How to Style Pumpkins and Flowers Together

7 minutes ago

5 min read

Autumn is such a wonderful season for florists. The colours become richer, the textures more interesting and, suddenly, there is so much inspiration all around us. From beautiful berries and autumn foliage to dahlias, chrysanthemums and roses, nature gives us an incredible palette to work with.

But there is another Autumn favourite that can add something really special to our floral designs – the humble pumpkin. As florists, we are always looking for texture, and pumpkins give us plenty of it.

Fall flowers and small pumpkins arranged on a rustic wooden table with black scissors, in yellow, orange, and pink hues.

Choosing the Best Pumpkin Varieties for Autumn Floral Arrangements

When we think of pumpkins, most of our customers immediately picture bright orange. Of course, orange can be fabulous for Autumn, but look out for pumpkins in soft sage greens, creamy whites, muted greys, warm terracotta, dusty pinks and even beautiful blue-green shades. There are also wonderfully ribbed varieties, tiny miniature pumpkins, flat-shaped pumpkins and those wonderfully textured varieties that add a completely different feel.

Think about combining several varieties together rather than using just one. A group of different shapes and sizes can look much more natural and interesting, particularly when combined with flowers and foliage.

Colorful pumpkins and gourds beside bright pink, purple, and white flowers on a rustic wooden table.

Autumn Flowers and Foliage That Pair Beautifully with Pumpkins

When creating Autumnal designs and installation concepts, I like to think of Autumn flowers such as Dahlias, Chrysanthemums, Roses, Hydrangeas, Carthamus, Celosia and Alstroemeria as they just naturally give a beautiful seasonal vibe. I then think of including berries, gorgeous Autumnal foliage with accents of grasses and seed heads.

Colorful autumn still life of bright flowers in vases with small gourds and pumpkins on a wooden table against a white wall

Autumn Colour Combinations for Pumpkin Floral Designs

As some of you know, colour is very important to me. Clever use of colour can transform any design with any choice of materials, and it shows real skill when colours comes together beautifully to tell a story.

Some of my favourite Autumn colour combinations are:

• Cream pumpkins with blush and burgundy florals.

• Sage-green pumpkins with ivory florals and mixed green foliage.

• Orange pumpkins with a rust and bronze mix.

• White pumpkins with burgundy florals, oak leaves and berries.

• Terracotta pumpkins with peach, nude and caramel tones.

• Deep green pumpkins with plum flowers and trailing foliage.

The secret is to create a colour connection between the pumpkin and the flowers rather than making the pumpkin look like something that has simply been added at the last minute.

Colorful flower arrangement in a pale pumpkin vase on a wooden table, with hands arranging blooms in a warm workshop.

How to Create a Pumpkin Floral Centrepiece

One of the most effective ways to combine pumpkins and flowers is to actually use the pumpkin as the container. This can create a fabulous seasonal centrepiece and is a lovely product for florists to offer during October and November. Of course, this has been a trend for several years and continues to be popular with customers. I have also found that they are an excellent workshop design. Lots to talk about, easy to prepare in advance for the workshop and everyone loves creating a floral arrangement within a pumpkin and then take it home!

Large orange pumpkin topped with white, yellow, and orange flowers on a wooden table against a dark backdrop.

Top Tips for Creating Floral Arrangements in Pumpkins

Look for firm pumpkins with a good flat base.
Carefully remove the top.
Hollow out the inside and use a suitable watertight container or vessel inside the pumpkin rather than allowing floral water to sit directly against it. This is important for both presentation and longevity.
Create your floral design exactly as you would in a conventional container.
For a more natural look, keep the arrangement slightly loose and allow some foliage and flowers to spill over the edge. Dahlias, roses, chrysanthemums and berries work particularly well.
I love using a combination of flowers at different heights so that the pumpkin remains visible. There is no point hiding a beautiful pumpkin underneath a huge mass of flowers.

Hands arranging a colorful floral bouquet in an orange pumpkin vase on a wooden table, with pink, white, and green blooms

Autumn Wedding and Event Styling with Pumpkins

Another idea, is to create a beautiful Autumn tablescape with a low floral design running through the centre of the table, add miniature pumpkins, gourds and seasonal fruits amongst the flowers and foliage. The pumpkins become part of the overall design rather than the container itself. This is particularly effective for weddings and events where the client wants an Autumn feel and I personally have done many weddings in October, where the happy couple have wanted minimal flowers but a true Autumnal look for their wedding. A collection of small pumpkins around the base of a floral arrangement can also create a lovely layered effect.

Autumn display of pumpkins and squash on straw, with a large gray pumpkin topped with yellow flowers and red berries.

Retail and Merchandising Ideas Using Pumpkins and Flowers

If you want to encourage your customers to buy Autumn flowers, pumpkins can be a great merchandising tool. Create a small display near the front of the shop using pumpkins, flowers, foliage and candles. It immediately tells customers that Autumn has arrived. I would create a choice of price points such as:

A small pumpkin arrangement for a simple gift.
A medium-sized pumpkin arrangement for the home.
A larger statement design for a special occasion.
A hand-tied with mini pumpkins on wooden skewers to include within the bouquet.

This gives customers something to look at and, importantly, something they can visualise in their own home.

Decorative gourds and pumpkins with red leaves and berry sprigs arranged against a dark background, creating a rich autumn feel

Autumn Front Door and Porch Decorating Ideas

One of my favourite opportunities for Autumn floristry is the front door. We spend so much time creating beautiful Christmas wreaths, but Autumn gives us a wonderful opportunity to introduce customers to seasonal door decorations earlier in the year.

A pumpkin and floral doorstep display can be incredibly welcoming, and we can see on social media and in glossy magazines that famous people and celebrities often go to town with decorating their front doors and porches; what an opportunity this is for florists and floral designers.

Three white mini pumpkins среди magenta flowers and black scissors on a rustic wooden table.

Pricing and Marketing Autumn Pumpkin Arrangements

As florists, we also need to think beyond creating something beautiful. We need to make sure our designs work commercially. Pumpkins can be relatively inexpensive, but remember to factor in your time, conditioning, mechanics, flowers, foliage, containers and delivery when pricing your designs.

Take photographs of your pumpkin arrangements and use them across your social media and website. Autumn designs are wonderfully photogenic, so make the most of them.

I would suggest offering designs as pre-order products. Customers may be planning Autumn dinner parties, Halloween celebrations or simply looking for something seasonal for their home. So, give them ideas before they ask.

Autumn floral arrangement in a carved orange pumpkin, surrounded by pumpkins and fallen leaves on a white background.

Why Pumpkins Are Essential for Autumn Floristry

Think of pumpkins as another element in your floral toolbox. Whether you're creating a small gift arrangement, a dramatic wedding centrepiece, a shop display or a beautiful doorstep design, flowers and pumpkins can work together wonderfully. Autumn is all about abundance, texture, colour and warmth – and pumpkins give us one more way to bring all of those things into our floristry.

With over 35 years’ experience, Karen Barnes is one of the UK’s leading consultants to the floral industry and an expert in product development, future trends & colours, and floral photography design & planning. She’s an interior floral designer, high profile wedding and event floral planner, and prominent international competition judge.

From teaching on a one-to-one basis to coaching small, intimate classes and larger teams, Karen can encourage, motivate and mentor your next step in the florist industry. Sharing her vast experience, Karen can help you expand your knowledge and creativity.