The ‘3-5-8 Rule’ Is Every Florist’s Secret to Creating Stunning Flower Arrangements

If you’ve ever watched a pro or a very talented friend make a bouquet in a flash, you know how easy it looks. But, you probably also know how difficult it can be to actually replicate that look if you haven’t done it a lot or don’t quite have the knack. Where do you cut them? How many stems is too many stems? How much greenery do you need? Those of us who are less adept need some guidance and maybe a formula to help us create something worthy of putting out on the dinner table. Enter: 3-5-8, the golden rule for flower arranging.

The “3-5-8” Rule

The rule says you need three focal flowers, five textural flowers, and eight filler flowers to make a standard, mid-sized bouquet work. These kinds of bouquets, with 14 stems, are the perfect size for table arrangements in your kitchen or on a side table. “The effect is that it helps DIY florists achieve a balanced look in their arrangements,” he says. “It’s the perfect sort of rule to apply when you’re shopping for stems a la carte, like at a grocery store or corner market. It can help guide your choices to create a harmonious composition when you’re overwhelmed by choices.”

Which Flowers to Use

Now, you’re probably wondering what exactly each of those three types: focal, textural, and filler, entail. Here’s a short list.

Focal Flowers

The showstoppers! These are the stems that will really draw your eyes in. Since they make a big splash, you’ll only include a few. Examples include:

• Roses
• Sunflowers
• Carnations
• Gerber Daisies

Textural Flowers

This group provides the structure and balance needed to give the bouquet some oomph.

Filler Flowers

This is pretty self-explanatory, but these are the tall stems that fill out the rest of your vase.

• Baby’s breath
• Waxflower
• Cushion Poms
• Queen Anne’s Lace

Making a Bouquet Using the “3-5-8” Rule

Justin Lievano gave us the step-by-step instructions to create a beautiful bouquet using our new favorite rule.

1. Begin with 2-3 stems of texture and filler flowers. “If you want to feel like an expert, begin by crossing them in your hands at a 45 degree angle (or thereabouts; try not to be hard on yourself),” he says.
2. Add 1 stem at a time, at the same angle, rotating between focal stems, texture stems, and filler stems
3. After adding each stem, turn the bouquet about a quarter turn in your hand to ensure even placement of all your stems
4. Trim your stems all at once and place the bouquet into the vase. Tip: When you’re ready to cut your stems, move your vase to the edge of the table. Hold your bouquet next to it, and measure where you’d like the stems to sit in relation to the top of the vase (bottom blooms 1-2 inches above the lip of the vase typically works well). Then trim your stems in line with the bottom of the vase. Drop them in and adjust as needed.