Large rose and hydrangea arrangement in a planter

This very large MURCI arrangement in Chișinău pairs white and pink flowers in a wide, full shape. Made for a VIP-scale presentation, it sits in a natural-coloured woven planter finished with pink ribbons and a MURCI ribbon.

Nine French roses open into broad, soft-pink flowers. Seven stems of garden spray roses carry clusters of smaller pink blooms, while five white hydrangeas form rounded sections throughout the arrangement. Nine stems of white-and-pink eustoma add lightly ruffled petals. The different flower sizes give the eye something to follow across the whole display, from the large roses to the smaller spray blooms.

The planter is part of the arrangement, so there is no need to find a separate vase. Allow plenty of room on a stable surface rather than squeezing it between other objects. Its generous width is best appreciated in a spot where the full arrangement can be seen.

The stems are held in floral foam. Check the foam daily and add water slowly to keep it moist, taking care not to wet the woven exterior. Keep the flowers away from radiators, direct sunlight and warm draughts. Leave the stems in place instead of removing them for trimming.

Hydrangea flower head size varies with the season, so the fullness of the arrangement may differ from the photographs. The hydrangea count remains five stems, and the white-and-pink palette stays unchanged.