Sola wood, or shola wood as it is known in Asia, is one of the most light and most malleable types of woods out there. Indian cork, as many refer to it, is milky-white and very sponge-like to the touch. The material is so soft that it comes in rolls that you can buy at almost any hobby store. And it is that malleability and abundance of it that has made it one of the most commonly used materials in many industries around the world. Being an indigenous plant to the deep-water marshy regions of Asia, the main use for the wood was making ceremonial sculptures and other artistic objects such as wooden wedding flowers used by couples during their wedding ceremonies in Bengal and other countries in the area. 

What can be made from this type of wood?

The wood was primarily used in the marshy regions of India such as West Bengal and the Ganges plains. After extracting the pith of the plant, artisans turn that into pieces of art through a process that can take tens of hours of intense labor. The craftsmen that traditionally worked with sola wood are known as Malakar, which translates to garland maker. That is because one of the many uses for sola pith was the making of floral garlands and lavish headpieces for the couples getting married and for decorating the sculptures of idols, which were also made out of sola pith. 

The statues of idols were also made from this type of wood because it is light weight and can be easily carried around during festivals and processions. The tradition of sculpting idols out of sola pith still remains, but nowadays they are usually used as home décor and less in religious rituals.

Another wide spread use for the material was making hats. Known as pith helmets or shola topee, they were designed to protect the wearer especially from the sun and heat of the tropical and desert climate. They were made popular in countries like India, Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq and many others during the British colonial period. Due to the lightweight of the material they were ideal for such a use and the fact that sola wood was so easy to come by, it made the pith helmet one of the most recognizable symbols of the Indian sub-continent. Although abandoned due to the link to the British oppressive colonialism, the pith hat has made a comeback, thanks to its functionality and clever design, by being integrated in uniform designs both in the military and in civil services such as police in cities in that part of the world. 

How to make flowers out of wood

Making flowers out of sola pith is a beautiful process in itself, making the end product even more note-worthy. First, the roll of wood is unfolded and is left to dry in the sung for a couple of days. Then, when the material becomes a little bit brittle the craftsman can begin cutting it and shaping the flowers. Sola made wooden wedding flowers have been made in certain parts of Asia for decades and have slowly become the stars of weddings and floral arrangements all around the world. 

Before cutting, the craftsman folds the roll several times to give the flowers structural integrity and the desired shape. How big and lavish the petals of each flower are depends on how many times is the wood roll folded and how it is shaped. After the flower is made it is up to the client to decide how to arrange them in a bouquet.

Wooden wedding flowers have many advantages to them. For once they are completely customizable, the client being able to choose anything from colors to how big the flowers themselves should be. Also, wooden flowers are great perfume diffusors. They can smell like anything the client wants and they are reusable to that purpose meaning that if the perfume wears off, which it will eventually do depending on multiple factors such as temperature and air circulation, the petals can just be sprayed again and the scent comes right back. 

Wooden flowers made from the pith of the sola plant have gained huge popularity among decorators and event organizers around the world. They are cheap and even fun to make and they can add a little note of distinction to any room or event. They bring a certain permanent vibe to the ones that use them. After all, what bride wouldn’t want to keep her wedding bouquet looking forever as good as the day she said “I do!”?  

Resource Box: When your special day is coming up and want to find the perfect  wooden wedding flowers  why don’t you try the wood flowers made from  sola wood .