Since “Classic Blue” was announced as Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year, we’ve seen countless ways the timeless hue can be used in fabrics, wallpapers, and paint colors—in fact, you’ll find 27 ideas in our current issue. Today, we’re turning our attention to florals.

“Blue is always our color of the year,” says Chris Norwood, vice president and head floral designer at Tipton & Hurst. “It’s such an important part of our palette, and so many people love it. I think we’re surrounded by so much blue in the sky and in nature, people find it very soothing.” Read below to see step-by-step how Chris creates a fresh floral arrangement using “Classic Blue” as his inspiration.

First, Chris chose blue hydrangeas, bupleurum, thistle, delphinium, and irises for this arrangement. The variety of heights, shapes, and shades of blue add texture and depth to the final product.

Using a deep blue ginger jar as his vessel, Chris started with a base of hydrangeas, trimming the stems so the blooms stand just above the jar’s edge. “This easily could be just a vase of hydrangeas,” he says, pointing out that the large flower makes for a great focal point. “Starting large also makes it easier when you do the insertion of the smaller stems. It keeps them from moving around.”

After the hydrangeas, Chris added a layer of bright green, leafy bupleurum for contrast, followed by blue thistle, delphinium, and irises for height. “When you’re working with dark blues and purples, you want to have your darker colors come up because those colors tend to recede,” Chris explains. “If the darker colors are deep, you’ll have a hole in the arrangement, visually. That’s why I always pull the darker colors up.”

For more floral inspiration, follow our Gardening & Floral Inspirations board on Pinterest.