My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Hana-kubari Bamboo

1 April 2015
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Hana-Kubari is an Ikebana flower mechanic. Only natural materials such as pebbles, sticks and branches can be seen to support the flowers. Traditionally no twine, wire, nails, screws or any other man made materials are used.

Cut three sections of fresh bamboo.

I wanted the bamboo stems to be the same in length. Cut the side branches to fall at different heights, for visual interest.

Carefully split the bamboo lengthwise. It is easier to split the bamboo in the inter-node rather than on the node.

Slip the bamboo over the edge of the container

Gently push the bamboo down to split more. Be careful so that the entire stem doesn't split in two.

Place the containers on a display tray

Tilt the bamboo stems to the side to create a gap for the flower stem

Fill the containers with water

Slip in the stem to catch between the bamboo and the container. It should fit in snugly enough to stay in place but not pinched so that it forms a tourniquet and the flowering stem will not be able to take up water

Set each stem in place so that it is covered in water

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Tutorials

19 October 2011

Hana-Kubari chopsticks

Splitting the chopsticks or a wooden branch, such as a willow twig creates a natural (and glue-less!) clamp.

15 January 2014

Midolino heart armature standing on Hana-Kubari legs

Create a re-usable cane armature for a romantic pave design

2 April 2025

A Muscari cluster frog to display a precious Scilla Siberica on its own dogwood twig

Crafting a display cluster of plant material is the best way to turn the most delicate of stems into a focal point.

5 July 2023

Latch an imperfect stem support for thin stemmed and heavy design details

Bundle and tie a few stems to create a support for even heavy design details.

7 June 2023

Peg the heavy details in place with a wedged stem support

Create a support for your floral details by wedging the cut flower stem across the opening of the vase.

1 April 2020

Using your seriously cool hot glue skills to glue a wire support for a tulip stem

A clever almost concealed wire support to keep a single tulip flower upright in a minimal bud design.

24 April 2019

Balance a cake stand lid on it’s side to create a leaning design

Suspend a flower for an unusual but minimalist design over a leaning container lid.

16 January 2019

Delicate Twig Hammock Armature to keep tulips upright in a shallow container

Craft a suspended armature to create a clear winter design.

14 November 2018

Create a break in a willow twig to support a flower stem

Break a willow twig at and angle to support your flowers

10 October 2018

Single blade wrap armature

Fold a single blade of grass or slender leaf around a small container to stand your flower in position

9 May 2018

Incise waxy Gardenia foliage to decorate the edge of a container

Cut a small wedge out of a stack of waxy leaves to keep the flower and twig in place.

28 March 2018

Stacked eggshell containers that won't topple over.

Balance a stack of eggshells with a magnet for a tiny Easter design

3 January 2018

Using a fork in a twig to “peg” a stem in place

A easy to use Hana Kubari technique

26 April 2017

Hana-Kubari twig

Slip a twig over the side of a container to keep an elegant flower stem upright

18 January 2017

T-connect twigs to shadow a design

Split a twig to create a t connection to hover a twig over the design

20 April 2016

Free standing Willow twig armature with a hidden water source

Cut a few willow twigs to split to create legs for the armature

3 January 2012

Bubble raft to float flowers

Flowers naturally float in water. They just don’t always naturally float on water. For that they sometimes need a bit of help.

Related Designs

2 April 2025

Love that a whole bunch!

Loved this delicate Scilla Siberica so much I got it its own bunch of Grape Hyacinths.

5 July 2023

The Wiggle Is Part Of The Plan

A easy going summer design that makes full use of the imperfections you harvest from your cut garden.

7 June 2023

Be excited

Oh my! Picked from my balcony garden... after I thought I completely missed it blooming.

1 April 2020

Hang in there!

Keeping this tulip upright requires less magic and more hot glue skills... but it looks magical never the less.

24 April 2019

Put aside

Urgh… my glass cake stand broke leaving me with a still beautiful, but now mismatched and extremely inspirational lid...

16 January 2019

Every. Single. Week.

Stand tulips upright in a shallow container with a suspended twig armature.

14 November 2018

For just this moment… let’s take a break

Simplicity to showcase the perfection of the Lisianthus buds

10 October 2018

From A... for Acer to Z… for Zantedeschia

This week we look at the design featured in the Flower Guide Chapter at the very end of my book

9 May 2018

What is the meaning of this?

Create a minimal design with a few leaves to keep is all upright.

28 March 2018

Walking on eggshells

Fill eggshells with moss to create an upright container... with a surprising balancing trick.

3 January 2018

Happy Coincidence!

Some designs really do just make themselves. I received this tiny vase for Christmas from Marius (thank you, Marius!) and while cleaning out my design room I found this little twig with a fork in it. Add a ranunculus with a ridiculously gorgeous curve in it's stem... done.