9781838662356 (1)

Flower Colour Theory
Darroch and Michael Putnam

Accent Color
Peach, pink, and fuchsia
with pale blue accent
Torch ginger, Phalaenopsis
orchid, Heliconia, Anthurium,
Tweedia, Pepperberry, Sweet pea
When designing with a warm
palette, you can incorporate a
dash of blue as an accent color.
Here, appearing as an upward
diagonal, it creates a thoughtful
break in the arrangement.
2 3

Analogous
Yellow, orange, fuchsia, and red
Crown imperial fritillary,
Heliconia, Poppy, Tulip, Daffodil,
Oncidium orchid, Mimosa,
Ranunculus, Pansy, Hellebore
Hanging heliconia enhances
the arrangement, cascading
theatrically out of the vessel.
4 5

Analogous
Yellow, pale yellow,
and chartreuse
Oncidium orchid, Beehive ginger,
Dahlia, Ranunculus, Wax flower,
Lemon, Ground cherry,
Dried grass
Using sprays of oncidium orchids
and fruit to create texture is
an easy way to enhance any
analogous color scheme.
6 7

Triadic
Red, yellow, and blue
Delphinium, Ranunculus,
Zinnia, Goldenrod,
Strawflower, Cornflower
Using primary colors is one of
the easiest ways to make a bold
statement. The absence of
subtlety directs the arrangement.
8 9

Analogous
Pink, fuchsia, purple, and blue
Sweet pea, Dahlia,
Tulip, Lisianthus,
Delphinium, Coralberry
Having flower faces, such
as the tulips here, mirror
or “look” at one another
creates compositional depth
and movement.
10 11

Monochromatic
Black with mauve accent
Calla lily, Begonia, Ranunculus,
Agonis, Chocolate cosmos,
Privet berry
In addition to flowers, use berries,
grasses, and decorative leaves to
tie an arrangement together.
12 13

Accent Color
Peach, pink, and
fuchsia with pale
blue accent
Torch ginger,
Phalaenopsis
orchid, Heliconia,
Anthurium, Tweedia,
Pepperberry,
Sweet pea
When designing
with a warm
palette, you can
incorporate a
dash of blue as an
accent color. Here,
appearing as an
upward diagonal,
it creates a
thoughtful break in
the arrangement.
Analogous
Yellow, orange,
fuchsia, and red
Crown imperial
fritillary, Heliconia,
Poppy, Tulip,
Daffodil, Oncidium
orchid, Mimosa,
Ranunculus, Pansy,
Hellebore
Hanging heliconia
enhances the
arrangement,
cascading
theatrically out
of the vessel.
Analogous
Yellow, pale yellow,
and chartreuse
Oncidium
orchid, Beehive
ginger, Dahlia,
Ranunculus,
Wax flower, Lemon,
Ground cherry,
Dried grass
Using sprays of
oncidium orchids
and fruit to create
texture is an easy
way to enhance
any analogous
color scheme.
Triadic
Red, yellow, and
blue
Delphinium,
Ranunculus,
Zinnia, Goldenrod,
Strawflower,
Cornflower
Using primary
colors is one
of the easiest
ways to make a
bold statement.
The absence of
subtlety directs the
arrangement.
2 4 6 8

‘Putnam & Putnam has brought unforgettable floral moments to
some of the city’s most sought-after and buzz-worthy parties.’
– Vogue
‘The floral industry’s It-boys.’ – Harper’s Bazaar
Leading floral designers Putnam & Putnam are back — now with
the ultimate flower-arrangement reference book
The follow-up to Darroch and Michael Putnam’s acclaimed
bestselling debut, Flower Colour Theory is the only guide that uses
colour theory as inspiration for flower arrangements. The book
features 175 arrangements that show myriad ways to combine
flowers of different hues, all built around colour schemes including
analogous, complementary, monochromatic, rainbow, triadic,
transitional, and accent colours. Flower Colour Theory is both
inspirational and a guide to creating lush, romantic, and effortlessly
elegant creations of your own.
Darroch and Michael Putnam founded their boutique floral design
studio in 2014 and have quickly become the go-to florists for fashion
shows, editorial shoots, installations, parties, and weddings. They
have collaborated with Bergdorf Goodman, Dior, Cartier, Gwyneth
Paltrow, Grace Coddington, and fashion designer Brandon Maxwell,
among others. Their work has been featured in Vogue, Harper’s
Bazaar, Martha Stewart Living, Town & Country, W Magazine, and
Elle Décor.
Binding: Paperback
Format: 178 × 127 mm
5 × 7 inches
Extent: 484 pages
Number of images: 175
Word count: 15,000
ISBN: 978 1 8386 6157 1 (US)
ISBN: 978 1 8386 6235 6 (UK)
Signed Edition
ISBN: 978 1 8386 6240 0 (US)
Published 2021
Phaidon Press
2 Cooperage Yard
London E15 2QR
Phaidon Press Inc.
65 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10012
© 2021 Darroch Putnam
and Michael Putnam
phaidon.com
Key Selling Points:
The second book by the fashion world’s cult floral designers,
with the same trim size and price point as the bestselling Flower
Colour Guide
-
Putnam & Putnam has a strong global brand, with nearly
300,000 Instagram followers, and workshops and appearances
around the world
-
Each spread features a colour bar that illustrates the palette
of the arrangement
-
Includes an appendix with information on basic colour theory,
recommendations for seasonal arrangements, suggestions for
vases, and more
-
Ideal for a broad variety of retail environments

For Darroch and Michael Putnam, the duo behind
New York’s leading floral design studio, Putnam &
Putnam, flower arranging is like painting. Flowers are
the medium and colour is the message.
Flower Colour Theory is the follow-up to their bestselling
debut Flower Colour Guide and features 175 stunning
arrangements created around a wide range of colour
schemes, including analogous, complementary, and
monochromatic. Each arrangement is paired with tips
for creating your own variation, as well as a colour bar
detailing the palette of the composition. Detachable
colour bars can be removed for reference and inspiration
when you are flower shopping.
Flower Colour Guide introduced readers to flower
selection and seasonality. Flower Colour Theory
brings readers to the next level, teaching you how
to combine colours to create incredible and original
gorgeous floral arrangements.
Praise for Flower Colour Guide:
“This is the Pantone book of flowers.”
—New York Post
“[A] ridiculously enjoyable pint-sized book full of blooms familiar
and exotic, all arranged by hue.”
—House Beautiful
“Let your inner artist bloom with tips from the brilliant New York
City floral-arranging duo Putnam & Putnam: in Flower Colour
Guide, Darroch and Michael Putnam teach how to create stunning
bouquets by colour, from white azaleas to ‘Black Star’ calla lilies.”
—Martha Stewart Living