petals, or leaves, that it has, three of them are alternatively straight and meet at their tops. The other three on the opposite, bend down so that the middle one seems to make one with the stalk and only the two ones facing out from left and right can clearly be seen, which is again similar with our fleurs-de-lis.

The fleur de lis has been used throughout history as a political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic icon, especially for heraldry, all over the world and as far back as history can remember. It’s interesting to see see this yellow flower pop up in anything from the oldest paintings to the most modern fashion. The fleur de lis is a classic symbol that is sure to be around for generations to come. Whether you’re in the French Quarter for Mardi Gras, New York for fashion week, or strolling the streets of Europe, keep your eyes peeled for the world’s favorite iris — the Flag Iris!

Ask the Expert: Name of the plant we bought today?

Dahlia 'Clarion'

Flower Shop Network‘s Plant Expert Reply: The people who sold you the plant were correct in calling it a Clarion. They just didn’t tell you the complete name – Dahlia ‘Clarion’. What you have is a type of Dahlia. For classification purposes dahlias are divided into various classes according to their form and size. This particular Dahlia is in the single class. This means the flowerheads are composed of a single row of uniform, evenly spaced ray florets.

August is the peak blooming time for Dahlias. To learn more about this wonderful flower, Read Mandy’s August Flower Gets it’s Dues: Dahlia Flower Day post. Once a month she spotlights a flower and this past August it was the Dahlia.

Ask the Expert: Yellow Dandelion-like Flower – can you identify
There is a perennial in our garden (in a house we bought last fall) that recently bloomed, but I cannot identify it!  I can’t find it any garden books I have, and none of my flower-loving friends can identify it.  I saw (what appeared to be) the same plant (although it was not as tall) in someone else’s yard recently, but their’s has a purple flower.  The attached photos show the flower and entire plant, albeit they just started to bloom (early to mid-June).

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

This past weekend, I was at the Missouri Botanical Garden and saw several of these blooming plants. What you have is Centaurea macrocephala commonly known as the Armenian basket flower. It is hardy in zone 3 thru 8. Blooms June thru July and is perennial. This thistle like yellow flower is sometimes called  globe centaurea or yellow hardhat and can be used as a dried flower.  It is low maintenance full-sun plant that requires minimum watering.

Centaurea (Hardheads, Knapweed) are in the Asteraceae family and consist of 450 species of annuals, biennuals, perennials and subsrubs. So you many see many different, but similar looking plants in your area including the purple one in your neighbor’s yard.

Oncidium Orchid

Oncidium Bloom

I bought this orchid in Key West 3 years ago. It keeps growing new psuedobulbs and flowers this time of year.  I am just very curious what classification of orchid it is so I can better care for it and ask advice.  Thanks Yellow Blooms

Plant Expert Reply:

It looks like an Oncidium. Depending on which species of Oncidium you have the orchid will need any where from bright to nearly full direct sun.  They need 30 to 60% humidity and 80 to 85 degree day temps with 55 to 60 at night. Water thoroughly, but allow the medium to dry half way betweens waterings.  See Oncidium Orchids For more information.

Zinnia Bloom

Ask the Expert: What kind of flower is this?
Flower no bigger than thumb nail
Grows up to about a foot tall

Alexandra E

Plant Expert Reply:

I believe it is a type of zinnia.  Probably a Zinnia augustifolia by the look of the leaf in the picture.  Another option would be a type of Dahlia.  Both of these genus are in the Asteraceae family and have similar characteristics.    A view of the plant and the leaves would help me make a better identification.

Type Of Helianthus

Ask the Expert: Yellow Wildflower – grows in Kentucky
This flower (I’m sorry the pick is somewhat past bloom) grows all along the farm – my friend believes it to be wild cosmos… and I didn’t think there was a cosmos genus around here – could you help us out?

Thank you! Anne

Plant Expert Reply:

I believe it is a type of Helianthus.  Kentucky has many wild species of Helianthus.  My best guess would be one of the following: Helianthus hirsutus (Hairy Sunflower), Helianthus strumosus (Pale-leaved Woodland Sunflower) or Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke).  Of course it is a little hard to tell without an open bloom.

Ask the Expert: What is the name of this flower?

Tragopogon dubius

Yellow Goat's Beard

I have this plant in my garden. It just appeared there early this year and it only blooms in the early morning. It is beautiful and I would like to know the name.

Plant Expert Reply:

This wildflower is called Yellow Goat’s Beard (Tragopogon dubius).  It is often found in fields, meadows, waste ground, roadsides, railroads and blooms April through July.