How to Use Fruit in Floral Arrangements

Floral arrangements are classic centerpieces for weddings, baby showers and even simple Sunday night dinners at home. The perfect bouquet can usually pull together any decor scheme or party theme. The best part is that bouquets come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s easy to find an arrangement that best suits the occasion. You can pick florals with rich colors for a moody bouquet or pastel flowers for a soft and delicate look. You can even take it one step further with DIY floral decor like a flower chandelier or a flower wall. However, the customization doesn’t end with the flowers! You can swap out accenting foliage, try different vases and even add fruit!

Did that last one surprise you? Seasonal fruit is a clever way to incorporate seasonal color and add volume to your bouquet. If you’d like to try it, check out our inspirational bouquets and tips below.

Tips for Using Fruit in Floral Arrangements

Using fruit (and vegetables) in bouquets requires some pre-planning and decision-making prior to arranging. Check out some of our Pro Tips for using produce in floral arrangements so you can start off on the right foot!

If you’re using fruit in a handheld bouquet, like a bridal bouquet, make sure you secure the fruit before you begin to walk around with it.
Try to pick fruits that still have a stem so you can use floral wire or floral tape to secure it to the stems in your bouquet.
Larger fruits, like pomegranates, sit better towards the center of your bouquet where they’re less likely to tip over and fall out.
The best way to keep your arrangement together is to keep your bouquet upright!
If you are using fruit in a bridal bouquet, we do not recommend using it for your bouquet toss (unless you have full confidence that someone will catch it and it won’t land on the floor)! Use an alternative toss-bouquet instead to save your beautiful fruit bouquet from any potential damage.
Fruits that grow on vines, like grapes and blackberries, easily add depth to any spot in your arrangement. The vines also make it easier to tie to your bouquet. The abundance of fruit can also add easy height or width to your bouquet depending on your placement.
Keep in mind that fruits produce ethylene gas. This gas speeds up the ripening process for other produce and can accelerate the blooming process for flowers, so take this into account when incorporating fruit into your arrangements and bouquets.

Now that you have a few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you can take a look at different bouquets to get an idea about what you’d like to create!

Floral Fruit Arrangement Inspiration

Photo courtesy of Bowtie & Bell

This autumn-inspired bouquet incorporates warm colors and tiny fruit to create a showstopping arrangement. The orange and red kumquats complement the rich colors of the flowers while adding a cheery feel to the overall display.

Kumquat – These rounded are the perfect choice if you’re looking for smaller fruit accents instead of a large statement piece. The fruit casually hang down and out of the way of their floral neighbors.
Rose – The light pink roses help round out the rich color palette for this bouquet and set the mood for this fall-themed arrangement.
Dahlia – Full-bodied dahlias add texture to this highly contrasting arrangement. These big blooms accompany the roses as beautiful statement flowers.

Photo courtesy of Esther Sun Photography

Brunia berries are an easy way to pull a bouquet together without adding too much texture or weight to your arrangement. This bouquet thoughtfully places the smooth berries amongst the posh flowers and other protruding greenery for a delicate contrast. The light orange roses tie the arrangement together with their beautiful petals and soft color.

Brunia Berries – These decorative berries are popular choices for winter bouquets and arrangements. Silver brunia are especially known for their soft color and effortless beauty.
Anemone – The anemone flowers gently poke out of this bouquet to complement the beautiful roses and protruding foliage. Their distinguishable dark centers and soft petals make these eye-catching flowers popular choices for wedding bouquets.
Rose – These light orange roses add the right touch of elegance to this lush bouquet. The big blooms of the roses protrude in the right spots to contrast the wild greenery in the bouquet.

Photo courtesy of Diana Frohmüller

Small pineapples are a fun and unexpected addition for any bouquet. The textured pineapples, uniquely-shaped celosia and gentle columbine flowers come together to create an innovative arrangement. Additionally, the bright colors and varied textures also make this bouquet the perfect pair for any bride who loves to think outside of the box.

Pineapple – The pink mini pineapples are a rising trend in both fruit-filled bouquets and tropical-themed occasions. The pineapples are genetically modified to allow its pink color to flourish (and yes, it is safe to eat!). The mini varieties are perfect for handheld bouquets like this one.
Carnation – These beautiful flowers that are easily incorporated into any bouquet. Carnations come in many colors and add a soft look to any bridal arrangement. The peach carnations’ soft petals and light color help round out the bold flowers and greenery.
Celosia – These interesting florals are the ideal choice for adding eye-catching texture and for filling out a bouquet. These flowers come in a variety of fiery colors and vary in look. The celosia cristata in this bouquet is said to resemble the head of a rooster.

Photo courtesy of Emily Delameter Photography

Although not technically a fruit, flowering kale is a popular choice for its flower-like appearance. This kale cousin not only jam packs nutrients into any meal, but also adds volume and class to any arrangement or bouquet. This bouquet incorporates many unique elements for a distinct look.

Flowering kale – This plant is also known as ornamental kale and is a cousin to the kale you usually find at your local grocery store. Flowering kale is also edible, but not as tasty as regular kale. These flowers are popular for their beautiful petal-looking leaves.
Blue thistle – These spiky flowers are for the bride or host that craves a more unique look for their bouquet. Wild blooms like these create a shabby chic look in contrast to softer flowers.
Freesia – The subtle freesia blooms help brighten up this moody bouquet. Their soft petals help balance the spiky blue thistle and also peek out in just the right spots.

Berries, succulents and voluminous blooms create a gorgeous arrangement with subtle touches of color. The tiny berries contrast the big florals and vibrant greenery in the bouquet to give a balanced and graceful look.

Blueberry – Tiny blueberries add a whimsical touch to any floral bouquet. Keep these berries on the branch to easily place in any part of the arrangement.
Succulent – Light-colored succulents are another unique greenery choice that instantly elevates your bouquets look and adds unique texture to the overall arrangement.
Dahlia – The single white dahlia in this bouquet catches the eye and delicately contrasts the overall blue color palette in this arrangement. This white flower draws the eye and creates a beautiful center point for this bouquet.

Fruit and flowers also add a warm and elegant aspect to any gift. In addition to the examples here, you can also take ideas from old still life paintings that feature fruit and floral centerpieces. You can easily turn a regular bouquet at your dinner table into a living work of art with the right ingredients! Take your newfound fruit and floral inspiration to the next level by gifting perfectly paired berries and flowers to the favorite people in your life!