Haze City Purple Bamboo Forest's 6081 model is a bouquet of 12 handmade camellias.

Makers offer sprays, picks and bundles in various growth stages. Dew drops and fragrances are infused to lend a natural feel.

Suppliers in China are widening their selection of artificial flowers while paying closer attention to the botanical correctness of petals, blossoms and even leaves.

Reflective of a more-extensive selection, models are no longer limited to sprays and stems. Suppliers now offer cuttings, bundles, picks and floral bushes as well.

There is also a growing assortment of artificial branches, vines, weeds, gourds, pods and feathers to add textural interest in flower arrangements.

Exhibiting bright colors for summer and autumn hues for fall, the expanded selection allows the mixing of blooms from several seasons in a single display. Recent releases in early spring-bud or full-blossom stage increase the design options further.

A variety of techniques and materials are being employed to make the latest artificial flowers as realistic as possible. Some companies, for example, are creating models by hand. This results in slight irregularities that render each piece unique, just like natural plants.

Designs come with long or short stems that look like they were cut from a garden. Blossoms may be coated in or molded from latex to give them a natural feel. Fuzz can also be embedded right into stems and leaves.

To intensify the degree of realism, makers are incorporating plant imperfections. Leaves, for instance, are designed with small holes that look like insect damage. Roses are complete to the thorns. Some suppliers are also infusing roots, pollen, dew drops and floral fragrances.

In addition, releases boast fully sealed stems that allow them to be put in a vase with water for a more lifelike appearance. Other versions, especially those for outdoor display, are protected against UV rays.

Artificial flowers are offered in various materials, including paper, cotton, plastic, latex, rubber and sateen.

Recent models from Haze City Purple Bamboo Forest Handicraft Article Co. Ltd come in polyester. This fabric is favored because of its lower cost, ability to accept dyes and glue, and durability.

Specializing in artificial flowers, the ISO 9001:2000-certified company develops 20 new designs each month.

Exporting mainly to Asia and the EU, Xiajin Foreign Economic & Trade Inc. employs environment-friendly materials. Releases from the company are made of PE. Its R&D team launches five buyer-specified models each month and can complete samples in 10 days.

At Ningbo Two Birds Industry Co. Ltd, designs come with fabric flowers, plastic leaves and iron-wire stems. The company, which devotes 30 percent of production to the line, releases five new models each year.

For upscale versions, some makers utilize silk, rayon and cotton. Galvanized wire is used in stiffening the stems and flower petals.

The majority of companies interviewed source materials, including plastic, glue and azo-free dyes, locally.

Striving to imitate the real thing, artificial flower designs begin with nature. Suppliers create a new pattern by taking a fresh flower and dissecting it to use the actual parts as a standard.

Models are also influenced heavily by trends in interior design and fashion. Makers such as Tianyuan Advertisement and Schedule Engineering Shenzhen Co. Ltd attend trade shows to learn about colors and styles in wallpaper, furniture, summer dresses and hats.

Recent releases from the company include lilies in an optional white vase.

While stems and sprays continue to be best-sellers, other varieties are also gaining attention.

New models from Haze City Purple Bamboo Forest include picks and bundles. The former has 6 to 15 inch-short stems of various flowers, greenery, berries and gourds.

The latter features a group of flowers tied together with twine, raffia or ribbon. It can consist of one type or a coordinated selection with stem ends that usually meet evenly across the bottom. Lengths vary from 8 to 40 inches.

Camellias and roses are among the popular releases. Magnolias, orchids and poinsettias are also selling well.

China's artificial flowers industry has about 4,000 makers. Eighty percent are small companies with fewer than 100 employees.

Guangdong, Fujian and Shandong provinces are the main production hubs, accounting for 60, 12 and 10 percent of exports, respectively.

Shipments reached $395 million in 2006, with the US and the EU as the main markets.

Low-end models, which are priced at less than $1, dominate output. Made of fabric and plastic, these come in rose, jasmine and lily, among other varieties.

Production usually involves a combination of automated and manual processes. Typically, the fabric undergoes cutting, petal folding and forming, stitching and dyeing. Some suppliers also use molds to give petals distinctive curves.

Companies said their materials and methods do not subject workers to any hazards. Wires arrive at the factory in precut lengths. Glue and dyes are nontoxic, and assemblers wear latex gloves as an additional safeguard. Die-cutting machines are enclosed to protect the operator's hands.

As with most products assembled manually, artificial flowers are examined at each step of the process. QC involves checking flower parts for dye spots even before inserting them in molds for pressing. Finished goods are subjected to various inspections before they are wrapped and packed for shipping.