A bouquet of daisies is cheerful, affordable and easy to make yourself. Whether it is a gift for a friend, a centerpiece for your table or flowers for a small celebration, you can create a lovely bouquet with garden or store-bought daisies and a few simple tools.
Choosing your daisies
- Shasta daisies: Classic white petals and yellow centers. Long-lasting and elegant.
- Gerbera daisies: Large, bold flowers in bright colors.
- Spray daisies: Several small blooms per stem, great for filling out a bouquet.
- Painted daisies: Bright, often two-toned flowers.
Pick flowers that are just opening, with firm petals and fresh green stems. If you cut from the garden, do it in the early morning when stems are full of water.
What else you need
- Greenery such as eucalyptus, ruscus or fern
- Filler flowers such as baby’s breath, waxflower or lavender
- Sharp scissors or floral snips
- Twine, ribbon or floral tape
- Optional: kraft paper or tissue for wrapping
Step 1: Prepare the stems
Strip leaves from the bottom two-thirds of each stem. Recut stems at an angle and stand them in water while you work.
Step 2: Start with a focal group
Hold three to five of your best daisies together. These form the center of the bouquet.
Step 3: Spiral in the rest
Add stems one at a time at a slight angle, turning the bouquet a little in your hand after each addition. This spiral technique helps the bouquet stand up and spread out naturally. Alternate daisies, greenery and filler so the bouquet looks balanced.
Step 4: Check the shape
Look at the bouquet from all sides. A loose, rounded dome suits daisies well. Pull up or push down any flowers that look out of place.
Step 5: Tie and trim
Tie the stems firmly at the point where they cross. Trim the ends evenly so the bouquet can stand in a vase. Wrap the binding in ribbon if it is a gift.
Wrapping a gift bouquet
- Lay the bouquet on a sheet of kraft paper or tissue.
- Fold the paper around the stems in a cone.
- Tie with ribbon or twine.
- For travel, wrap damp paper towel around the stem ends and cover with a small plastic bag.
Making it last
- Put the bouquet in fresh water as soon as possible.
- Change the water every couple of days and recut stems.
- Keep it away from heat, direct sun and ripening fruit.
Ideas for every occasion
- Birthday: Mixed Gerberas in bright colors.
- Thank you: White and yellow daisies with eucalyptus.
- Wedding: White daisies with soft greenery. See wedding daisies.
- Get well: Sunny yellow daisies.
For more arranging ideas, read how to arrange daisy flower bouquets, and learn what daisies symbolize to choose the right message.
Conclusion
Making a daisy bouquet is simple: choose fresh flowers, prepare the stems, spiral them together and tie them neatly. With a little practice, you can create bouquets that look as good as anything from a florist shop.
Photo: Flower Bouquet-2.jpg by David Condrey, released under CC0.
