Victor Schrager
For an Urn-Shaped Vase
Ideal flower match: Tulips (shown) or other species with long, supple stems, like ranunculus. Large blooms (lilies, peonies) that need room to open are good choices, too.
Why the pairing works: After being cut, tulip stems lengthen up to an inch and the blossoms get larger; tulips also stretch toward the light. A widemouthed urn gives them space to "move and do their thing," says Ian Prosser, who owns the Botanica International Design Studio, in Tampa.
How to arrange: If you like tulips that droop a little, leave them on the table for ten minutes before putting them in water, says Prosser. This softens the stems, causing the heads to hang down. Set the flowers around the perimeter, then fill in, angling the stems to create an arch.
Learn How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh at Real Simple.
Victor Schrager
Ideal flower match: Sweet peas (shown), poppies, or gloriosa lilies.
Why the pairing works: A bubble-shaped vessel with a small, ruffled opening helps rein in unruly blooms while keeping the arrangement loose. That’s key for vine flowers, such as sweet peas, which can get mildewy if tightly clustered, says Meredith Waga Perez, a co-owner of Belle Fleur, a floral- and event-design company in New York City. Because they stand about 10 inches high, sweet peas require a low vase.
How to arrange: Trim the stems, take a bunch in hand, then casually let the blooms drop into the container all at once so they spill around it, says Cecelia Heffernan, owner of the floral shop Flower Hardware, in Wilson, Wyoming, and the author of Flowers A to Z: Buying, Growing, Arranging―A Beautiful Reference Guide to Selecting and Caring for the Best from Florist and Garden (Harry N. Abrams, $22.50, amazon.com).
Learn How to Keep Flowers Alive Longer at Real Simple.
Victor Schrager
Ideal flower match: Hydrangeas (shown) and other flowering branches, peonies, sunflowers, or any bloom with a large head and a bulky stem.
Why the pairing works: The height and the narrow shape of a cylinder can “make an abundant bouquet of shrublike flowers look more controlled,” says Prosser. Hefty hydrangeas work best in a thick glass or ceramic container.
How to arrange: For a lush, organic feel, cut the stems to different lengths, leaving them all four to six inches taller than the vase. Hydrangeas wilt quickly, so to help the woody stems draw in water, cut them at an angle, then hit the bottoms lightly with a hammer to splay the ends. Loosely place the flowers, putting some on one side, rotating the container, then adding more to the other side.
More from Real Simple:
Best Bouquets for a Square Vase, Bud Vase, Rounded Vase
Get the Most Out of Spring Flowers
How to Force Bulbs into Bloom
