Design

9 of the Most Spectacular Arrangements from the Florist World Cup

Held during the Philadelphia Flower Show, the 2019 Interflora World Cup featured participants from 23 countries

March 13, 2019

Sphere decorated with purple and white flowers on a stand against a dark background. — Pirjo Koppi of Finland created an eye-catching purple orb for the 2019 FTD Interflora World Cup. Photo: Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

The Philadelphia Flower Show, the oldest and largest horticultural event in the country, included a spectacular special event during this year’s iteration, which wrapped up on March 10. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, which organizes the annual flower show, played host to the FTD Interflora World Cup.

Considered by many to be the most prestigious event in the floral industry, the world cup is held every four to six years and had not taken place in the United States since 1985. The 2019 competition brought together top floral designers from 23 countries who were given three days to produce breathtaking, larger-than-life creations using blossoms, grasses, and other natural elements.

The designers were given the chance to plan for a portion of the competition, but they were also tasked with two surprise challenges—creating a hand-tied bouquet that demonstrated the relationship between color and light and fashioning a table setting for two that embodied “the transformative power of love through flowers.”

While it was Australia’s Bart Hassam who clenched first prize, the creations from each of the floral designers were memorable in their own right.

Below, Galerie highlights nine spectacular entries from this year’s stunning world cup.

Floral sculpture with vibrant yellow and orange flowers, intertwined branches, and leaves on a wooden stand. — China’s Wei Yao created an otherworldly, sculptural piece. Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

China

Orchids the color of ripe lemons were draped over a wooden sculpture and crept over a series of acrylic shards in an arrangement by Wei Yao that suggested that even the sleekest of modern designs could be softened by the enduring natural beauty of flowers.

Colorful floral arrangement in white cylindrical tubes, featuring red, yellow, pink, and white flowers on a textured base. — A bold display by America’s Katharina Stuart. Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

United States

This vibrant display took risks with contrasting colors, but it was an array of textures that made the design stand out. From the faux-fur carpet she used on the floor to the feathery salmon-hued blooms she jutted out of the display, Katharina Stuart created a unique sensory experience.

Abstract wooden sculpture adorned with colorful flowers and greenery displayed against a neutral background. — An entry by Myeon Oh of South Korea. Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

South Korea

A cascade of tropical blooms spilled out of an undulating wooden frame in Myeon Oh’s design. There was a wildness to the arrangement of the flowers that seemed to contrast ideally with the man-made perfection of the frame.

Elaborate floral display with yellow, red, and white flowers arranged on a metal structure, set against a gray background. — Přemysl Hytych, Czech Republic Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

A design by Přemysl Hytych of the Czech Republic.

Czech Republic

Blooms in a range of autumnal hues burst out of a silver sculpture in Přemysl Hytych’s design. Its wild, overgrown feel brought to mind an enchanting abandoned garden waiting to be discovered.

Spherical floral arrangement on tall stands with purple and white flowers against a muted green background. — Pirjo Koppi of Finland’s elevated floral orb. Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Finland

Pirio Koppi’s otherworldly arrangement was like something out of science fiction. Comprised of a spectrum of purple flowers and looming high above the ground, the display created a fascinating effect.

Tall, vertical floral arrangement with green leaves and yellow orchids displayed against a gray background. — The winning design by Bart Hassam of Australia. Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Australia

Bart Hassam clenched the 2019 Interflora World Cup with this towering design, which focused on botanicals in bright yet natural hues of green and yellow, all perched on top of a base made of organic materials.

Wooden art structure with intricate sphere, adorned with colorful flowers and plants, displayed in an indoor setting. — A design-heavy creation by Leopoldo Gómez of Mexico . Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Mexico

Though his entry looked more like a design installation than a floral arrangement, Leopoldo Gómez created a mesmerizing display in which a vibrant array of flowers seemed to orbit around a suspended orb.

Floral arch sculpture with white and yellow flowers on a modern geometric wooden frame against a gray background. — An arrangement by Paul Jaras of Canada. Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Canada

A honeycombed structure balanced delicately on three spindle legs was covered with a range of lush tropical flowers. The design, which implied warm beaches and hidden waterfalls could be just around the corner, was made all the more interesting by the fact that it was designed by Canadian Paul Jaras.