Christmas is a traditional time for a boost in the popularity of foliage but it's not just yuletide decorations that are showcasing the vast range of greens currently available.

Autumn weddings are increasing and in recent years florists have been tapping into the variety of material for all-year-round bouquets and displays.

New Covent Garden Market's head of communications, Helen Evans, says that its foliage workshops are one of the most popular of the courses they offer.

'It attracts top floral designers that you would assume know all there is but when it comes to foliage there's so many types that come in from all over the world and are suitable for certain situations that it's important to get it right,' she says. 'Foliage provides a structure and architecture to displays and it's the only area where I have heard wholesalers advise customers against buying a variety and substituting it with another because they know where it is going to be used and how well it will keep.'

Evans says that as florists discover all the different types of foliage and how to work with them, they are increasing their use of it outside of the traditional festive period. 'Florists are making more use of the texture foliage gives,' she adds, with the example of the Chelsea Flower Show's award-winning Japanese garden, which Porters Foliage provided the bun moss for.

Bristol-based florist Rachel Husband, owner of The Rose Shed, is a huge fan of using foliage in bouquets. 'A concept that I tend to stand by all year round when it comes to designing wedding flowers for brides is to use texture in my bouquets and arrangements,' she says.

'There are a huge variety of foliages in autumn that are suitable for creating wild and loose arrangements in vases for table centres and weddings. Oak leaves are brilliant at this time of year and come in the red and gold tones; when teamed with classic green oak this can have great impact.

'Moss is a great material to use in weddings, from covering letters and hearts to use as hanging decorations, to covering succulents and plants to use as wedding favours. A sumptuous, green textural plant material, moss is not everyone's cup of tea but it is becoming more popular among rustic, natural weddings and people wanting plants in their wedding.'

Of course, Christmas is the height of the foliage season with wreaths, garlands and displays all in great demand by both the trade and public.

Foliage exporters Adomex says there is a huge growth in Christmas greens.

David Gorton of New Covent Garden's GB Foliage says this year Welsh blue pine wreaths have been 'walking out the door'. 'I cannot get enough of them,' he adds. 'As soon as I put them out, they are gone. We've also seen a demand for berried ivy.'

With so many varieties, many more florists will be exploring new pastures for future displays. —