---
title: "Foliage and branches for flower arranging: 38 greens, branches and textures | Floreboard"
url: https://floreboard.com/en/guides/foliage-and-branches/
language: en
last_reviewed: 2026-10-06
publisher: Floreboard (芳华绘)
---

# Foliage and branches for arrangements

12 foliages and 19 branches used in floristry, with vase life, season, pet safety and a handling note for each — plus how to split, force and deliver flowering branches.

## Key facts

- Foliage frames the design and hides the mechanics; branches give line and height.
- Split woody ends before conditioning — an intact woody stem drinks poorly.
- 25 of the 38 last ten days or more.

## Foliage

| Flower | Vase life | In season | Pets | Handling |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Eucalyptus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/eucalyptus/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | mildly toxic | Strip the lower leaves. The resin is sticky — clean snips with alcohol afterwards. Dries beautifully, keeping its scent and colour. |
| [Monstera leaf](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/monstera/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | mildly toxic | Wipe the leaves clean; a single leaf lasts weeks in water. The sap can irritate skin. |
| [Asparagus fern](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/asparagus/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | mildly toxic | Sheds its fine needles when old or dry: mist it and keep it away from heat. Mind the small thorns on the stems. |
| [Palm leaves](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/palm/) | 14–21 days | Year-round | — | Fronds can be trimmed into shapes with scissors. Tips brown in dry air; dried and bleached palm is also widely used. |
| [Ivy](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/ivy/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | mildly toxic | Condition by submerging whole trails in water for half an hour. Holds up well out of water, which makes it useful for wired and trailing work. |
| [Fatsia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/fatsia/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | — | Large glossy leaves for collars and for covering mechanics. Wipe them clean before use. |
| [Dusty miller](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/dustymiller/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | — | Wilts easily: dip the cut ends in hot water or sear them, then hydrate overnight before using. Keep the felted leaves dry. |
| [Salal](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/salal/) | 14–21 days | Year-round | — | Sold as "lemon leaf". Sturdy and long-lasting; wipe the leaves for a clean shine. |
| [Leatherleaf fern](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/leatherleaf/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | — | The classic base foliage for foam work. Mist it — the fronds crisp in hot, dry rooms. |
| [Aspidistra](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/aspidistra/) | 14–21 days | Year-round | — | The staple leaf for manipulation: it can be folded, looped, rolled or split, and lasts for weeks. |
| [Pittosporum](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/pittosporum/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | — | Woody stems: strip the lower leaves and recut. Variegated forms brighten dark designs. |
| [Myrtle](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/myrtle/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | — | Aromatic, woody and long-lasting: split the stem ends and strip the lower leaves. |

## Branches

| Flower | Vase life | In season | Fragrance | Pets | Handling |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Plum blossom](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/plum/) | 7–10 days | Winter | Light | — | Cut in tight bud and split or crush the woody ends. Buds open indoors in warmth within days; mist them so they do not dry out. |
| [Cherry blossom](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/cherry/) | 5–7 days | Spring | Light | — | Deliver in bud: once open, the petals fall within days. Split the woody ends and stand in deep water. |
| [Peach blossom](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/peach/) | 5–10 days | Spring | Light | — | Sold in bud for Lunar New Year. Split the stems, and hold in a cool place to slow opening or a warm one to speed it up. |
| [Crabapple blossom](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/crabapple/) | 5–7 days | Spring | Light | — | Cut in bud and split the woody ends; the flowers open in a warm room and last about a week. |
| [Bamboo](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/bamboo/) | 14–30 days | Year-round | None | — | The culms last for weeks, but cut leaves curl within a day or two unless the hollow culm is filled with water; mist often. "Lucky bamboo" sold in shops is a Dracaena, not true bamboo. |
| [Pine](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/pine/) | 14–30 days | Year-round | Light | — | Lasts for weeks with very little water. Resin gums up blades — clean them with alcohol. A New Year staple in both China and Japan. |
| [Maple branches](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/maple/) | 7–14 days | Autumn | None | — | Split the woody ends, condition in deep water and mist the leaves; they crisp quickly in dry, heated rooms. |
| [Magnolia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/magnolia/) | 3–5 days | Spring | Light | — | Cut in furry bud and split the stems. The petals bruise brown at a touch, so place the branch once and leave it. |
| [Wisteria](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/wisteria/) | 2–4 days | Spring | Strong | mildly toxic | Notoriously hard to hydrate. Ikebana practice dips the cut end in alcohol or sears it; even so, use it the same day. |
| [Forsythia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/forsythia/) | 7–10 days | Spring | None | — | The easiest branch to force: cut in bud in late winter, bring into a warm room, and it flowers in one to two weeks. |
| [Willow](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/willow/) | 10–14 days | Spring | None | — | In water it roots and leafs out. For structure that stays as it is, keep the stems dry; curly willow can be bent while fresh. |
| [Pussy willow](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/pussywillow/) | 14–30 days | Winter, Spring | None | — | Keep it dry — no water — and the catkins hold for months. In water they flower, shed pollen and the stems root. |
| [Red-twig dogwood](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/dogwood/) | 14–30 days | Winter | None | — | Bare red winter stems for colour and structure. They last for weeks with or without water and can be bent into shapes while fresh. |
| [Azalea](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/azalea/) | 5–7 days | Spring | None | ⚠ toxic to cats | Split the woody ends and condition in deep water. The flowers bruise easily, so position the branch before the buds open fully. |
| [Spiraea](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/spiraea/) | 5–8 days | Spring | None | — | Supple arching lines, much used in ikebana and Japanese-style bridal work. The tiny petals shower as it ages, so use it for events rather than long-lasting vases. |
| [Osmanthus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/osmanthus/) | 3–5 days | Autumn | Strong | — | Valued for scent rather than show — one sprig perfumes a room. The florets drop within days; mist to slow it. |
| [Holly](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/holly/) | 14–30 days | Winter | None | mildly toxic | Berries drop in warm rooms: keep cool and mist. The berries are toxic if eaten and the leaves are spiny — wear gloves. |
| [Lilac](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lilac/) | 3–5 days | Spring | Strong | — | Strip nearly all the leaves — they take the water first — split the woody ends and condition in deep warm water overnight. |
| [Viburnum (snowball)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/viburnum/) | 5–7 days | Spring | None | — | Strip the leaves and split the stems. Heads start lime green and turn white; a wilted head revives when submerged in cool water. |

## Texture and accents

| Flower | Vase life | In season | Handling |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Winterberry](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/redbean/) | 14–30 days | Autumn, Winter | Sold as bare branches covered in berries. Recut and stand in a little water, or use dry: the berries hold for weeks either way. Keep cool, because warmth makes them shrivel and drop. Handle gently, since knocked berries fall off, and remind clients that the berries are not edible. |
| [Lotus pod](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lotuspod/) | 14–30 days | Summer, Autumn | Fresh green pods brown within days. Most are used dried, and then last for years. |
| [Cotton stems](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/cotton/) | 14–30 days | Autumn | A dried material: keep it out of water, because wet bolls go mouldy. |
| [Wheat ears](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/wheat/) | 14–30 days | Summer | A dried material: keep it dry and away from damp foam. |
| [Leucadendron](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/leucadendron/) | 14–21 days | Year-round | The colour comes from bracts, not petals. Woody, undemanding, lasts for weeks and dries in place. |
| [Banksia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/banksia/) | 14–21 days | Year-round | Cut the woody stems with secateurs. It drinks heavily at first, then dries in the vase while keeping its form. |
| [Hypericum berries](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/hypericum/) | 10–14 days | Year-round | Used for its berries, not its flowers. The leaves blacken first — strip them — and the berries then last well. |

## Working with branches

- Split the base 2–3 cm in a cross, or crush it lightly, so the wood can take up water; then stand in deep water.

- To force blossom, cut in tight bud and bring into a warm room; mist the buds so they do not dry before opening.

- Blossom drops fast once open — deliver in bud for anything that needs to last.

- Lunar New Year branches — [Pussy willow](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/pussywillow/), [Peach blossom](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/peach/), [Bamboo](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/bamboo/) — typically cost 1.5–3× normal beforehand: [Chinese New Year](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/holidays/chinese-new-year/)

[Cut flower care and conditioning guide](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/cut-flower-care/) · [Floral design styles compared](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/floral-design-styles/) · [Flowers that dry well](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flowers-for-drying/)

## FAQ

### What foliage do florists use most?

Year-round staples in our guide: eucalyptus, monstera leaf, asparagus fern, palm leaves, ivy, fatsia, dusty miller, salal, leatherleaf fern, aspidistra, pittosporum, myrtle.

### Which branches can be forced into bloom indoors?

plum blossom, cherry blossom, peach blossom, crabapple blossom, magnolia, wisteria: cut in bud, split the woody ends, and bring into warmth.

### Does an arrangement need foliage?

Usually. Foliage frames the flowers, hides the mechanics and defines the outline. Floreboard suggests adding some when a design of ten or more stems has none.

### Which foliage and branches are toxic to pets?

Flagged in our knowledge base: eucalyptus, monstera leaf, winterberry, wisteria, azalea, asparagus fern, ivy, holly, hypericum berries.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-06. Reference values from common trade practice. Real results vary with variety, origin and conditioning. [About our data](https://floreboard.com/en/about/)