I have a bride coming on Monday for a tasting. The colors of her wedding are brown and light blue, she said she's using hydrangeas a lot. I'm not sure yet until I talk with her more if she wants real hydrangeas, gumpaste or silk. I just looked at Inydebi's link on her web page to the CC page that lists what flowers are edible, hydrangeas are not on the list of edible. Plus I don't feel comfortable putting fresh flowers because of the toxic fertilizers used to grow them and the toxic pesticides used to keep the bugs away. I have never actually done fresh flowers on a cake but I know it is common in this country. I have heard in some European countries it is illegal to put and sell fresh flowers on a cake because of the toxicity issue and that's what caused the invention of realistic gum paste sugar flowers for this very reason? Do you think I am overreacting and if she chooses fresh hydrangeas, will it be ok?...I hope the guests wouldn't just assume they were edible and eat them...now I'm getting more nervous. Any thoughts?
I have some poisonous plants lists and hydrangeas are definitely toxic.
Here are a few of the sites I use.
www.akca.org/library/poison.htm
www.geocities.com/qccakeclub/the_basics/toxic_flowers.html
I have more if your interested but they pretty much say the same thing.
HTH
Jo-Ann
I would just explain to her that fresh isn't an option with these flowers.
Also point out to her that hydrangeas need a LOT of water, so it isn't a good idea to put them on a cake even if they weren't toxic. They wilt so quickly they'll look bad really fast.
Thank you to all three of you who replied...great tips and I printed out the toxic plant list. Thanks Jo-Ann! I feel better now.
I agree with above. I also think you should use gumpaste. Their realistic and she can keep them afterwards where as a fresh flower would be dead in a week! Its also a good selling point that hydrangeas cost a bunch and then die and yours will be a one time cost, usually for a lot less than fresh!
I have a cake coming up for a bride who wanted fresh hydrangeas -- and was not interested in sugarpaste flowers.
We are putting the stems in small sealed tubes with water, and arranging them around the base of the cake. There is no contact with the cake, and the flowers will have some water.
However -- I agree -- they are a dicey flower to work with (though I love them, too).
they have hydrangeas at wholesalesugarflowers.com
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