Lavender Roses Arrangement

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I have always been drawn to the softer more muted shades of winter. This is why I just had to share my recipe for this incredible arrangement stuffed with lavender roses and washed-out grey-blue acacia foliage.

Image of a floral arrangement with Lavender "Cafe Latte" Roses, Privet Berries, Purple Acacia Foliage and Curly Willow

What makes this arrangement stand out is its delicate color palette.

Starting with dark indigo privet berries - followed up with expressive grey-blue Acacia baileyena ‘Purpurea’ - punctuated with pale lavender roses 'Cafe Latte' - this floral arrangement is topped off with golden curly willow tips.

Close up image of Lavender Roses "Cafe Latte" Garden Roses

The joy of it all is that you can make this beautiful display yourself. Yes, flower lovers  - this is a DIY flower arrangement. 

Remember, wherever you can find flowers you can find ways to be creative. You can create this dreamy winter floral arrangement from the comfort of your home, office, workshop, bathroom, trailer, dressing room, or go-cart.

Heck, I’d make this arrangement from the drive-through window of a fast-food restaurant if they’d let me.

Lavender Roses Arrangement Ingredients

  • 6 large stems Privet Berry Stems, Ligustrum vulgare 

  • 3 large stems Purple Fernleaf Acacia Stems, Acacia baileyena ‘Purpurea’

  • 8 stems Lavender Roses, “Cafe Latte” 

  • 9 stems Curly Willow tips, Salix matsudana

Supplies

Flower Preparation

It is always a good idea to condition and prepare your flowers prior to designing an arrangement or bouquet. Conditioning your fresh flowers encourages proper hydration.

  • Trim the large woody stems of the Privet, Acacia and Curly Willow at a 45-degree angle and place them in deep room temperature water to hydrate.

  • Remove all of the foliage and thorns from the roses. Trim the ends at a 45-degree angle. Place in deep warm water to hydrate.

Swaps and substitutions:

If you are unable to buy the recommended flowers: FOCUS ON COLOR, and if you can't find a similar color. THEN FOCUS ON TEXTURE. Below are a few suggestions for you to consider if you need to exchange or swap out any of the original materials.

  • Privet Berries:

    • Bush Ivy Berries

    • Black Pussy Willow, Salix gracilistyla

    • Black Ligustrum Berries

  • Purple Fernleaf Acacia:

    • True Blue Eucalyptus

    • Silver Dollar Eucalyptus

  • Lavender Roses "Cafe Latte":

    • "Amnesia" Roses

    • "Early Grey" Roses

    • "Koko Loko" Roses

  • Curly Willow:

    • Winter Magnolia Branches

    • "Corkscrew" Witch Hazel Branches

How to Make an arrangement with Lavander Roses

Step 1 - Prepare the Vase

  • In a footed bowl add a nest of chicken wire. Secure the chicken wire into the vase with a length of waterproof floral tape. Add cold water. 

Step 2 - Add the Privet Berries

a bowl of dark blue privet berries.

  • Divide and separate the tips of privet berries from 2 large branches to create 8 short stems.

  • Starting low add EIGHT short stems of Privet Berries. 

Step 3 - Increase the Height

Picture of Dark Blue Privet Berries, thoughtfully arranged in a cement urn vase

  • Leaving the center clear - use FOUR taller stems of privet berry to increase the height on the left and right sides of the vase. 

Step 4 - Add the Acacia, Acacia baileyena ‘Purpurea’

Cement Urn Vase of Dark Blue Privet Berries and Acacia baileyena ‘Purpurea’

Step 5 - Add the Lavender Roses

A photo of an flower arrangement with blue privet berries and Lavender Roses

  • Working from the center to the outer left side of your vase to add FOUR Cafe Latte stems (2 in the front; 2 in the back). 

Step 6 - Add more Lavender Roses

Lavender Roses "cafe latte" in an arrangement of privet berries and acacia.

  • Add height and a bit of much-needed DRAMA by adding an additional THREE lavender roses. Restrict the lavender garden roses to the center and left of the arrangement. 

Pro Tip: You may feel the impulse to mirror the placement of the roses so it looks evenly dispersed throughout. Ignore that voice! Tell it, “NO.” Asymmetry is your friend.

Step 7 - Add Curly Willow

Lavender Roses with Curly willow, Blue Privet Berries and Acacia foliage.

  • Start low and work your up the arrangement like a pole dancer - adding  SEVEN expressive stems of curly willow.  

Step 8 - Final Touches

an arrangement with lavender roses, privet berries, acacia and curly willow in a cement urn. Designed by Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht

Use two additional stems of curly willow to accentuate and punctuate the shape -  creating depth. 

ANNNNNND you're done!!

Enjoy this beautiful lavender roses arrangement. Keep this beauty nearby. Cause people WILL try to steal it. Honestly, can you blame them? 

tips & tricks: 

A) when working with branches - get more out of your product by cutting the tips off of larger stems. 

B) Reflex (AKA turn inside out)  the outer petals of the roses to give them an ethereal otherworldly aesthetic. 

C) Garden Roses can be expensive. A less costly alternative to the bougie Cafe Latte Rose is the standard rose, “Amnesia.” It will give you that same dusty lavender look for half the price and a third of the attitude.