Buying Silk Flowers

Buying Silk Flowers: Price Versus QualityObviously, there are vast differences in the craftsmanship and price of silk flowers. That old saying is still true — you get what you are willing to pay for.
Although we collectively call them silk flowers, artificial flowers, plants and foliage can incorporate many different materials these days. Silk, polyester, parchment, velvet, latex, special coatings and finishing treatments...there is something to suit everyone's tastes and design ideas. Year round, you'll have lots of choices when buying silk flowers.
In the low price range, a silk stem might have only a single blossom and nothing more. Another could have several blossoms with a few leaves attached. Stems are made of molded plastic. There are few or no wire inserts in stems, branches, petals and leaves to aid in shaping.
Overall height could be from 8 to 12 inches. Retail price per stem might be from 69 cents to a few dollars, depending on the construction involved for the type of flower.
Artificial flowers in this price range are generally found in variety stores or department stores. They are acceptable in many arrangements, but be warned that lower priced silks are limited in realism and 'workability.'
For a higher price you can get more realistic reproductions. These higher-end silk flowers may have wired petals, leaves and branches. You can bend and shape them to look incredibly lifelike. They can have very long stems, measuring up to 2 feet and more. Petals and details may be hand-painted. The stems may be hand-wrapped with a natural colored floral tape. Retail price per stem can range from $4 to $10 or more. Again, this depends on the construction involved for the type of flower.
You can find these quality silk flowers in flower shops and the better floral craft stores
It's nice to have choices, and in the last five years artificial flowers have been pushed to even higher levels of realism. The cream of the crop even goes by a special designation — 'botanically correct.' Careful attention is given to every shape and detail. Blossoms may be coated in, or molded of, latex to give them a 'real feel' and finish. Fuzz may be embedded right into stems and leaves. Although latex elements may not be wired for extra shaping, that is probably not necessary at this level. When buying silk flowers of this highest quality, you get a true and faithful reproduction of the real thing. Astounding!
These top-level artificial florals may be found at the consumer level, but are more readily accessible to floral trade professionals.