Moribana Flower Arrangement

A moribana flower arrangement can stand out in many ways, depending on which area you would like to focus on.

Below are specific 'themes' in which each arrangement focuses on something like similar shapes, surfaces of leaves and even branches.

Look at the pictures carefully and understand the concept of each arrangement.

This moribana flower arrangement emphasizes on two points. The 'mass' feature as well as beautiful lines in the arrangement.

Since both features have strong qualities, we must cleverly arrange this type of arrangement, so that each feature is apparent in the arrangement. To do that, is to have each feature contrasting to each other.

The mass feature is created by gathering flowers in a group to make an impact. In this arrangement, I used molucella and red carnations.Cut shortly and arranged compactly in a low glass container.

To create lines in the arrangement, molucella could be used, because it is line flower.

But here, the lines in the above arrangement is not clear and sharp enough. So, I substituted it with cypress sticks.

I made some designs out of the cypress sticks but still showing the line feature. It is also a good point not to combine straight and curved lines in an arrangement, because the lines will not be clearly defined.

For making this moribana flower arrangement, we normally would choose leaves that naturally have the 'surface' element. To emphasize on the surfaces of leaves, you need not arrange everything to be facing front.

You can make the arrangement interesting by putting some facing forward, some formed into a shape as you like.

But bare in mind, that we want to emphasize on the surfaces of the leaves. In this arrangement, I used aloe vera, philodendron and draceana leaves.

All three types of leaves have different shapes and texture. The aloe vera is long and hard. The draceana is also long but foldable. The philodendron is best used as it is.

The container used is an oval shaped ceramic container.

To bring up the color of the arrangement, I chose red anthuriums.

To create an arrangement like this, which is to put emphasis on the surfaces of leaves, you can choose any type of foliage.

Preferably, leaves that stand out, like big leaves or leaves with special features.The flowers should not overwhelm the leaves.

To emphasize on the technique of intertwining plant materials, we need materials that can be manipulated to intertwine with each other. Line materials that are soft or maybe vine materials.

In this example, I used purple, green and white dendrobium orchids together with draceana leaves.

The container was an oval shaped container, and is a long rectangular kenzan.

I took two stalks of purple orchids and began intertwining them before I insert both ends into the kenzan.

I did the same with the green and white dendrobium orchids.

Then, I took two pieces of draceana leaves with begin weaving them. I inserted both ends into the kenzan.

In this moribana flower arrangement, you need to include the area where the arrangement is placed as part of your arrangement.

In this example, I am using a low white container with red anthuriums and ammi foliage.

The Ammi is extended out from the container and getting nearer to the surface.

To bring out the color, red anthuriums are also used. They are used similarly, to also consider the place where the arrangement is put.

This is a moribana emphasizing on surfaces made by massing of lines. Massing is a technique to group materials together to form a shape.

In this moribana flower arrangement, the 'surface' element is created by grouping together materials having natural lines.

We try not to choose materials having the 'surface' element, but we try to create the 'surface' by grouping together line materials.

To express this emphasis, I used bulrush. The bulrush are cut in different lengths and arranged compactly together to form volume or mass.

Then, I try not to conceal the 'surface' created by the bulrush, so I inserted yellow gerberas shortly. To bring out the color of the arrangement further, I put some red hypericum berries.

In this moribana flower aarrangement, we are going to emphasize on similar shapes or forms. Any shape of form can be used, as long as it is repeating in the arrangement.

When forming the shape, try to focus on creating space as well. Also, observe each material closely and study how to form a shape out of it.

In this example, I am using croton leaves to form circles. For the flowers, I chose purple dianthus, which complements well with the croton leaves.

To soften down the repeating circles, I added dried salix to the arrangement.

In this moribana flower arrangement, we are going to make use branches as the flower materials.

Choose the branch which interests you most, preferably those that show good lines.

Since other kinds of branches will need to be included as well, it is better that they have different charcteristics than one another.

This way, each branch will stand out as individual in the arrangement but at the same time, the arrangement looks harmonized.

In the example below, I have used Pussy Willow, Fruit Casa and hypericum berries.

The Pussy Willow can be manipulated to the get the curve that we want. The fruit casa's branch is straight, which makes a god compliment to the Pussy Willow.

Then, to bring out the color of the arrangement, I've added red hypericum branch with red berries.

See more moribana and nageire variations in these pages...

• Moribana arrangements

• Nageire flower arrangements

• Nageire arrangements