Fresh Choices BY KATIE VINCENT


PRAISEWORTHY POINSETTIAS > Edmond, Oklahoma’s sizzling summers will soon become crisp fall days, and before long, the inside of Madeline’s Flower Shop will resemble Santa’s workshop. The third-generation fl oral business, run by Barbara Bilke and her twin daughters, Lacee, AAF, CFD, OACF, PFCI, and Lenzee, AAF, AIFD, OACF, PFCI, is well known for its one-of-a-kind designs featuring premium fl owers, intriguing textures, and playful containers. The holiday season is no exception, and an excellent opportunity for the Bilke women to show a traditional plant, the poinsettia, in a new light. With their low prices, big box stores have “long controlled the


poinsettia market” for grab-and-go shoppers, says Lacee. Madeline’s clients, however, have more discerning taste. They appreciate novelty varieties — with marbled patterns, long bracts, ruffl ed shapes, or unexpected shades from peach to hot pink. In addition to selling exclusive poinsettias, “we cut them and incorporate them into arrangements,” says Lenzee. Last year, for instance, they paired a red and white marbled variety with green-centered red garden roses, red winterberries, and evergreen boughs. In another design, they highlighted a sprawling salmon and cream variegated poinsettia with dark pink peonies, frosted pinecones, berries, and an assortment of greenery. Succulents, tinted brunia balls, and seeded eucalyptus also blend beautifully with poinsettias, the Bilkes say. Here are a few alluring poinsettia varieties to put on your wish list for


some dazzling holiday designs. Katie Vincent is the senior contributing editor of Floral Management.


‘IMPERIAL’ Dümmen Orange


‘PRESTIGE


EARLY RED’ Dümmen Orange


‘FERRARA’ Dümmen Orange


‘CHRISTMAS JOY WHITE’ Greenstreet Growers


‘AUTUMN LEAVES’ Dümmen Orange


18 FLORAL MANAGEMENT | July/Aug 2025 | WWW.SAFNOW.ORG


‘BRILLIANT WHITE’ Greenstreet Growers


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