It is widely believed that the art of making silk flowers was started back in the 27th century BC in China. Not only was silk used for clothing but there is evidence that it was made to make floral replicas. By the 14th century the French had mastered the art and started to improve on the quality of the fabric and their craftsmanship. They didn't really start to catch on in the United States until the 1800's however China still remains the leader in manufacturing of silk flowers to this day.

As technology was improved and the cost of silk was high, manufacturers started using plastic and other materials to make florals. This made the manufacturing cheaper but the quality seemed to dip below the traditional silk flowers. As the cost to manufacture artificial flowers grew higher the technology grew faster and faster. In modern times the artificial florals are made mostly of polyester, foam, latex and plastic however the difference is in the manufacturing process that makes them more realistic than ever before.

The name "silk flowers" stuck because of the way they were made for centuries. The Chinese perfected this art and most of your silk plants, flowers and trees come out of south east Asia. There are a select few companies in Asia that still make them the old fashioned way but the cost is substantial compared to the modern way of manufacturing and to me the modern way looks much more realistic. So next time you ask for silk plants you now know the history that brought these beautiful home decor items to our world.