The history of the boutonniere

Men used to wear boutonniers far more commonly. In the late 18th century fashionable chaps in England – known as macaronis because of the pasta they ate on their European Grand Tours – were known to wear entire bouquets in miniature as their boutonniere. Less flashy gentlemen often wore sprays of flowers in their buttonhole as the frock coat emerged as general wear, its turned-down collar forming a lapel with an exposed buttonhole, and as bright costumes became more sober, the buttonhole flower became fashionable as a splash of colour on a plain jacket.

By the late 19th century a boutonniere was the mark of a careful dresser, worn by politicians and professionals as well as dandies. After the First World War, poppies emerged as a symbol of remembrance, and are still worn around Remembrance Day, but otherwise floral adornment was rarely seen in the early 20th century. The fortunes of boutonniers revived a little in the 1950s, when film stars, such as Cary Grant, sported one. More recently, Agatha Christie’s dapper detective Hercule Poirot, as portrayed by David Suchet on TV, was frequently seen with a flower on his lapel, often placed in a miniature vase for added elegance.

How to make a boutonniere

If you want your buttonhole flowers to stay perky throughout the day you will need to wire your flowers to prevent the heads drooping or snapping. To do this you’ll need to thread wire through the flower’s calyx, make a loop and pull the wire back so the head is secure.

For best results for your boutonniere leave the cut stems in water overnight then group your mix of flowers and foliage together. Bind your mix together with stem tape – wired flowers are easy to use as they can be moved into any position. Whether you leave the stems bare or cover with tape is down to personal preference, but florist’s tape can help prevent flowers and foliage from drying out too fast. Florist’s wire, stem tape, sturdy pins and decorative extras, such as ribbon and raffia, can be bought from many online suppliers, such as britanniadirect.org.uk or michaeldark.co.uk

The best buttonhole flowers

From left to right

The Viburnum carlesii, Clematis montana buds, Euonymus fortunei and rosemary in this combination are as lovely for their scent as their form. Split the viburnum flower head into small sections and put in water overnight. Combine with buds and leaves before taping together into your boutonniere arrangement.

(Lower row) Hellebores are like little botanical treasures and last for days. Here I’ve mixed them with Akebia quinata and Euonymus fortunei foliage. Steep all the elements in water overnight before binding together.

(Higher row) The small succulent Sempervivum tectorum mixes well with these Mahonia japonica berries, and both will last for days without drooping. The hyacinth pips are also long lasting but will need wiring.

Forget-me-not is always a great companion for tulips, as is this Spiraea japonica ‘Goldflame’ foliage. Secondary tulip flowers, such as this Tulipa ‘Prinses Irene’, are a perfect size for boutonnieres. Freshly picked tulips sometimes open and close with sunlight during the day, adding an element of unexpected movement to your lapel.

(Lower row) Argyranthemum frutescens, Centaurea montana and Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae combine well. Strip euphorbia flowers from the stem (beware the sap can be a skin irritant) and leave in water overnight for the perfect boutonniere.

The russet leaves of Spiraea japonica ‘Goldflame’ along with the delicate pink flowers of Akebia quinata work well with heavy-headed, round flowers, such as this richly coloured Ranunculus, which if left in water overnight before wiring the heads, will last for several days.

Here a lovely yellow Ranunculus ‘Picotee’ is combined with Salix caprea and Salix purpurea ‘Nancy Saunders’ to great effect. It’s worth bearing in mind that all willows last well while at the catkin stage, however, the thin wiry stems of ‘Nancy Saunders’ are especially suited to a boutonniere.

(Left) Anemones make fabulous buttonholes and here the Anemone coronaria combines beautifully with the pretty speckled Hellebore. Larger flowers need wiring, so they don’t droop, as will the Astrantia major and Libertia chilensis buds if they’re to stay perky.

(Right) Bluebells make lovely buttonholes but very quickly droop. This Scilla seedling is a great alternative and works well with the blues of Scabiosa caucasica and Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’, counterbalanced by the pinkish foliage of Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’ and the green of the rosemary. Sear the Scilla stems in just-boiled water for 20 seconds then leave in cold water for an hour before using.

Most clematis last well if left in water overnight, but try to avoid using the youngest foliage as it tends to wilt. This Clematis montana works well with the colours of the Aquilegia seedling, Hellebore and Spiraea japonica ‘Anthony Waterer’ foliage. To make sure they last, it’s worth searing the stems of aquilegias briefly in just-boiled water.