Floral stylists create living poinsettia dress at Chichester nursery

The living poinsettia dress created by floral stylists, Okishima & Simmonds at Hill Brothers Nursery in Chichester, Picture by Julian Winslow for Stars for Europe

In celebration of International Poinsettia Day on Saturday (December 12), floral stylists Okishima & Simmonds fashioned the dramatic ombré gown from more than 300 freshly cut stems of red, variegated and cream poinsettia before styling it among a sea of poinsettia plants.

Poinsettias are as much a classic as the Christmas tree itself, and are known as ‘Christmas Stars’ in much of the world.

International Poinsettia Day marks the death of Joel Robert Poinsett, the US diplomat and botanist who introduced the poinsettia to the United States from Mexico in 1828.

A partnership of fine art graduates and trained florists Jessica Simmonds and Chikae Okishima, Okishima & Simmonds use flowers to style weddings, events and fashion shoots.

Jessica said: “We love to create unique designs that merge the floral world with the fashion world and International Poinsettia Day gave us an exciting opportunity to do that.”

The family-owned and managed Hill Brothers Nursery in Runcton produces around half a million poinsettias a year.

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