According to experts, there are some 270,000 species of flower around the world. Of course, this doesn’t include those which have now become extinct. Although scientists continue to study flowers and their origins, they’re still unable to answer why there is such a diverse range and whether there has been much in the way of evolution over the years.
What we do know though, is flowers – or their early ancestors at least – have been around for a very long time. In fact, plants resembling fossilised magnolias have been discovered that backdate some 93 million years. Even more recently, herb-like fossils have been uncovered, believed to be at least 120 million years old.
However, we do know some of the floral timeline – especially when it comes to our own ancestors. In this section you’ll discover a little more of the history and traditions of floristry, from ancient civilisations through to modern day.
Ancient Egypt (2800 BC to 28 B.C.)
In Ancient Egypt, flowers had a very traditional feel. They were often used for events, temple offerings and decoration. Some of the popular flowers used in this time include narcissus, jasmine, poppies, roses and water lilies. Of course, the ancient Egyptians are famed for their design work and floral displays were no different. Typical styles were often simple, with pattern repetition used. It was also commonplace to make use of foliage and fruit to liven up a floral display.
Ancient Greece (600-150 B.C.)
During the Greek period of more than 2,000 years ago, floristry often took the form of decoration. This could be for homes, wreaths or even clothes. Herbs were often included to improve the display. In terms of floristry formations, the Greeks opted for triangular designs and were keen to ensure symmetry amongst their arrangements. It was also common for a floral display to only have one or very few colours. White in particular, as a symbol of purity, was very popular. Flowers of the time include roses, hyacinths, lilies and violets.