Greenery covers leaves, branches and fronds: eucalyptus, ruscus, olive, pittosporum, ferns, ivy, smilax, flowering branches. It gives arrangements their shape, fills gaps, ties colours together and often costs less than flowers for the same volume.
Many styles rest on greenery: Mediterranean with olive and citrus, garden style with soft foliage, garlands along a long banquet table. It is also a way to keep the budget in check without it showing. The guide to greenery in floral design covers species, seasons and lifespan; the one on colour palettes shows how green shifts the tones; the one on Mediterranean style describes a typically Italian use.
What to ask: how much of the design is greenery, which leaves last without water, whether any are strongly scented or stain.
