Flowers can be just as trendy as shoes and cars

Flowers can be just as trendy as shoes and cars. If you're looking to make a killer garden or arrangement that will up your indie cred, let this be your guide to the inner sanctum of hipness.

Eggplant tulips

Also called black tulips, the dark drama and subtle opulence of this flower is what gives it its hip appeal. This dark purple color is the closest you will get to black. "It's a completely unexpected color in an arrangement," says florist Barbara Bellamy, the owner of the uber-chic Ixia Flowers, Evanston. Other flowers are available in this dark purple, including calla lilies and roses.

Hollyhocks

The huge, leafy bloom of the old-fashioned hollyhock makes it a trendy staple in yards or arrangements. Don't remove the large leafy greens on the stems - that's part of the appeal. The blooms also come in hues from purple to light orange.

Cymbidium orchid stems

"I always love to use green cymbidium orchid stems," Bellamy says. "They are so beautiful and striking. You can even use them underwater in a vase." They come in other colors, like white or pink, for any occasion. The nearly asymmetrical shape of the cymbidium bloom is an instant attention-grabber, making for a truly astounding arrangement.

Amaryllis

The amaryllis has a spectacular silhouette, with a long, narrow stem leading to the huge flower. "They are really showy - you can get a lot of blooms out of one stem," Bellamy says. They come in reds, corals or whites and are available from fall through spring.