Pumpkins, Gourds and Autumnal Foliage – Ideas for Autumn Gifts

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons. It’s the colour palette that really sells the season to me, and the wonderful textures that are created by nature. Autumn evokes feelings of comfort, nostalgia and beauty all at the same time.

After the brightness of Summer, we often welcome the slower rhythm of Autumn – staying in, lighting candles and keeping warm. It is also the season for harvest festivals, Halloween, Bonfire Night, Thanksgiving and Diwali, to name but a few. These festivals all bring people together and this leads me on to talk about how we, as florists and floral designers, can use our creative skills to maximise the floral potential of Autumn in our businesses.

My favourite Autumnal materials and colour palette:

Florals: Dahlias, Chrysanthemums, Roses, Alstroemeria, Hydrangea, Amaranthus.

Foliage: Oak, Beech, Eucalyptus, Cotinus, dried grasses, ferns.

Fillers: berries (hypericum, viburnum), dried wheat, pine cones, acorns.

Accents: Mini pumpkins, gourds, berries, acorns, branches, seed pods, gold or copper paint details.

Palette: Burnt orange, warm red, copper, deep burgundy, ivory, antique gold, moss green.

Containers: rustic baskets, wooden boxes, ceramic/stoneware vases, pumpkins (real or faux).

Here are just a few ideas to think about to potentially bring you new customers, encourage your loyal customers to buy more and grow your social media presence.

Pumpkin Table Arrangement

These designs has been around for many years, but as a seasonal floral gift or self-purchase, they are still very popular with customers. They're also a great one to consider for workshops. They need some preparation if you are going to use fresh pumpkins: hollow out a pumpkin (or use a ceramic/faux one) as a vessel, add some chicken mesh, and fill with autumn flowers, such as Dahlias, Roses, Hypericum, Chrysanthemums. Add accents of oak leaves, eucalyptus, dried grasses and mini gourds.

Autumn Door Wreath 

A wreath made with evergreen/conifer base or moss, interspersed with mini pumpkins or gourds, dried foliage, seasonal berries, maybe some cinnamon sticks or pine cones for aroma will create a real talking point on any door, so why not make these seasonal door decorations to sell!  

Hand Tied Bouquet

A hand-tied bouquet with strong autumn colours of rust, burnt orange, deep burgundy and gold can be elevated to another level by adding crab apples or mini gourds as a decorative element. Wrap simply with a plain natural Kraft paper and tie with raffia or a gross grain ribbon.

Gift Hampers

Having gift hampers pre-made in your shop, on your website and social media posts all year round is always a strong category to offer and for the Autumn season, it just gets better with what you can offer. If you stock giftware in your store, such as candles, diffusers, soaps, soft bears etc, why not create various sizes of hampers/gift sets that include the giftware you stock, and add elements of seasonal accents such as small gourds, mini pumpkins, foliage sprigs or dried pods? Price them up, create a category for them on your website and post reels of you making them. You will be surprised how popular them are.

Tablescape

Tablescapes are very on trend. Particularly for weddings and events. If you have space to display an Autumnal tablescape in your shop by creating a line of small gourds or pumpkins interspersed with foliage and candles down the centre of a table this will bring a seasonal wow factor to your store. I love using a Danish brand of tall slimline candles in gorgeous rusts, mustard and burgundy shades to bring a note of sophistication to the table.

Ornamental mini gourd sets

These mini gourds are easily available from your wholesaler and are very popular in Europe and Scandinavia.  They come in boxes (or trays) and generally are a mix of colours and shapes in a mini size and are non-edible. They are very cute! They are good to sell in the sets for customers to decorate their own homes, mantles and tables

They can be included in all types of designs, and at this time of year look fabulous when included into Petite Gift Boxes and Door wreaths.

Autumn Foliage and Dried Materials

A rustic bundle is so beautiful and very much on trend this season. I love to mix seed heads like poppy pods and teasels with dried grasses, berries, acorns and branches with autumn colours such as birch, maple and oak, then add accents of eucalyptus, beech and cotinus. Gorgeous! Tie these fabulous combinations with natural twine or raffia and then wrap in beautiful kraft paper or sisal sheets.  These can be made in various price points and sizes – you know your customers, but always have an extra special size as we never know what a customer is prepared to spend if they see something they love.

Painted Pumpkins 

Pumpkins painted in metallics (gold, copper, bronze), or white and pastels for a modern look, with foliage/gold leaf/gems are always great for display, installations, corporate and event work.

Just a few ideas for Autumnal gifts. Enjoy the season!

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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.