This is a very short list of some common cut flowers that you will find at your local florists or grocery store floral department. For information on other types of flowers there are many helpful websites on the Internet, but your local florist is a wealth of information that you shouldn’t pass over.
ALSTROEMERIA
- Availability and Vase Life
Readily available in ample supply year-round, alstroemerias come in a wide range of colors, including white, pink, yellow, salmon, red, lavender, orange, bronze and bicolors. They’re ethylene-sensitive flowers, but with proper care and handling, alstroemerias may attain a vase life of 6-14 days, depending upon the cultivar. Avoid buying flowers with yellowing or transparent leaves; these are signs of ethylene damage. - Care and Handling
Trim stems under water. Place flowers in a clean container containing a properly prepared solution of fresh flower food. Avoid using water with high fluoride levels, if possible, since alstroemerias are susceptible to fluoride damage. - Design Uses
Alstroemerias are exceedingly versatile flowers–in terms of both color and form. Always a perfect color highlight for seasonal vase arrangements, they also serve as lovely line flowers in more contemporary arrangements, and–in a short-stemmed cluster–as vivid focal areas. Stripping the foliage is often advisable, since it will yellow long before the flowers fade.
ASTER
- Availability and Vase Life
Known alternatively as the Michaelmas daisy, starwort and frost flower, the aster usually blooms in late summer or fall, although the flower is commercially available year-round from various sources. There are more than 600 known aster species, but just a few varieties enjoy popularity as cut flowers. Asters are available in almost every shade except clear yellow and orange, although the white, blue, purple and violet shades predominate. With proper care, asters will enjoy a vase life of 5-10 days. - Care and Handling
Asters are generally easy-care flowers, although pains must be taken to avoid water stress. Process asters immediately upon receipt by recutting their stems under water and stripping away leaves that will fall below their container’s water line. Place the asters in a clean container holding a properly prepared solution of fresh flower food. To avoid water stress, thoroughly soak the floral foam into which asters will be inserted. Display asters away from direct sunlight and drafts. - Design Uses
Asters are frequent additions to a variety of bouquets and floral arrangements due to their abundant flower clusters and wide range of hues.
CARNATIONS
- Availability and Vase Life
Carnations are available year-round in a plethora of colors and sizes, and new cultivars frequently become available. Some highly scented cultivars are used to make perfumes, while other cultivars are void of any fragrance. With proper care, carnations can last two weeks. - Care and Handling
Remove any foliage that will fall below the water line of the carnations’ container before recutting the stems under water. Place the carnations to a clean container holding a properly prepared fresh flower-food solution. Recut the stems underwater and remove foliage that may be submerged before inserting the stems in a vase or design. - Design Uses
Carnations’ diversity makes them suitable for many uses in floral designs, ranging from traditional arrangements to body flowers.
CHRYSANTHEMUM
- Availability and Vase Life
Modern growing techniques make chrysanthemums available year round, and with proper care these flowers can last from 7-14 days. - Care and Handling
Upon receipt, recut chrysanthemums under water, removing about 1 inch from the stem, along with foliage that will fall below the waterline or that is yellowing. Although fresh flower food may cause foliar yellowing, it extends the blooms’ lives. Avoid pounding or splitting chrysanthemum stems. - Design Uses
Because of their diverse sizes and shapes, chrysanthemums may be used as either form or filler flowers in floral designs.
DELPHINIUMS
- Availability and Vase Life
Most delphiniums are available year-round from domestic and international sources. The flowers are usually blue or lavender, but they also come in white, red and yellow. Delphiniums’ vase life ranges from 7-14 days, depending on care-and-handling practices. - Care and Handling
Upon receipt, cut delphiniums’ stems under water in a clean underwater cutter or sink. Delphiniums are particularly ethylene sensitive, so keep them away from fruit and other ethylene emitting material. - Design Uses
Delphiniums make ideal additions to garden-style arrangements. Their shapes give them a nice look when gathered in a simple glass vase, or used as an accent to other garden flowers.
FREESIAS
- Availability and Vase Life
Most freesias are available year-round, depending on their variety. Their colors include white, purple, yellow, red and orange, and their average vase life is 4-7 days. - Care and Handling
Upon receipt, cut the flowers’ stems in a clean underwater cutter or sink. Freesias are both ethylene-sensitive and fluoride-sensitive. Also, avoid using fluoridated water throughout the care-and-handling process, and do not mix freesias with freshly cut narcissuses or daffodils, which emit a substance that can shorten freesias’ vase life. - Design Uses
Freesias’ unusual, appealing shapes make them suitable line flowers for any arrangement, and their wide range of color varieties increases their versatility. They also make fragrant additions to bouquets and body flowers.
GERBERAS
- Availability and Vase Life
Gerberas are available year-round from domestic and international sources. With proper care, gerberas can enjoy a vase life of 4-14 days. - Care and Handling
Any container used with these flowers should first be sanitized, as the frequently hollow-stemmed gerbera is especially susceptible to bacteria. Gerberas are also sensitive to fluoride, so use nonfluoridated water when processing gerberas if possible. Cut gerberas’ stems under water before placing them in a clean container holding a properly prepared fresh flower-food solution. - Design Uses
Gerberas are versatile blooms that are often used as mass flowers in designs. They’re also popular in monocultivar bouquets, particularly when one seeks a retro 60’s look.
IRIS
- Availability and Vase Life
Although traditionally considered a spring bloom, many iris cultivars are available year-round from growers. Irises are delicate, however, and have one of the shortest cut flower vase lives at just 3-6 days. - Care and Handling
Irises are thirsty flowers, so process them immediately upon receipt to guard against dehydration and water stress. Remove foliage that will fall below the water line and recut iris stems under water.Keep irises in a cool location away from drafts and excessive heat to maximize their longevity. - Design Uses
Because of their distinctive shapes, irises are frequently used as form flowers in floral designs so their graceful silhouettes can be fully appreciated. Their height also makes them ideal for use as line flowers to help establish designs’ shapes and sizes.
LILLIES
- Availability and Vase Life
Most lily varieties are available year-round. It’s best to buy lilies when a few of their lower buds have slightly opened and show some color. When properly processed and treated for ethylene sensitivity, cut lilies have a potential vase life of 7-14 days. - Care and Handling
Cut stems under water and remove lower foliage that will fall below the water line. To avoid difficult stains, remove pollen bearing anthers before use. - Design Uses
Lilies are strong form flowers with equally strong lines, so even a few stems in a vase make a dramatic statement, and their look can range from country to English garden to avantgarde.
LIMONIUM (AKA STATICE)
- Availability and Vase Life
Limonium is available year-round and offers a generous vase life of 1-2 weeks in water. - Care and Handling
A hardy cut flower, limonium requires only basic care. Process flowers by cutting an inch off stems under water and placing them in clean containers filled with a properly prepared flower food solution. - Design Uses
Thanks to the range of colors and textures available–from the lacy ‘Misty’ varieties to the heavy-tufted, papery L. sinuatum–limonium is an attractive filler in both traditional and garden-style arrangements. Limonium makes a perfect filler for wreathes or fresh-to-dried “keepsake” arrangements due to its ease in drying.
LISIANTHUS
- Availability and Vase Life
Lisianthuses are available from April through October in domestic markets, and may be available slightly earlier in the spring and later into the fall when purchased from international sources. They come in single-, double – and triple-petaled varieties, and in colors including white, red, purple, pink and blue. With proper care and handling, the colorful blooms can have a vase life of 10-15 days. - Care and Handling
Cut the stems under water and remove their lower foliage. Keep away from friut and other ethylene prodcing items. Use commercial flower food. - Design Uses
Because of their broad-ranging colors, lisianthuses make beautiful additions to almost any design. Their delicate, round blooms add mass while maintaining a soft texture. Lisianthus florets are often used in corsages.
ROSE
- Availability and Vase Life
Because of their widespread cultivation, roses are available in many different colors and sizes year-round. Vase life ranges from 6-12 days, depending on the cultivar and the care-andhandling quality. - Care and Handling
Remove any leaves that will fall below the water line. Then provide a fresh underwater cut about one inch from the stems’ base. Place them in a fresh flower-food solution, which will provide nourishment and prevent bacterial growth. Cut rose stems under water and add fresh flower food to vases. - Design Uses
Roses are versatile flowers, often associated with romance and elegance. They make beautiful vase arrangements and singlestem gifts. They’re often used in bridal bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres, and other special-occasion arrangements. Their broad appeal is enhanced by the wide variety of rose colors and styles available on today’s market.
SNAPDRAGON
- Availability and Vase Life
Snapdragons are available year-round in a wide spectrum of colors, including white, ivory, pink, yellow, salmon, red and magenta. Variegated cultivars are also available, such as the salmon- and ivory-colored “Apple Blossom” snapdragon. Vase life varies by cultivar, but snapdragons will generally do well for 5-8 days in water. With proper care and handling, their vase life may even be doubled to 10-16 days. - Care and Handling
Snapdragons are ethylene-sensitive flowers that require proper treatment and flower food for optimum vase life. Upon receipt, cut stems under water and remove lower foliage that will fall below the water line. Place stems in a clean container of properly prepared flower food. Display snapdragons in indirect light and away from heat. - Design Uses
With their strong line forms, interesting texture and color versatility, snapdragons make wonderful additions to multicolored and monochromatic mixed bouquets. For a mass effect, use multiple stems cut short.
SUNFLOWER
- Availability and Vase Life
Sunflowers are available year-round, with supplies peaking in June through October. Sunflowers have a vase life of 6-12 days when properly cared for. - Care and Handling
Water stress and aging, evidenced by foliage deterioration and leaf yellowing, are the flower’s most common problems. Cut sunflower stems under water. Remove leaves that will fall below the waterline. The flowers’ weighty heads require special attention in floral design. Select vases of sufficient size and depth to support the stems. Sunflowers dry well. Prop several stems in a vase, or hang them in a well-ventilated, warm area and allow them to air dry. - Design Uses
Sunflowers’ bright colors and attention-getting blooms make them perfect mass or focal flowers in a variety of designs. They’re particularly nice additions to garden-style bouquets or arrangements with a rustic flavor.
