Constance Spry: How to Do The Flowers

Learn how to do flowers the Constance Spry way: master classic floral design principles for stunning arrangements that bring timeless beauty to any setting.

Key Takeaways

• Understand Constance Spry’s foundational floral design principles.
• Master material selection for impactful arrangements.
• Learn essential preparation and conditioning techniques.
• Discover Spry’s iconic arrangement styles and structures.
• Adapt Spry’s methods for contemporary floral art.
• Create beautiful, enduring floral displays with confidence.

Have you ever admired a floral arrangement that seemed to capture the very essence of nature, yet possessed an undeniable artistry? Perhaps you’ve seen images of grand displays from a bygone era and wondered how such beauty was achieved. The world of floral design has many influential figures, but few loom as large as Constance Spry. Her approach to flowers was revolutionary, blending a deep respect for natural forms with an artist’s eye for composition and colour. Understanding Constance Spry’s methods can feel like unlocking a secret language of flowers, transforming your own creations from simple bouquets to captivating works of art. This guide will demystify her techniques, offering a clear, step-by-step path for you to follow.

Who Was Constance Spry? A Pioneer in Floral Design

Constance Spry, born in 1882, was a British floral designer whose innovative spirit and artistic vision reshaped floral arrangements in the 20th century. Before her, floral displays often adhered to rigid, symmetrical styles. Spry, however, championed a more naturalistic and often asymmetrical approach, drawing inspiration directly from the way flowers grow in gardens and hedgerows. She believed that flowers should be allowed to express their individual character and beauty, rather than being forced into unnatural shapes. Her work graced the weddings of royalty, grand homes, and public events, making her one of the most sought-after floral designers of her time. Her influence is still deeply felt today, forming the bedrock of many contemporary floral design philosophies. She authored several influential books, including “Flower Decoration,” which continues to be a seminal text for aspiring florists and flower enthusiasts alike.

Spry’s career began in earnest after World War I. She initially ran a successful dress shop but soon found her passion for flowers taking precedence. In 1929, she opened her first flower shop in London, quickly gaining renown for her unique style. Her arrangements were characterized by their scale, texture, and the thoughtful juxtaposition of different blooms and foliage. She was not afraid to use unusual elements, incorporating branches, herbs, and even vegetables into her designs. This willingness to experiment pushed the boundaries of traditional floristry and inspired others to see flowers and plant materials in new ways. Her legacy is not just in the arrangements she created, but in the fundamental shift she brought about in how we perceive and work with flowers.

The Philosophy Behind Constance Spry’s Flowers

At the heart of Constance Spry’s approach was a profound appreciation for nature’s imperfections and inherent beauty. She didn’t strive for sterile perfection; instead, she celebrated the grace of a drooping stem, the texture of a weathered leaf, or the unexpected colour combination found in a wild meadow. Her arrangements often felt as though they had been gathered from a garden that very morning, retaining a sense of vitality and spontaneity. This philosophy can be summarized by several key tenets:

• Naturalism: Mimicking the growth habits and informal beauty of flowers in their natural environment.
• Texture and Form: Emphasizing the variety of shapes, sizes, and surface qualities of plant materials.
• Colour Harmony: Using colour palettes inspired by nature, often featuring subtle gradations or bold, unexpected contrasts.
• Movement and Asymmetry: Creating dynamic designs that lead the eye through the arrangement, avoiding rigid symmetry.
• Materiality: Valuing the inherent qualities of each bloom, leaf, and stem, allowing them to speak for themselves.

Spry believed that flowers should evoke emotion and create an atmosphere. Her designs were rarely just decorative; they told a story, set a mood, or celebrated an occasion with a depth of feeling. This holistic view of floral design, where the arrangement is an integral part of its surroundings and intended purpose, is what makes her work so enduringly relevant. She would often say that a good flower arrangement should look as if it “grew there.” This focus on organic flow and a sense of belonging to the space it occupies is a cornerstone of her enduring appeal.

Getting Started: Essential Tools and Materials

To begin creating flowers in the style of Constance Spry, you’ll need a few essential tools and a keen eye for selecting the right materials. While her style is adaptable, certain foundational elements will serve you well. Think of these as your basic kit for embarking on this floral journey.

Essential Tools for Spry-Style Floristry

These tools will help you prepare, cut, and arrange your flowers with ease and precision, allowing you to focus on the creative aspect.

Tool	Purpose	Why It’s Important for Spry’s Style
Sharp Floral Knife	Cutting stems at an angle for maximum water absorption.	Crucial for maintaining the freshness of delicate blooms and creating clean cuts on woody stems, which Spry often used.
Floral Shears/Secateurs	Cutting thicker stems, branches, and foliage.	Handles tougher materials that Spry frequently incorporated to add structure and natural texture.
Floral Wire	Supporting weak stems, joining elements, or creating armatures.	Useful for positioning botanicals naturally, especially when dealing with less cooperative branches or heavy blooms.
Floral Tape	Binding stems together or securing wire.	Helps create unified stems for easier handling and insertion into arrangements, especially when building complex structures.
Vase or Container Analysis	Choosing the right vessel to complement the arrangement.	Spry famously used a wide variety of containers, from traditional vases to antique urns and even simple bowls. The vessel is an integral part of the design.
Watering Can/Syringe	Keeping arrangements hydrated.	Essential for maintaining the longevity of your natural materials, especially when working with less conventional elements.
Clean Bucket(s)	Conditioning flowers before arranging.	Vital for ensuring your materials are hydrated and at their best, a non-negotiable step for long-lasting arrangements.

Selecting Your Floral Materials

The key to Spry’s success was her masterful use of a wide variety of plant materials. She wasn’t limited to just perfect roses. Think about form, texture, and colour when gathering your flowers and foliage.

• Star Performers (Focal Flowers): These are your statement blooms. Examples include large roses, peonies, hydrangeas, or lilies. They draw the eye and give the arrangement a center of gravity.
• Filler Flowers: Smaller blooms that add volume and support, bridging the gap between focal flowers and foliage. Think spray roses, astilbe, or lisianthus.
• Line Flowers: Tall, spiky blooms that add height and movement. Examples include gladioli, delphinium, or snapdragons.
• Foliage: This is where Spry truly excelled. Use a variety of greens for depth, texture, and structure. Think eucalyptus, fern fronds, dusty miller, ivy, or even interesting branches.
• Accents and Unusual Elements: Don’t shy away from berries, seed pods, herbs (like rosemary or mint), or even small fruits. These add character and a touch of the unexpected.

When selecting materials, consider their seasonality and natural growth patterns. Spry often advised visiting gardens or even foraging (responsibly, of course) for inspiration and unique finds. The more varied and interesting your materials, the more potential your arrangement has to capture that Spry-esque natural charm.

Step-by-Step: Preparing Your Flowers and Foliage

Proper preparation is paramount in floral design, ensuring your arrangements not only look stunning but also last as long as possible. Constance Spry understood the importance of healthy, well-hydrated materials. This stage is where you transform raw materials into ready-to-arrange beauties.

1. Unpack and Assess: Carefully unpack your flowers and foliage. Remove any protective packaging. Inspect each stem for damage and remove any leaves that will fall below the waterline in your vase. These decaying leaves can contaminate the water and shorten the life of your flowers.
2. Re-cut Stems: Using your sharp floral knife or shears, re-cut each stem. Make a clean, angled cut about an inch from the bottom. An angled cut increases the surface area for water absorption. It’s best to cut stems under water if possible, as this prevents air bubbles from entering the vascular system and blocking water uptake.
3. Hydrate (Conditioning): Place all your prepared stems into clean buckets filled with cool water. Let them sit in a cool, dark place for at least a few hours, or preferably overnight. This process, known as conditioning, allows the flowers and foliage to drink deeply and firm up, making them more resilient for arranging.
4. Remove Guard Petals: For flowers like roses that have outer “guard petals,” gently remove them if they are bruised or discoloured. This reveals the fresher petals beneath and improves the overall appearance.
5. Prepare Foliage: Strip any leaves or side shoots that will be submerged in water. For some foliage with a soft texture, you might want to gently bruise the stem ends to aid water absorption.
6. Wire Delicate Stems (Optional): For very delicate or unusually shaped stems, you might consider wiring them. This involves using floral wire to support the stem, allowing you to position it more freely within the arrangement. This is a more advanced technique but can be very useful for achieving dynamic Spry-style shapes.

This meticulous preparation ensures that your materials start off strong, making the arranging process smoother and the final display more robust. It’s a fundamental step that separates a fleeting arrangement from one with lasting appeal, a principle Constance Spry would wholeheartedly endorse.

Achieving the Iconic Constance Spry Style: Arrangement Techniques

Constance Spry’s signature style is characterized by its generosity, natural flow, and artful composition. It’s less about rigid rules and more about capturing a feeling. Here’s how to approach creating an arrangement with her distinct touch.

1. Choosing the Right Container

Spry was known for her eclectic taste in containers. A perfect vase isn’t always the goal; often, a vessel with character can enhance the arrangement. Consider:

• Scale: The container should be proportionate to the size of the arrangement you intend to create. A large urn calls for a grand display; a smaller bowl for a more intimate gathering.
• Form: Traditional vases, antique pitchers, simple bowls, or even decorative baskets can work. The key is that it complements the flowers, not competes with them.
• Rim Diameter: A wider rim offers more flexibility for spreading out stems and creating a more open, naturalistic look.

Think about the context where the arrangement will be displayed. A grand hall might call for a statement piece in a substantial urn, while a dining table might suit a lower, more spread-out arrangement in a compote dish.

2. Building the Structure (The Foundation)

Before adding flowers, establish the underlying shape and support. Spry’s designs often had a sense of movement and asymmetry. This can be achieved through:

• Foliage as Framework: Begin by adding your foliage. Use larger, structural pieces to create the basic outline and shape of your arrangement. Think about creating a gentle curve or a sweeping line rather than a perfect circle.
• Creating Mass and Movement: Layer different types of foliage to build depth and texture. Allow some stems to arch outwards, creating a sense of natural growth and movement. This initial foliage framework will help support the flowers and guide their placement.
• Consider Asymmetry: Spry often favoured asymmetrical designs. You might have one side of the arrangement slightly more prominent or a stem that dramatically sweeps to one side. This creates visual interest and dynamism.

Imagine you are sketching the shape of your arrangement with greenery. You’re not aiming for a perfect sphere, but rather an organic form that feels balanced yet lively.

3. Placing Focal Flowers

These are your “star” blooms. Place them strategically to draw the eye and establish the visual weight of the arrangement. They often sit slightly lower or more centrally, but Spry would also place them to create dramatic accents.

• Placement: Position your largest or most striking flowers first. Consider where you want the viewer’s eye to land.
• Angle: Don’t be afraid to angle focal flowers slightly. They shouldn’t all be perfectly upright. This adds to the natural feel.
• Grouping: Sometimes, grouping two or three similar focal flowers together can create a stronger impact than scattering them individually.

Think about how these flowers would grow in a garden – they wouldn’t all be perfectly aligned. Let them lean and interact with the foliage and each other.

4. Adding Supporting Flowers and Line Elements

Now, fill in the gaps with your secondary blooms and line flowers. These elements add colour, texture, and reinforce the shape and movement you’ve established.

• Fill Space: Use filler flowers to create density and connect the focal flowers to the foliage.
• Enhance Movement: Incorporate line flowers to emphasize the curves and sweeping lines of your design. Allow them to extend beyond the main mass of the arrangement, adding height and drama.
• Colour and Texture: Vary the placement of colours and textures to create visual harmony or intentional contrast, just as nature does.

This is where the arrangement begins to come alive, with each element playing a role in the overall composition.

5. Incorporating Accents and Finishing Touches

This is the stage for those unique details that make a Spry-style arrangement truly special. Berries, seed pods, herbs, or even interesting branches can elevate your design.

• Add Interest: Tuck in small accents to provide pops of colour, texture, or unexpected forms.
• Balance: Use these elements to balance visual weight or to lead the eye through the arrangement.
• Naturalism: These details often enhance the feeling of a garden-gathered arrangement.

Step back frequently and assess your work from all angles. Rotate the arrangement to ensure it looks balanced and interesting from every viewpoint. Adjust stems as needed, allowing the materials to dictate the final form.

Constance Spry’s Famous Arrangements and Inspiration

Constance Spry’s work was legendary, gracing countless high-profile events and publications. Her ability to capture the spirit of a season or an occasion through flowers was unparalleled. Understanding some of her most iconic styles can provide direct inspiration for your own creations.

The Royal Wedding Bouquets

Spry designed the breathtaking bouquet for Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding in 1947. It was a lavish cascade of white and cream blooms, including orchids, lilies of the valley, and stephanotis, complemented by a variety of foliage. This arrangement exemplified her ability to create designs that were both grand and delicate, embodying the solemnity and joy of the occasion. The sheer scale and the variety of textures used were hallmarks of her style.

Grand Architectural Displays

For major events and homes, Spry created monumental floral installations. These were not mere centrepieces but architectural elements in themselves. She famously used large branches, ample foliage, and substantial quantities of flowers to create arrangements that filled spaces and commanded attention. These often featured a less formal, more naturalistic feel despite their size, as if a forest clearing had been brought indoors.

Informal Garden-Style Arrangements

Beyond the grand gestures, Spry also excelled at creating charming, seemingly simple arrangements that evoked the feeling of a freshly picked garden bouquet. These often featured a mix of common and exotic blooms, with a focus on colour and texture. She was a master of using foliage to create a lush backdrop that made the flowers shine, often allowing stems to trail and spill in an utterly natural way.

The Use of Unconventional Materials

Spry broke free from the confines of purely floral materials. She incorporated vegetables, fruits, herbs, and grasses into her designs, demonstrating that beauty can be found in unexpected places. This adventurous spirit encouraged others to think outside the box and to view the entirety of the plant kingdom as a source of design inspiration. Imagine a vibrant display featuring artichokes alongside roses, or rosemary sprigs woven through a bouquet.

To truly grasp her style, it’s highly recommended to explore books and online archives featuring her work. Examining the way she handled different materials, her colour choices, and her structural approaches will provide invaluable insights. Resources like the Victoria and Albert Museum archives or floral design history websites can offer visual references.

Adapting Spry’s Principles for Today

The beauty of Constance Spry’s teachings lies in their timelessness. Her principles are not confined to a specific era but offer enduring guidance for any floral enthusiast. Here’s how you can integrate her wisdom into your modern floral practice.

• Focus on Sustainability: Just as Spry embraced natural materials, today’s florists are increasingly focused on sustainable sourcing. Prioritize locally grown, seasonal flowers and foliage. Explore using branches, grasses, and dried elements that are readily available and reduce your environmental impact.
• Embrace Imperfection: In an age often obsessed with artificial perfection, Spry’s celebration of natural flaws is a refreshing antidote. Don’t discard a bloom with a slight imperfection; instead, see how its unique character can add depth to your design.
• Experiment with Texture and Form: Spry was a pioneer in using diverse textures. Continue this by incorporating a wide range of foliage, seed pods, berries, and even fruit. Mix smooth petals with rough leaves, delicate fillers with bold structural elements.
• Develop Your Eye for Colour: Spry’s colour palettes were often inspired by nature – soft, harmonious blends or surprising, bold juxtapositions. Study natural colour combinations in gardens, landscapes, and even art. Don’t be afraid to try less common pairings.
• Create for the Space: Consider the environment where your arrangement will live. Like Spry, think about how the flowers will interact with their surroundings, whether it’s a minimalist apartment, a bustling office, or a formal dining room. The arrangement should enhance, not overpower.
• Tell a Story: Every arrangement can convey a message or mood. Use your materials conscientiously to evoke a season, an emotion, or a specific feeling, much like Spry did.

The essence of Spry’s approach is about looking at flowers with an artist’s eye, respecting their natural beauty, and arranging them in a way that feels both dynamic and harmonious. By adopting these principles, you can create floral designs that are not only beautiful but also deeply meaningful.

Pro Tip: When using large branches or less common foliage, pre-treat them if necessary. Some woody stems can benefit from being hammered lightly at the base or split to improve water uptake. Always ensure your container has enough water to support these larger elements.

Frequently Asked Questions About Constance Spry Flowers

Q1: What makes a floral arrangement “Constance Spry style”?
A1: It’s characterized by naturalism, generous use of foliage, varied textures, asymmetrical design, and a sense of organic movement, as if gathered from a garden. It celebrates the individual beauty of each element.

Q2: Do I need expensive flowers to create a Spry-style arrangement?
A2: No. Spry famously used a wide variety of materials, including common garden flowers, foliage, herbs, and even vegetables. Focusing on form, texture, and natural composition is more important than the cost of individual blooms.

Q3: How do I achieve the “garden-gathered” look?
A3: Mix different flower heights and shapes. Allow some stems to droop or arch. Use abundant, varied foliage. Avoid rigid symmetry and tight, compact arrangements. Let elements spill and flow naturally from the container.

Q4: What is the significance of foliage in Spry’s arrangements?
A4: Foliage is crucial. Spry used it generously to create structure, texture, depth, and movement. It often forms the underlying framework and provides a lush backdrop that enhances the beauty of the flowers.

Q5: Can I use dried or non-floral elements in a Spry-inspired arrangement?
A5: Absolutely. Spry was known for incorporating branches, berries, seed pods, grasses, and even fruits. These elements add unique texture, form, and interest, reflecting nature’s diversity.

Q6: Where can I find more inspiration for Constance Spry’s techniques?
A6: Look for her books like “Flower Decoration,” explore floral design history websites, and search museum archives (like the V&A) for images of her work. Many contemporary florists also draw heavily on her principles.

Conclusion

Embracing the methods of Constance Spry offers a rewarding journey into the art of floral design. Her philosophy, rooted in the appreciation of nature’s inherent beauty, challenges us to look beyond conventional arrangements and discover the potential for artistry in every bloom, leaf, and stem. By understanding her emphasis on naturalism, texture, form, and dynamic composition, you gain tools to create floral displays that are not just beautiful, but also full of life and character. Whether you’re arranging for a special occasion or simply brightening your own space, applying Spry’s principles will elevate your work, allowing you to bring a touch of timeless, natural elegance into your everyday life. It’s about seeing flowers as they grow, and letting that organic beauty guide your hand.