Sunflower and Hydrangea Arrangement for Late Summer

A sunflower and hydrangea arrangement is one of the easiest ways to bring late summer indoors, using nothing more than bright sunflowers and a few fresh limelight hydrangeas. I first put these two together with blooms from the garden at the Sutton Place house, and with the limelights at the Sugar Maple house nearly in full bloom, it felt like the right time to make it again. Gather a simple pitcher, a handful of grocery store sunflowers, and several hydrangea stems, and you have fresh seasonal color for any room.

By late summer, a familiar room can feel ready for a small seasonal change. Fresh flowers are an easy way to add color before it is time to bring out the fall decor, and this arrangement requires only a few simple supplies.

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What You Need

• five sunflower stems
• Limelight hydrangeas (or your favorite hydrangeas)
• a tall pitcher with water
• scissors

Tips for A Beautiful Flower Arrangement

• Choose a tall pitcher or vase with a slightly narrow opening. It will help support the stems and keep the flowers in place. I suggest a vessel at least 10 inches tall.
• Cut garden hydrangeas in the morning, if possible, and place them in water immediately.
• Let the hydrangeas form a full base, then keep the sunflower stems slightly taller so the yellow blooms remain visible.
• Turn the vessel as you arrange the flowers. This makes it easier to check the arrangement from every side.
• Keep the finished arrangement away from direct sunlight and heat.
• Every few days, change the water and give the stems a fresh cut. Remove fading flowers as needed.
• For additional flower-care advice, see my simple tips for making cut hydrangeas last longer.

Pitcher & Vase Ideas

There are several vessels that work well for this sunflower and hydrangea arrangement. A blue-and-white jug or one with a little color adds pattern, while a simple white pitcher allows the flowers to take center stage. A clear glass vase or tall cylinder vase offers a more traditional look. A tall mason jar works well for a smaller arrangement with fewer stems. It’s a good way to put your mason jar collection to work. Whatever vessel you choose, make sure it is tall enough to support the heavy flower heads. A slightly narrow opening will also help hold the stems in place.

There is something quietly satisfying about fresh flowers in a room, and this is one of the simplest ways to bring a little of the season indoors. The bright sunflowers and full hydrangeas make the arrangement feel special, even though it comes together in just a few minutes with a pitcher and a handful of stems. Set it somewhere you will pass often, a kitchen table, a dresser, or a coffee table, and let it carry you through these last warm weeks of summer.

If you love these flowers as much as I do, you might enjoy growing your own, and my guide to growing Limelight hydrangeas walks you through it. When the season winds down and the blooms begin to dry on the shrub, those same hydrangeas are lovely gathered into a dried hydrangea wreath for fall. I would love for you to make an arrangement of your own, and if you do, leave a comment and tell me which flowers you reached for. For more gentle ideas that follow each season as it comes, my free ebook, A Year of Simple Living, is always here for you.

Shop & Source

You may be wondering where the pitchers in these photos are from. They come from my own collection and are no longer available to buy, which is often the way with the pieces I reach for most. I did gather a nice selection of similar pitchers in my Amazon shop, so you can find one that feels right for your own arrangement. Additional sources: | similar large bowl | gold scissors | tufted chair | floral pillow cover | Curate book | Elements of Family Style | basket with lid | round wood tray | linen books,