Artificial Flowers for Florists: Trade Resource
This page is for florists who work with artificial flowers, whether that is a full permanent-botanicals business, a sideline alongside fresh flowers, or arrangements made to order for homes, offices, memorials and venues. The finder below opens on our single flower stems, with stem length, colour and exact live stock for each line; every stem is sold individually.
- 110 lines
- Exact live stock
- Trade prices when logged in
- £150 ex VAT minimum
- Multibuy: buy 6+ mixed, save 20%
Register online, log in to see trade prices.
The range at a glance
- Flower stems: 110 lines from 30cm to 130cm, most around 75cm. By colour: 26 pink, 19 yellow, 18 white, 16 green (including berry and foliage sprays), 11 purple, 9 red and 5 orange, plus a few others. All are sold individually. See the flower stem finder.
- Foliage stems: 66 single foliage lines, all sold individually, and 103 lines in the wider ferns and foliage collection. Eucalyptus, fern, ficus, palm and zebra foliage are the fillers most florists use. See the foliage stem finder.
- Containers: glass vases, ceramic and metal planters.
- Finished pieces: ready-made arrangements, orchids and wreaths for when you need stock rather than a commission.
Choosing stems
Stem length on our product pages is the overall height of the stem, from cut end to the top of the flower. It is the number to plan with, because it decides the scale of a finished piece. As a rule of thumb, the tallest stems in an arrangement are around one and a half to two times the height of the vase. Check the photographs and description for the number of heads and buds, because that varies widely between lines and decides how many stems a design needs.
Build a palette from a small number of lines in depth rather than many lines in ones and twos. A working core usually includes:
- a focal flower in two or three colours (rose, dahlia, peony-style or chrysanthemum);
- a line flower for height (delphinium, larkspur, blossom spray);
- a filler (gypsophila, such as the 85cm white gypsophila, or berry sprays);
- two or three foliage stems, such as the 100cm eucalyptus.
The finder's colour and height filters make this quick. Filter by colour, then sort by stock to see which lines you can reorder in depth, such as the 80cm white larkspur.
Working with artificial stems
- Cutting: stems have a wire core. Use wire cutters, not florist scissors, and cut at an angle. Many stems can be cut into several shorter pieces at the branch points.
- Shaping: bend petals, leaves and branches by hand after unpacking; stems travel flat and need opening out.
- Fixing: dry floral foam, pebbles or a grid of tape hold stems in position. Artificial "water" resin is an option for clear vases but is permanent.
- Storage: keep stems flat or upright in labelled boxes, out of direct sun and damp.
Memorial and outdoor work
Graveside and memorial arrangements are outdoors for months. Most flower stems are not UV-stabilised and will fade in that position, so say so to customers and suggest replacement at intervals. A small number of lines, such as the 30cm red flower bush, are UV-stabilised, as is much of the green range.
UV-stabilised lines contain UV inhibitors that slow colour fade in bright and outdoor positions. All artificial foliage fades gradually in prolonged direct sun; UV-stabilised stock fades far more slowly than untreated stock. We don't publish a lifespan, so plan to inspect exposed pieces each season and rotate or replace them when the colour drops.
Commercial and venue work
Hotels, restaurants, offices and event venues may ask for fire-retardant materials. Our fire-retardant stems and bushes are foliage (palm, fern, aglaonema, caladium, grass and peacock foliage), all sold individually; there are no fire-retardant flower stems. Details are on the fire-retardant finder.
Our fire-retardant lines are made from fully tested fire-retardant materials. Testing is carried out at material level to EN 13501-1 (reaction to fire, classification B-s2, d0) and NFPA 701, and the same tested material is used across the range's styles. Test reports are available to trade customers on request, and your venue's fire risk assessment decides what is acceptable in a given location. Only lines flagged fire-retardant carry this material. Whatever you specify, keep all planting clear of heaters, candles, cooking equipment and naked flames.
Quantities and reordering
Every stem is sold individually, so order the exact count each design needs; take 6 or more stems, foliage or hanging lines, mixed and matched, and a 20% multibuy applies automatically. The minimum order is £150 ex VAT across any mix of lines, with no per-line minimum. Exact stock is shown on every line; where a line is core to your designs, check it holds enough stock for repeat orders, and have a second-choice line in mind. We do not reserve stock or publish restock dates.
Register online, log in to see trade prices. The minimum order is £150 ex VAT and UK mainland delivery is free on orders of £300 ex VAT or more; full terms are on ordering and delivery. Register online to see trade prices, or email sales@leafdesignwholesale.co.uk to book a visit to our Louth trade showroom (by appointment).
Frequently asked questions
Are artificial flower stems sold individually?
Yes. All 110 single flower stems and all 66 single foliage stems are sold individually, so you order exactly the number of each line you need. Take 6 or more, mixed and matched with other multibuy lines, and 20% comes off automatically. There is no per-line minimum, and the order minimum is £150 ex VAT across any mix of lines, arrangements and containers.
What does the stem length on the product page mean?
It is the overall height of the stem from the cut end to the top of the flower or foliage, in centimetres. Our flower stems run from 30cm to 130cm, most around 75cm. Check the photographs and description for the number of heads or buds, because that varies between lines and affects how many stems a design needs.
How do I cut artificial flower stems?
Use wire cutters rather than florist scissors, because the stems have a wire core. Cut at an angle and, where a stem branches, you can often cut it into several shorter pieces. After unpacking, open out petals and leaves by hand, since stems are packed flat for transport.
Can artificial flowers be used for graves and memorials?
Yes, but most flower stems are not UV-stabilised and will fade outdoors over the months. Tell customers to expect this and suggest replacing arrangements at intervals. A small number of flowering lines and much of the green foliage range are UV-stabilised, which slows fading. We do not publish a lifespan for outdoor use.
Do you have fire-retardant stems for commercial arrangements?
Our fire-retardant stems and bushes are all foliage, including palm, fern, aglaonema, caladium, grass and peacock foliage, all sold individually. There are no fire-retardant flower stems at present. The fire-retardant material is tested to EN 13501-1 (B-s2, d0) and NFPA 701, with reports available to trade customers on request.
