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Design 40 September | 2021 5. ANTHURIUM ANDRAEANUM (Flamingo fl ower, Tailfl ower) Waxy, shiny, bright and beautiful. ese on-trend tropicals are perfect for pairing with temperate-climate fall seasonal fl owers. No matter the design project, there is an Anthurium to fi t the job, including tulip and cupped forms, bicolored and large variegated Obake varieties, textured varieties with heavy veining, and more. In today's fl oral marketplace, there is not a single color palette that Anthurium must exclude itself from; choose from a rainbow of natural saturated hues as well as hand-enhanced kaleidoscopic, iridescent and metallic colorings your customers will swoon for. Conditioning Tip: Cut Anthurium "fl owers" are simple to care for, and they easily achieve an exceptionally long vase life. To the surprise of many fl orists, cut Anthurium do not require fl ower nutrient solution to thrive— although it will not harm these blooms, either. Advise customers to recut stem ends every few days to extend enjoyment. 6. ORNAMENTAL KALE (Brassica oleraceae Acephala Group) Good for more than salads, ornamental kale off ers a high-impact solution for large arrangements. Kale is a cool-weather crop that grows best in northern climates, so it is best to mimic those conditions in your routine for these botanicals. Select from a wide variety of "petal" textures and variegated colorings ranging from white, green, purple and pink. When selected for top quality, ornamental kale will closely resemble an exotic rose. Conditioning Tip: When processing ornamental kale varieties for cut fl ower use, remove all leaves remaining on the thick stock portion except for the uppermost leaves. Any kale foliage that becomes submerged in water will quickly decompose and breed harmful bacteria. 7. AFRICAN MARIGOLDS (Tagetes erecta) Once disfavored due to their strong fragrance, today's trend reports are wild for these cheerful and spicy-scented blooms. To avoid an overpowering aroma, remove all foliage from cut marigolds; most of the scent associated with marigolds originates from the foliage. Conditioning Tip: Marigolds have hollow stems, which means they require gentle care when processing. For best results, always trim the ends of marigold stems at an angle using sharp, disinfected shears. When designing with large marigolds, consider wiring them, for extra support, by pushing a short length of thin-gauge wire through the bloom into the hollow top portion of the stem.

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