In need of seasonal inspirational? Here are a few of my favourite winter stems and branches to help spark your curiosity and encourage you to experiment with your arrangements in the colder months

 

My favourite: green foliage

As soon as temperatures drop to single figures, the leaves have fallen, and most wildflowers have hidden themselves away for the winter, I find myself looking to evergreen foliage to become the star of the show in my arrangements. Faux foliage stems are available in a wide range of different shades of green, from muted silver-grey to deep forest. They also offer a variety of textures and shapes that mean foliage stems lend themselves to creating interesting and unique displays.

Our Faux Larix Branches have impressive height, which contrasts with their petite, spiky foliage in soft green and sprinkling of small pine cones. On the other hand, our Faux Pine Branches feature wonderfully chunky stems with long, lush foliage. For a more festive feel, I recommend our Norfolk Pine Branches. These have a slight downwards curve that adds movement and softness to an arrangement, while our Faux Cypress Branches offer a more vivid alternative thanks to their rich green tones.

If you’re finding it tough to choose, you can always mix and match with foliage. Don’t worry about following strict rules, simply let yourself have fun and experiment with different combinations until you land on one you love.

 

My favourite: berry branches

I love a berry branch and including one in your display can be the perfect way to add a pop of colour without making your arrangement appear artificial. They can be an especially effective addition at Christmas, which is when I reach for our Faux Red Ilex Berry Branch to reflect the traditional red and green shades of the festive season. If you prefer to stick to neutrals, our Faux White Berry Branch is an ideal – and more unusual - option and beautifully complements all our foliage options.

 

My favourite: rustic branches

There’s something extra-special about bare branches in the winter months. These architectural pieces perfectly capture the spirit of the season while also providing structure and visual interest. I love displaying three or four branches on their own in our Bardwell Vase, combining them with white berry branches, or using them to provide the perfect finishing touch to a larger arrangement.

 

My favourite: textured stems 

Dried seed heads are one of my favourite things to find in our garden during the winter months – they have a distinctive visual appeal – so why not embrace their structured beauty inside too? Consider our Faux Winter Lace Flower, which is delicate yet extremely textured and resembles frost on a cold, bright morning. I love how these dried flowers look styled en masse in our white glaze Norton Vase.

For effortless elegance, I recommend our Faux Eucalyptus Boule, which has a striking appearance thanks to its dark brown stems and pale blue grey pods. Style these with our White Berry Branch, Faux Winter Branch, and the foliage of your choice to create a show-stopping winter arrangement.