Su Whale offers advice on how to create wedding cake flowers and what to avoid.

‘Floral Laboratory’ was the imaginative theme for this year’s floristry competition, encouraging the participants to explore the relationship between flowers, science and art. They rose to the challenge magnificently. RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year & Gold Nature Magnified JL Floral Design Inspired by the minute detail of stem structures on microscope slides, Jade Loftus’ meticulous design highlighted and enlarged the unseen systems that underpin plant growth. Circular

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Chelsea in Bloom, whose retailers embraced this year’s theme ‘Out of this World’ with the usual creativity, imagination and enthusiasm we have come to expect from London’s biggest free flower festival. Shops, restaurants, pubs and hotels were transformed with spaceships, moons, planets, suns and stars; there was even a life size Tardis. While, for the more spiritually minded, astrology, tarot cards and mythical characters such as mermai

Tough, dependable, versatile; there are lots of good things to say about heather, or ling, as it is sometimes known. A low growing, evergreen shrub, with tiny, bell-shaped flowers, heather is typically associated with moors and heathland. A popular rockery and garden plant, it is also sold as a cut flower and foliage. Calluna and Erica are the two most well-known genera of heather. They flower at different times of the year, extending the overall flowering period. Erica flo

Floral highlights to be brought to you by the Interflora Floristry Trade Club Bullring Gate 2025 There is a lot of floral fabulousness at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, not just the well-established Chelsea Florist of the Year competition, but large scale installations to look forward to as well. The iconic RHS letters will be decorated by Hamilton Floral Studio, while the London and Bullring gates at the entrances to the showground both promise an abundance of British

There's a fig houseplant for every situation. Su Whale shares her top picks.

One of the joys of spring, Ranunculus are an absolute delight. Su Whale explains how to make the most of them.

When is a shed not a shed? When it is overflowing with flowers, foliage and seasonal botanicals such as those on display at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival. The Floral Tablescaping competition was the show’s first foray into exhibiting professional floristry and the five competitors selected rose magnificently to the occasion. Gold & Best in Show ‘At the Threshold: The Garden Comes to the Table’ Ashley Edwards Ashtree Floral Designs Congratulations to Birmingham florist

This spring favourite needs careful handling and conditioning, as Su Whale explains.

Bees are in decline, so its up to the floristry industry to do our bit by promoting bee-friendly plants. Su Whale explains more.

As we approach peak growing season, growers across the UK are rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck into a full-on season of beautiful British blooms. During May there are still some delicate, late spring, early summer gems to enjoy before blousy, colourful summer flowers arrive to dominate the market. Polygonatum multiflorum Common Name: Solomon’s seal An unusual flowering perennial and a charming cut flower which prefers damp, shady conditions. Hardy, it will gr

Longiflorum lilies are at their best right now. Su Whale explains how to care for them to get the best from their scent, colour and form.

Su Whale tells how to make the most of this reliable cut flower.

Woody stemmed spring flowers are an essential part of the seasonal palette. Learn how to care and condition these stems properly.

Silvery foliage for designs has never been so relevant as we celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Su Whale finds some of the best.