Wheat
Wheat is the golden cereal grass whose slender bearded heads have symbolised harvest and abundance for millennia. Cut and dried to a warm honey-gold, the upright stems bring line, movement and a rustic, agricultural charm to autumn work. Florists use it in sheaf bouquets, boutonnieres, garlands and tall dried installations, where its fine awns catch the light beautifully. Cheap, long-lasting and endlessly versatile, wheat is a cornerstone of country and harvest-themed floristry.
| Family | Poaceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | Fertile Crescent, Western Asia |
| Peak season | July, August |
| Availability | January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December |
| Stem length | 50–90 cm |
| Vase life | 14–90 days |
| Colors | yellow, bronze, brown |
| Price tier | budget |
Wheat is nearly always used dried and needs no water, so it works equally well in vases, foam-free installations and buttonholes. If cut green it can take a short cool drink before drying naturally to gold. Store somewhere dry and airy; keep it out of humidity, which can encourage mould on the ripe grain heads.
- •Use dry, with no water needed once cured
- •Give green wheat a brief cool drink before it dries
- •Store in a dry, airy place away from humidity
- •Bundle stems to create classic sheaf shapes
- •Trim awns gently as bearded tips can shatter
