Flower frogs are a blooming brilliant bit of kit. Reusable, durable and eco-friendly, they lend themselves to helping you create fabulous floral arrangements. Read on to find out more…
What are flower frogs?
Flower frogs come in a variety of styles, but the most recognisable is often referred to as a 'kenzan' or a 'pin frog', a metal circle base with metal pins that stick straight up from the base.
The kenzan tool originated from ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging which was established as an independent art form in the 15th century. Translated literally, kenzan means 'sword mountain'; an accurate reflection of the frog’s metallic, spiky appearance.
Set in the bottom of a pot, vase or other container, flower frogs act as a sturdy base for fixing blooms in place. Its design means that all manner of plates and pots, trays and bowls, some which would ordinarily be too shallow for use, are suitable for a floral arrangement. And, the spikes naturally open the stems of the flowers and ensure easy access to water, so they can stay hydrated and healthy for longer. Plus, as opposed to the better-known ‘fake’ florist foam, flower frogs are reusable and relatively easy to clean and repair. Splendidly sustainable!
Frogs vs. foam
If you’re interested in flower arranging, chances are you’ll be familiar with floral foam. Invented by V.L. Smithers in the ‘50s, the disposable tool became an industry staple around-the-world by the mid-60s.
The benefits are clear; the foam holds flowers in place in a vase, or similar, and keeps them hydrated too. It’s cheap and always in supply. So why wouldn’t we want to continue using it?
Well…the environment for one. Unfortunately, floral foam doesn’t break down in landfill. It is actually plastic, so not only does it stick around forever, it also leaks toxins into the ground. Also, the residual water from floral foam releases toxic microplastics into the water system when it is poured down the drain, negatively impacting aquatic life.
In addition, foam actually limits design. When you insert a stem into foam, the hole is there forever. When you want to change the placement of a stem as the design evolves, the big green blob is going to become a ‘pricked’ under pressure. With frogs, you can move flowers around with compromising the stability.
And very importantly, frogs help flower health. It’s no secret, flowers like clean water. When they’ve been stuck into foam, that’s impossible; flowers drink through their stems, a little like straws, and they get clogged up. On the flipside, when flowers are inserted onto the frog pins, fresh water can flow freely up the stem.
Working their magic
1. Stick the flower frog to the base of a dish, bowl or vase, using florist putty/clay (here’s one of our favourites)
2. Fill the container with water
3. Begin arranging your greenery, creating a loose and fluid structure
4. Add flowers – and don’t be afraid to move things around as your design takes shape!
5. Voilà! Enjoy the froggin' fabulous fruits of your labour...
You can browse our collection of Flower Frogs online here.