Silk Artificial Blog

photo of Mark Dunkley

The Tulip is a perennial, bulbous plant noted for its rather showy flowers. There are 109 species of tulips that range in their native habitat from Southern Europe to Israel, North Africa and Iran and going east to the northwestern areas of China. 

Tulips can best be described as bulbous flowers with broad, oval leaves that caress the center bulb when in bloom. While a few tulip plants have multiple flowers, most only have one that blooms in the spring. Along with roses and hydrangeas, tulips are considered one of the most romantic flowers. 

Of the 109 varieties of the tulip, they are generally divided into 15 separate divisions including the Single Early, Double Early, Triumph, Darwin Hybrid, Fringed, and Lily-Flowered just to name a few. 

While many people associate tulips with the Netherlands, the origin of the name actually comes from the Ottoman Empire where they were cultivated. The name itself in Persian means “Beloved” which also describes how the flower was used in giving a red tulip that declared love for another.  In fact, Iran uses the tulip as a popular symbol on their currency

Tulips are highly popular in flower arrangements thanks to their wide variety of colors and large, beautiful bulbs. The meaning and purpose of tulips are centered on their colors. Purple tulips are a sign of royalty or nobility. While red tulips symbolize love, white tulips are used to express forgiveness, respect and remembrance. 

Quite often white tulips are used for more solemn occasions, although a garden of white tulips is a symbol for heaven on earth. Blue tulips are a sign of peace and tranquility, a gift of blue tulips displays the trust you have in another. Yellow generally represents friendship, orange is used for times of happiness and pink demonstrates care and attachment, a state of perfect happiness. 

The tulip is one of the most popular flowers featuring a wide variety of colors and shapes which have made them loved the world over. 

 

 

Peonies have a rich ancient history in Asia

 Peony is a flower of the plant known by the same name. The genus Peony is also spelled as Paeonia and Paeony and belongs to the family of Paeoniaceae and order Saxifragales. Peony or peonies is a flower found in abundance across Asia, especial East Asian countries like Japan and in various provinces of China, Taiwan and South East Asia. In Europe, peonies are commonly found in the south while some western states in North America are known for abundant natural growth of peonies. The peony plant is typically herbaceous and perennial. 

Peony is known by several other names. The list of names typically covers the flower peony and how they are known in different countries and cultures. There are also different names for the various species of the peony flower. Some other names of peony are Bai Shao, Chi Shao, Moutan, Mu Dan Pi, Piney, Pivoine, Shakuyaku, Shao Yao, Ud Saleeb, Udsalam and Udsalap among numerous others.

The flower of the peony plant has been regarded as the ‘King of Flowers’, ‘Prime Minister of Flowers’ and have symbolical and cultural significances. In China and Japan, peony is a very popular flower and that has been characterized by its featuring in art, sculptures and various traditional and contemporary uses by the people. Peony is the official state flower of Indiana and it has also found a place in the national emblems of China. 

Silk Artificial sells realistic looking peonies

Peony is a bright and vibrant flower which is larger than many other popular flowers used today. Although it is categorized as red, white and yellow by most botanists and florists, peonies are found in pink shades and the hues are often various blends of red and white with unique saturations of either. 

Peonies also find a reference in Greek Mythology wherefrom the word peony is believed to have been derived. Paeon was a student of the Greek god of medicine and healing Asclepius and when the god became angry of Paeon and wanted to destroy him, Zeus had turned him into the flower which has come to be known as Peony. 

This beautiful flower is also  is used for a variety of different purposes. Due to its charming appearance and wholesome blossom, it is used at weddings and many events. Artificial peonies have also become very popular today at almost all kinds of events and gatherings.

Both have types have their advantages and disadvantages

There is a time and place for real flowers, just like there is a time and place for artificial ones. Real flowers are very sensitive to their environment, especially sunlight - which makes it tough in small apartments and offices. No artificial flower will match the aroma of their real life counterparts, but they make up for it in lifespan and durability. 

Non-allergenic
No pollen, no problem. Jasmine and sunflowers are some of the notable flowers that elicit allergic reactions from the general population. If you're purchasing flowers for high foot place traffic like restaurants or offices you'll have to think twice about real flowers. 

Last years, not days
While they might smell nicer in the short term than their artificial cousins they will certainly outlast them. Artificial flowers that are dusted every few weeks and kept out of direct sunlight will last almost a full decade. 

Can you really tell?
We are not saying to surprise your partner with a fistful of our artificial calla lilies for her birthday. However, it's impossible to tell if a flower is real or fake from a distance. You can also disguise your artificial flowers in a vaseful of water. 

Wilt and weep free!
Most real flowers do not do well in direct sunlight and some even wilt within the first hours. Other flowers like daises are more resilient and can last several weeks with water. 

Low maintenance
With artificial flowers you don't have to worry about repotting or forgetting to water them. Since they don't need direct sunlight you can use show them off in a dark room (apartments) with no side effects.