Fresh Choices
Agriculture and Food Research Organization in Japan, bred in shades of blue previously unseen in nature. “The colors of these fl owers are what we typically associate with
hyacinths or hydrangeas, so having that aesthetic available in a longer-lasting bloom is especially valuable for designs that emphasize sustainability,” says Tucson, Arizona designer and educator Joyce Mason- Monheim, AAF, AIFD, AzMF, PFCI. “Chrysanthemums are also excellent for creating depth in a fl oral design. They are also eff ective for repeating color throughout an arrangement, especially when paired with linear blue fl ower like delphinium that can establish line and form.” Schwanke, who’s featured BluOcean™ products on “Life in Bloom,”
echoed Mason-Monheim’s praise. “They are all magical, but my favorite variety is ‘Jade’. It takes on a navy cast when paired with other blue fl owers,” he says. “It also holds for nearly a month, and as it advances, the center becomes paler. It’s like having two diff erent fl owers as it progresses.” When it comes to people who love blue, they are legion. YouGov,
BLUE HYACINTH DVFlora
a market research and public opinion company based in the United Kingdom, conducted a survey across 10 countries and found blue was the most popular color in every country, with between 23% and 33% of respondents selecting it as their favorite. Sherwin-Williams ordered a Harris poll to learn Americans’ favorite paint color: a whopping 62% responded blue. Schwanke attributes blue’s popularity to its calming qualities. Part of
that is due to its atmospheric connotations. Blue conjures waves lapping on the shore or a bright, cloudless sky on a mountain hike. “There’s also the comfortability factor,” he says. “We all have our pair of favorite jeans. They feel good and they go with everything. That’s what blue represents.” Because of that characteristic, “blue blends
beautifully with nearly every color,” says Mason-Monheim. If you’re striving for a look that’s
a little less “star-spangled,” she and Schwanke recommend pairing blue with orange fl owers (for a complementary pairing) or with purple or green fl owers (for an analogous pairing).
‘BLUE MUREX’ DIDISCUS BALL SB
Katie Vincent is the senior contributing editor for the Society of American Florists.
18 FLORAL MANAGEMENT | July/August 2026 |
WWW.SAFNOW.ORG ‘PREMIUM BLUE’
HYDRANGEA GroFlowers
BETSY HANSEN
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