Chapter 8 Flower Selection 185 When choosing flower forms, remember the four classifications: line, mass, filler, and form or distinctive, Figure 8-19. • Line fl owers may have a long stem, a spike or linear form, or both often used to form the “bones” of the design. • Mass fl owers are closed-form, single fl owers that have a dense, rounded shape used to fi ll out around the linear materials. • Filler fl owers are materials such as baby’s breath used to form a visual connection between the line and mass fl owers or to add visual weight. • Form fl owers usually have a strong or unusual shape often set somewhat apart from other fl owers in a design. As you can see, both form and color play major roles in fl ower selection. Fragrant Flowers Although many people enjoy the fragrance of fl owers, fragrance is not always appropriate. Think carefully about how the arrangement will be used before including fragrant fl owers in the design. For example, materials with low fragrance, or no fragrance at all, should be chosen for hospital rooms, Figure 8-20. If possible, fi nd out whether the customer enjoys the fragrance of fl owers before including heavily fragrant fl owers in a design. Did You Know? The brightest flowers are often fragrance- free. Some birds have a poor sense of smell and are attracted to bright flowers because of their color. Liatris Line fl ower Mum Mass Baby’s Breath Filler Gloriosa Form Brzostowska/Shutterstock.com nelea33/Shutterstock.com Natasha Breen/Shutterstock.com ntdanai/Shutterstock.com Figure 8-19. Examples of the four fl ower forms. Liatris comes in various colors and is a favorite line fl ower for many fl oral designers. Mums are also available in many colors and varieties and is one of the standard mass fl owers in fl oral design. Baby’s breath can be used to fi ll in bouquets and arrangements. Many exotic fl owers have distinctive forms and colors and often demand attention when used in a composition. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.