What is the golden section in floral design?

The golden section in floral design is a mathematical ratio of approximately 1:1.618 used as a guideline for achieving aesthetically resolved proportions. It describes a proportion that recurs throughout natural forms and has been used in art and architecture for millennia. In floral design it is most practically expressed as the 3:5:8 rule, which provides a guide for dividing arrangements into unequal but harmonious parts. In German floral design theory, the 3:5:8 ratio is applied to the distribution of dominant, contrasting, and subordinate elements: dominant at 8 parts, contrasting at 5 parts, subordinate at 3 parts. It can also be applied to spatial divisions and to the proportional distribution of colour areas. Like all proportion guidelines in this framework, the golden section is a starting point for developing design sensitivity, not a formula for mechanical application. There are no absolute rules. Sources: Pampling, Assman (400).