Care and Handling of Arrangement
Certain varieties of cut flowers last longer than others. Carnations, for example, can remain vibrant for long periods. Roses have a shorter vase life, but are prized for their special and delicate beauty. When buying flowers, be sure to ask your florist how long you should expect your arrangement to last. Whatever variety you choose, a little TLC will go a long way to keep your blooms looking fresh longer. Here are a few handy tips that can help add days to their beauty!
- Keep them in a cool spot (65-72 degrees Fahrenheit), away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents and direct drafts from ceiling fans.
- Arrangements should not be placed on electrical appliances such as televisions and stereos to avoid dehydration.
- Water should be added to baskets and containers daily.
- Vase water should be added to daily and changed every other day with stems being re-cut to increase longevity.
- If water becomes cloudy, replace it entirely. Recut the stems by removing one to two inches. Remove leaves that will be below the waterline.
- If you received loose flowers, always recut the stems and place in clean water with flower food. Remove any leaves that would fall below the water line.
Flower Encyclopedia
Browse by common name:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
| A |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Allium (drumstick) |
April-September |
Purple |
Loose cluster of star -shaped flowers form a 2" round head on a 20" stem |
unity, good fortune and prosperity; thought to ward off evil spirits; strength |
 |
Alstroemeria |
year round |
white, lavender, purple, pink, magenta, red, burgundy, peach, orange, yellow and bicolor |
clusters of 4-6 delicate, trumpet-like flowers, each 1 1/2 - 2" across on leafy stems 24-36" long. Most varieties are marked with freckles or streaks of a contrasting color on the innermost petal. |
devotion; aspiring; wealth; prosperity; fortune |
 |
Anemone |
December-May |
white, blue, purple, red, and bicolor |
cup-shaped single flowers on thick hollow stems. Papery petals open flat to highlight black and white centers |
expectation or abandonment; forsaken; fragile; fading hope; refusal; sickness |
 |
Acacia |
Jan- March |
yellow |
round fuzzy pea sized blooms in grape-like clusters and grayish-green leaves that are finely divided |
concealed love; beauty in retirement |
 |
Agapanthus |
March-August |
white, blue, lavender |
Globe-shaped 3-4" clusters of small, trumpet-shaped florets on 18-24" stems. |
secret love; to be well-contented with; love letters |
 |
Asiatic Lily |
year round |
white, pink, magenta, burgundy, peach, orange, yellow |
cluster of 3-5 trumpet shaped flowers, each 4-6" across when they are fully open |
purity; majesty, wealth, innocence, orange: I burn for you |
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| B |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Bells of Ireland |
year round |
green |
numerous shell-like green calyxes (bells) surround small fragrant blooms and are clustered along the stem. Stems grow toward the light. |
good luck |
 |
Billy Balls (craspedia) |
year round (limited in march and august) |
Yellow |
Yellow, textured blossoms form a tight round ball atop a slender leafless stem |
good health |
 |
Bird of Paradise |
year round |
orange |
flowers fan out from a boat shaped sheath at the tip of the stalk and have orange pointed outer petals 3-4" long and deep blue inner petals. Thick stems are 2-4' long |
magnificence, freedom, good perspective |
 |
Boronia Heather |
Feb. and March |
magenta |
small, cup-shaped blossoms clustered on stems with soft needle like leaves |
silence, hush |
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Bouvardia |
year round (limited in Jan and Dec) |
white, pink , magenta, red |
small sunburst shaped florets form a loose cluster |
enthusiasm |
 |
Bupleurum |
year round |
green |
clusters of greenish yellow flowers on short laterals with cup like leaves on a branching stem |
esteem |
 |
Button Pomp |
year round |
white, purple, yellow, green |
3-7 small composite flowers 1-2" across on branching stems |
hope, cheerfulness, rest, optimism, truth, November birth flower, yellow: secret admiration and slighted love |
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|
C |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Canterbury Bells |
April-October |
white lavender, purple and pink |
cup or bell shaped flowers |
gratitude, aspiration |
 |
Carnation |
year round |
white, lavender, purple, pink, magenta, red, burgundy, peach, orange, green, yellow and bicolor |
fragrant, ruffled or smooth edged petals bloom on a 15-30" stem |
fascination, distinction, divine love, fidelity, love, yes, birth flower for January, pink: a woman's or mothers love, I'll never forget you, gratitude, emblem of mother's day, striped: refusal, sorry I can't be with you, no |
 |
Caspia |
year round |
blue, lavender |
clusters of small star shaped flowers on multi branching stems |
formality |
 |
Cattleya Orchid |
year round |
white |
3-8" |
love, refinement, symbol for many children, ecstasy, promotes strength, rare beauty |
 |
Cockscomb |
April- October |
pink, magenta, red, burgundy, orange, yellow and green |
brightly colored clusters of tiny flowers resemble a roosters comb |
affection, singularity, foppery, silliness |
 |
Cosmos |
June- October |
chocolate and shades of purple |
small daisy like blossoms with a textured center on thin leafless stems |
decadence, modesty, associated with 2nd wedding anniversary |
 |
Curly Willow |
year round |
brown |
long twisting leafless branches |
bravery, humanity |
 |
Cymbidium Orchid |
year round |
white, pink, magenta, burgundy, yellow, green, lavender |
10-12 flowers, 3-4" across, grow clustered along stems. Also sold as individual blooms |
love, refinement, symbol for many children, ecstasy, promotes strength, rare beauty |
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|
D |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Dahlia |
June- October |
white lavender, purple and pink, magenta, red, burgundy, peach orange yellow, bicolor |
flower shape and size depend on variety |
treachery, elegance, dignity, instability, good taste, forever thine, associated with 14th wedding anniversary |
 |
Delphinium |
year round |
blue, white |
spike shaped cluster of disc shaped flowers |
big hearted fun, airy, come down, symbol of dolphin, swiftness and light, boldness |
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|
G |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Gardenia |
year round |
white |
fragrant white multi petaled flower |
secret love, joy, you are lovely, good luck gift for a man, feminine grace, artistry, subtlety, sweet love, refinement |
 |
Gerbera Daisy |
year round |
white pink magenta red burgundy peach orange yellow bicolor |
daisy like flower on leafless stem |
pretty and strong, enduring purity |
 |
Gladiola |
year round |
white pink magenta red burgundy peach orange yellow bicolor |
florets form on a spiky stem. Flower forms can be plain, ruffled, fringed, rosebud-like or tulip- shaped |
strength of character; sincerity, natural grace, ready or armed, remembrance infatuation, splendid beauty, give me a break, admiration, tells the recipient they " pierce the heart like a sword", birth flower for August |
 |
Godetia |
Jan - June |
red, pink, magenta, |
cluster of bicolor papery flowers atop a foliage-covered stem |
sincerity, forgetfulness, honesty, am I forgotten? |
 |
Gypsophila (babies breath) |
year round |
white |
hundreds of flowers clustered on multi-branched stems |
festivity, innocence, pure of heart, happy |
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|
H |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Heather |
Sept., October, February and March |
magenta |
clusters of flowers among needle-like foliage on a spiked stem |
solitude, good luck |
 |
Hydrangea |
year round |
white blue lavender pink, green |
flat, papery flowers approximately 1" across are borne in terminal heads 4-8" wide |
perseverance, frigidity, heartlessness, boastfulness, vanity, thank you for understanding |
 |
Hypericum Berries |
year round |
pink red burgundy peach green brown |
Clusters of berries on short lateral branches |
Animosity |
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|
I |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Iris |
year round |
white, blue, lavender, purple, yellow |
flower heads consist of three outer petals and three inner petals |
inspiration, a message for thee, faith, wisdom and valor, hope, good luck gift to a man, emblem to warrior, dedicated to the goddess of the rainbow, your friendship means so much to me, my compliments, associated with the 25th wedding anniversary. Blue- faith, hope |
 |
Ivy |
year round |
green, variegated |
leaves spaced along cascading stems |
enjoyment, wedded love, friendship, fidelity and affection, marriage |
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|
K |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Kangaroo Paw |
year round |
red, burgundy, yellow, brown |
velvety, tubular flowers resemble the forearm of a kangaroo. |
unequal |
 |
King Protea |
year round |
white pink |
feather like petals on hard woody stem with large succulent leaves |
smelling nice, don't despair |
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|
L |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Larkspur |
January - October |
white, lavender, purple, pink |
numerous flowers closely packed on stems |
ardent attachment, levity, lightness, beautiful spirit, open heart, birth flower for July |
 |
Leptospermum |
December- May |
white, pink , magenta, red |
double flowers clustered along long branches, short needle like leaves cover stems |
slender seed, rough and spreading |
 |
Leucodendron |
year round |
red, yellow and green |
leaves are 3-4" on 16-24" stems. Flower heads are 4-5" across |
smelling nice, don't despair |
 |
Liatris |
year round |
lavender |
dense spikes of tiny florets on long stems |
no known or recorded meaning |
 |
Lily of the Valley |
year round |
white |
bell shaped flowers on tops of stems |
sweetness, a return of happiness, purity of heart, you made my life complete, protects from evil sprits, birth flower for May |
 |
Lisianthus |
year round |
white, lavender, purple, pink |
Cup shaped blooms on 18-48" stems |
calming, faithfulness |
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|
M |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Ming Fern |
year round |
green |
tufts of fine soft needle like foliage on thorny woody stems. |
restoration |
 |
Mini Calla Lily |
year round |
white, lavender, purple, pink, orange, yellow, green |
flowers are borne with a spadix at the end of the stem, colored spathes are 2" long |
magnificent beauty, regal, associated with the 6th wedding anniversary |
 |
Montbretia |
June- Sept. |
red and orange |
small trumpet shaped flowers grow on a multi branching spike with long narrow leaves, pods are commercially available without flowers February - April |
cheerful |
 |
Monte Casino |
year round |
white blue purple and lavender |
tiny daisy like flowers borne in clusters at the end of stalks |
afterthought, daintiness, star, birth flower of September |
 |
Matsumoto Aster |
April - September |
white lavender, purple, pink, magenta, red |
daisy like flowers on long laterals are approximately 3 per stem (plus 2 buds) |
watchful eye, beginning, contentment and love, I will think of it, love of variety, afterthought, birth flower for September |
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|
N |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Nerine Lily |
year round |
pink |
six to twelve crown like blossoms clustered on stems |
you cannot deceive me, sea nymph/ daughter of the sea |
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|
O |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
|
|
Oriental Lily |
year round |
white |
large star shaped flowers on stems, 1-6 flowers per stem |
purity, majesty, wealth, pride, innocence. White-sweetness, modesty, virginity, it's heavenly to be with you |
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|
P |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
|
|
Peony |
March-June |
white, pink, magenta |
flowers up to 8" across, flower forms are single or double |
healing, bashfulness, happy life, gay life, happy marriage, anger, indignation, good health, prosperity, associated with the 12th anniversary |
 |
Pepper berry |
July- Dec. |
pink, green, red |
round berries on thin pendulous stems atop a hardwood branching stem with thin mimosa like leaves |
warmth |
 |
Phalaenopsis Orchid |
year round |
white |
sold as individual blooms |
love, refinement, symbol for many children, ecstasy, promotes strength, rare beauty |
 |
Pin Cushion Protea |
year round |
red orange yellow |
globe like flower 3-4" across with pin shaped petals |
smelling nice, don't despair |
 |
Plumosus |
year round |
green |
triangular fronds with very fine flat lacy foliage |
sensitive |
 |
Pompon |
year round |
white, lavender, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow bronze gold bicolor |
3-7 small flowers with oblong petals surrounding a button like center on branching stems |
hope cheerfulness, rest optimism, truth birth flower for November, innocence |
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|
R |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Rose |
year round |
white lavender, purple pink magenta red burgundy peach orange yellow green |
a single 1-2" bud opens to a 3-5" flower on a 15-36" stem |
Red: love, passion, respect, courage, I love you; Pink: grace friendship, joy, gratitude; Dark Pink: thankfulness; Green: envy yellow: jealousy, friendship, true love; Purple: worthy of royalty; Orange: creativity fascination; White: purity, innocence, truth |
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|
S |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Scabiosa |
year round |
white blue lavender |
round flowers with overlapping papery petals that surround a large daisy like center |
unfortunate love, widowhood |
 |
Snap Dragon |
February - November |
white lavender, purple pink magenta red burgundy peach orange yellow |
florets are clustered along a spiky stem, stems grow towards the light |
deception, presumption, lets be impetuous, gracious lady, no. |
 |
Solidaigo |
year round |
yellow |
closely packed clusters of flowers on a feathery horizontally spreading spray atop branching stems |
precaution, encouragement, good fortune |
 |
Sprengeri |
year round |
green |
needle like leaflets on multiple side shoots densely covered 12-24" stems |
courage, overcome obstacles |
 |
Star of Bethlehem |
year round |
white |
a spike cluster of star shaped flowers on a stem |
purity, reconciliation, atonement |
 |
Statice |
year round |
white, lavender, purple, pink, peach |
bracts of clustered florets on branching laterals atop long stems |
formality, success, sympathy, remembrance, lasting beauty |
 |
Stephanotis |
year round |
white |
star shaped blossoms with a waxy appearance and a tubular base |
happiness in marriage, desire to travel, good luck |
 |
Stock |
year round, limited in Oct. and Nov. |
white, lavender, purple, pink, peach, yellow |
clusters of florets forma cluster spike |
lasting love, lasting beauty, said to have grown in paradise, bonds of affection, promptness, you'll always be beautiful to me |
 |
Sunflower |
year round |
yellow |
single long petaled daisy like flowers available in single double and teddy bear varieties |
haughtiness, power, adoration, devotion, you are splendid, homage |
 |
Sweet Pea |
March- July |
white, lavender, purple, pink and magenta |
papery butterfly shaped petals with a frilled appearance |
shyness, blissful pleasure, thank you for a lovely time, remember me, birth flower for April, associated with the 30th wedding anniversary |
 |
Sweet William |
April- July |
white, purple, pink, magenta, red |
densely packed clusters of tiny florets |
gallantry, grant me one smile, smile, bravery, finesse, perfection |
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|
T |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Trachelium |
April - October |
white purple |
flower heads up to 6" across are comprised of clusters of tiny florets |
neglected beauty |
 |
Tree Fern |
year round |
green |
tree shaped feather like sprig |
no known meaning |
 |
Tulip |
Nov.-May |
white, lavender, purple, pink, magenta, red, peach, orange, yellow, green bi color |
petals on stem with long green leaves. Tulips naturally open and grow toward a light source |
fame, perfect lover |
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V |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Veronica |
Jan- Sept. |
white, blue, lavender |
arching spikes are composed of packed tiny star- shaped flowers |
fidelity |
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|
Y |
Common Name |
Typical Availability |
Colors |
Characteristics |
Common Meaning |
 |
Yarrow |
April - Sept. |
yellow |
clusters of tiny yellow florets form a round, almost flat flower head |
war, guardian |
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