The Best Bouquets

For a Cylindrical Vase

Ideal flower match: Hydrangeas (shown) and other flowering branches, peonies, sunflowers, or any bloom with a large head and a bulky stem.
 
 Why the pairing works: The height and the narrow shape of a cylinder can “make an abundant bouquet of shrublike flowers look more controlled,” says Prosser. Hefty hydrangeas work best in a thick glass or ceramic container.
 
 How to arrange: For a lush, organic feel, cut the stems to different lengths, leaving them all four to six inches taller than the vase. Hydrangeas wilt quickly, so to help the woody stems draw in water, cut them at an angle, then hit the bottoms lightly with a hammer to splay the ends. Loosely place the flowers, putting some on one side, rotating the container, then adding more to the other side.