Painting Hydrangeas To Use On A Wedding Cake

Ask the Expert: Can you paint hydrangeas and put on cake?

We are doing a wedding this weekend with Hydrangea. Since they are very expensive in colors we are using white hydrangea and painting them purple. I have some reservation about using painted flowers on a cake. Will it smear on to the icing? I am pretty sure the ones in the attached picture are painted but I just wanted to make sure.Please let tell me what you would suggest! Thanks. Whitney

Plant Expert Reply:

Hydrangea would not be my choice for cake flowers. If you need to use them begin by hydrating them properly. Without a water source the hydrangeas will curl quickly. So, proper hydrangea hydration is essential.

As for painting the blooms, you need to use the right type of paint.  You need paint specially designed for flowers.  Design Masters’ “Just For Flowers” floral paints come in several different shades.  Choose one that has the right tint and test it on one of the hydrangea blooms. This is the only way you will be able to tell if the color will run. Using a paint specifically for flowers is critical.  Other paints will not be absorbed by the flower correctly and will cause issues like: blotchy and smearing.

Good luck and please let me know how it turns out.

This flower design tip is brought ot you by local Phoenix Florists.