11 Greenery for Summer Wedding Bouquets

I was asked about the types of greenery I use for my bouquets, so I would like to share the 11 types of greenery I prefer for summer wedding bouquets.

While there are many beautiful, light variegated leaves available in summer, such as Japanese Dappled Willow or Mountain Mint, I tend to stick with those that hold up better without water, especially for wedding bouquets.

1. Sweetspire – I really love these light green leaves with small white flowers. After I saw these greens, I decided to have them in my yard and purchased the plant from Home Depot. If you can harvest them when the little flowers start blooming, you can keep them in a cooler for a few weeks!

2. Blueberry Branch – I use blueberry branches the most for both my bouquets and centerpieces. I have both highbush and lowbush blueberries on my property, and they are so pretty, especially when they have tiny flowers or berries. Also, the color of the leaves is slightly different depending on the variety (some are more grayish and some are more dark green).

3. Elaeagnus Umbellata (Silverberry) – I use this quite a bit as I love the silver color (the backside of the leaves), and they are available from our local grower. When I make a slightly more rustic style bouquet, this green works well!

4. Italian Ruscus – Short-stem Italian Ruscus is available from our wholesalers, and I use it more for white weddings as I love the contrast of the deep green color against white.

5. Pittosporum – I like the variety ‘Nigra’ which has small and variegated leaves. They look light and hold up well.

6. Privet – I might not use this often, but it is pretty when it has small berries on the branch.

7. Lamb’s Ear – I love this silvery color and fuzzy texture. If you have a garden, this is a great perennial to plant. You can grow long stems for your bouquets and centerpieces!

8. Jasmine Vine – Using vines helps to create a natural shape and I like using jasmine vines that are available from wholesalers or plants. I also love smilax vines or passionfruit vines.

9. Eucalyptus – They might be too common, but there are fresh, beautiful eucalyptus available from local growers. The gray-green colors are so pretty with any flowers. However, I avoid using stems that have new soft leaves as they don’t hold up well.

10. Sword Fern – Sword Ferns are hardy and fun to use if you want to create a more organic and rustic look in your bouquets. Using ferns can make the bouquet feel cooler, especially if the wedding is during a hot season.

11. Mountain Laurel – Mountain Laurel is a native tree in Connecticut, so there are many growing here, but it might not be an option for everyone. After the new leaves harden in June, they can be used in any wedding work as they hold up really well out of water. I use Mountain Laurel all the time, including for arches and garlands.

As I live in a woodland, there are different types of wild bushes, trees, and plants, and I like to use the seasonal greeney to make arrangement more natural. So that some of greenery might not be available in your area or your wholesales, but these are my favorite greenery that I feel comfortable using for summer wedding bouquets!