The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
Beautifulbouquets of cut flowerscan turn any room into a garden.
But many flowers tend to wilt and fade quickly when cut and placed in vases.
Knowing which varieties of flowers are the best to grow for long-lasting cut flowers is the first step.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
Here are the long-standing flower favorites that hold up the best in vases.
Warning
As noted below, some flowers can be toxic even after they’ve been cut.
Always check before handling and placing cut flowers so you or your pets are not at risk.
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How to Keep Your Flowers Fresh (We Tested ALL the Methods!)
Peruvian lily flowers in late spring or early summer.
The flowers are sensitive to fluoride, so let tap water sit for a few hours before using.
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Alstroemeria can be kept in a vase for six to 14 days.
Peruvian lily is mildly toxic to humans and animals.
This is a tropical plant that needs lots of sunshine and warmth.
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It can be grown outdoors in frost-free areas or grown indoors as a houseplant.
It makes an eye-catching cut flower, although it may need wiring to help support the heavy flowers.
Bird of paradise will last in a vase for seven to 14 days when cut fresh.
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his flower is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.
Carnation
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Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) are one of the longest-lasting cut flowers.
They are also easy to grow from seed and have a wonderful clove-like fragrance.
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If you grow your own, you’ve got the option to have cut flowers well into fall.
Carnations will last in a vase for seven to 21 days.
Carnations are mildly toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
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If allowed to dry, they’ll keep for months and maybe years.
It might be wise to grow this plant in a container where you could control its spread.
They can be difficult to grow because they like cool, moist summers.
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Delphiniums don’t grow well in hot and humid climates.
Delphiniums will last in a vase for seven to 14 days when cut fresh.
Certain species of delphiniums are toxic to animals depending on growth stages.
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Toxicity in humans is rare.
Gladiolus
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Gladiolus (Gladiolus x hortulanus) are among the most popularsummer bulbsto grow.
They can reach heights of four to six feet with their tall, spiky flower stalks.
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Gladiolus are thirsty cut flowers, so keep an eye on the water level and refill when necessary.
Gladiolus flowers last seven to 10 days when cut fresh and placed in a vase.
Gladiolus bulbs are toxic to dogs and cats.
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They have long stems of small pink, purple, or white flowers.
Another option for the vase is the very similar-looking heath plant (Ericaspp.
)These evergreens are very long-lasting when cut.
Marie Iannotti
Be aware that mold can occur if the stems are packed too tightly in the vase.
Cut heather will keep in a vase for one to two weeks.
Lavender’s strong fragrance intensifies as it dries.
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Cut fresh and placed in water, English lavender lasts up to 10 days.
English lavender’s signature fragrance is beloved but the plant is toxic to people and pets.
Lilies
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Any lily (Liliumspp.
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and hybrids) is beautiful but oriental lilies have the best fragrance and can perfume an entire room.
Choose sprays with a few slightly opened lower buds to prolong the bloom time in the vase.
Use garden snips to remove the stamens by hand before cutting and arranging lilies in a vase.
Cut lilies will keep in a vase for seven to 14 days.
Many types of lilies are toxic to pets, particularly cats.
Each flower is surrounded by a fern-like netting or “mist.”
The flowers give way to a balloon-like seed pod.
Both the flowers and the seed pods make interesting additions to floral arrangements.
Love-in-a-mist will last seven to 10 days when cut and placed in a vase.
The seeds of love-in-a-mist are toxic to both humans and animals.
Love-Lies-Bleeding
MostAmaranthusspecies make long-lasting cut flowers.
The plants easily grow from seed, reaching 4 feet or more in height.
Love lies bleeding can bedirect sownor can bestarted indoorssix to eight weeks before the last frost.
Cut flowers will last seven to 10 days in the vase.
Spray roses with multiple blooms on each stem and make quick, charming bouquets.
Roses keep their appearance for six to 12 days in a vase.
Sunflowers can be top-heavy, so use a sturdy vase to support them.
Sunflowers will last in a vase from six to 12 days.
Read more about how to make your cut flowers last longer.
Classic flowers that complement each other in bouquets include roses withbaby’s breathandpeonieswithhydrangeas.
Carnations andchrysanthemumsare considered the longest-lasting flowers in bouquets.
Mother’s Day Bouquets: What’s Safe for Pets?ASPCA.
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Peruvian lily.Pet Poison Helpline.
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Jerusalem CherryPhysalis.North Carolina State University Extension.
University of Wisconsin Madison.
232, 2020, pp.
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Spring Plants that are Poisonous to Horses, Dogs and Barn Cats.Pennsylvania State University Extension.
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Which Lilies Are Toxic to Pets?.
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