A great bouquet is only ever as good as its filler flowers.
Think of them as the backbone of your design, providing the structural architecture for the display by adding all the volume, height and texture needed to really make your hero blooms shine. Without them, a bouquet will feel either too sparse or too overwhelming, and risks being seen as simply ‘a bunch of flowers’. They are also excellent for hiding any internal details you might want to keep secret – whether that be chicken wire, mesh or simply ugly stems. Here, we explain the best filler flowers for bouquets, what they symbolise and how to use them.
Spray Roses
While standard roses feature a singular flower on one stem, spray roses are different in that they feature multiple smaller flowers from one stem. They are popular as filler flowers because they have the same bold impact but on a smaller scale, while also adding instant volume to a bouquet with just a few stems. They have the same association with romance as standard roses, and also come in the same shades of red, pink, white, peach and yellow.
Santini Chrysanthemums
Also known as spray chrysanthemums or button mums, these sweet flowers are miniature multi-headed versions of the better known chrysanthemum. They are available in an array of colours, including white, yellow, pink, red, purple, and are particularly celebrated for their long life span, making them a great addition to any bouquet. Another bonus is that they don’t have a strong scent, which might appeal to some more sensitive noses.
Baby’s Breath
Baby’s breath, or gypsophilia, is a popular choice in wedding bouquets, not only because it comes in white or pink, but because it is seen to represent everlasting love and innocence. Made up of multiple tiny star-shaped blooms, they have a light, airy, almost cloud-like texture, and instantly add a little whimsy to any arrangement. The name ‘baby’s breath’ comes from their scent, which is sweet yet faintly sour.
Hypericum Berries
A popular stem in any florist’s tool kit, hypericum berries, or St John’s Wort berries, add a colourful burst to any bouquet. Available in cream, green, pink, red or even black, they look great in rustic wildflower arrangements, particularly those that reflect their vibrant colours, such as sunflowers and ranunculus. That said, some prefer to pair them with more romantic blooms, like roses and peonies, as they provide a contrast to the blousy petals.
Agapanthus
Known as the ‘Lily of the Nile’, these pretty South African blooms feature trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of blue, purple or white which are clustered around one stem in a drumstick-like fashion. They only thrive in the summer months, so you won’t see them paired with winter flowers, but instead with snapdragons, clematis and oriental lilies. They are thought to symbolise love and purity, with the name translating to the ‘flower of love’ (‘agape’ means love in Greek while ‘anthos’ is flower).
Goldenrod
Perfect for adding a burst of sunshine to any arrangement, the appropriately named ‘goldenrod’ is a tall, yellow flower, with multiple small yellow flowers gathered on one stalk. They have traditionally been associated with financial success in particular, as well as good fortune, prosperity, encouragement and resilience. Florists love to pair them with sunflowers, asters and dahlias, and they are usually seen in high summer or early autumn bouquets.
Craspedia
These Australian and New Zealand flowers are often known colloquially as ‘drumstick flowers’, likely because of their unique spherical shape and vibrant yellow pom-pom heads. Their unusual appearance makes them a popular choice for flower arrangements, as they add some much needed contrast. They are thought to represent good health, joy, and wholeness, and are often used dried too.
Lavender
Known for its relaxing scent, lavender is instantly recognisable for its dark purple hue. Considered extremely versatile, lavender is often used in high summer bouquets of wild flowers for a rustic appeal, or with the likes of thistle and eucalyptus for something more earthy and pungent. Due to its scent, it is often associated with serenity, tranquility and stress relief.
Phlox
You’ll likely have seen phlox in the garden, as they are extremely popular as border plants thanks to their multiple star-shaped blooms in vibrant hues of purple, red, pink, blue and white. Their blousy texture makes them a great flower to use to add bulk to a bouquet, especially when paired with other romantic blooms like peonies and roses.
Thistle
Instantly recognisable for their prickly heads and pink or purple flowers, thistles are the national flower of Scotland. Due to their appearance and hardiness, they are often associated with bravery and resilience. They look great in bouquets with roses, hydrangeas, wax flowers and eucalyptus, offering a real textural contrast.
Statice
Also known as sea lavender or marsh rosemary, statice are tall flowers arranged in rosettes, with wiry sprays of tiny flowers and aren’t actually related to either lavender or rosemary. They are usually a blue-purple colour, and look pretty in arrangements with larger more statement-making flowers like roses, sunflowers, and dahlias, as well as similar cloud-like blooms like baby’s breath.
Astilbe
Tall, dense and fluffy textured blooms in bright hues of red, pink, purple and white, it is easy to see why astilbe are such a popular choice as filler flowers. Often called false goat's beard or false spirea, they are thought to represent patience, dedication and enduring love, and were traditionally given as a way of saying ‘I’ll wait for you’ or ‘I’ll always be there for you’.
Wax Flowers
Indigenous to Australia, wax flowers are recognisable for their small, pretty pink and white waxy flowers which feature a darker centre that draws the eye in. They are especially popular in bouquets because they can live for a long time, often lasting for a few weeks once cut, and have a pleasant, citrusy scent. Unsurprisingly, considering their life span, they are thought to symbolise lasting love, endurance and resilience.
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