The short answer: most cut flowers last about five days to two weeks in a vase. Carnations, chrysanthemums and orchids are among the longest lasting, often two weeks or more, while tulips, hydrangeas and peonies tend to have a shorter vase life. How you care for them matters as much as which flowers you choose: fresh water, a clean vase and a fresh cut on the stems can add days.
Here is a flower by flower guide to what to expect, with tips to get the most from every stem.
How long common cut flowers last
These ranges assume fresh flowers and good care at home. Every bouquet is different, and warm rooms shorten vase life.
- Carnations: about 2 to 3 weeks. One of the longest lasting cut flowers, and a big reason they appear in so many arrangements.
- Chrysanthemums: about 2 to 3 weeks. Mums hold their shape well and suit autumn designs.
- Dendrobium orchids: about 2 to 3 weeks. Remove faded blooms along the spray to keep it fresh.
- Alstroemeria (Peruvian lilies): about 2 weeks. The buds keep opening along the stem.
- Lilies: about 1 to 2 weeks. Buds open over several days, so a lily bouquet often looks its best a few days after it arrives. Our guide on how to care for lilies covers the buds and the pollen.
- Roses: about 5 to 10 days. Re-cut the stems every couple of days and keep them out of warm spots. Our guide on how to care for cut roses explains what to do if a head droops.
- Gerbera daisies: about 5 to 10 days. Their stems are soft, so they like shallow, clean water that is changed often.
- Sunflowers: about 6 to 12 days. They drink a lot, so check the water level daily.
- Freesia: about 1 week. Pinch off the lower blooms as they fade to help the top buds open.
- Tulips: about 5 to 7 days. They keep growing and bending toward light after they are cut.
- Hydrangeas: about 5 to 7 days. They drink heavily through their stems and their petals, so top up the water often.
- Peonies: about 5 to 7 days once open. Their season is short, in late spring and early summer.
Why some flowers last longer than others
Flowers with firm, woody or waxy petals, such as carnations, mums and orchids, lose water slowly and resist bruising. Flowers with large, thin petals or soft stems, such as hydrangeas, tulips and gerberas, lose water quickly and wilt sooner. Flowers that open over several days, such as lilies and alstroemeria, give you a longer display because new blooms keep appearing as the first ones fade.
Why a bouquet may arrive partly closed
Florists often use lilies, roses and other flowers when the buds are only starting to open, because flowers cut at that stage last longer in the vase. A bouquet that looks a little closed on the first day usually opens fully over the next two or three days, so you get to enjoy it for longer. Leave lily buds on the stem, even small green ones, because many of them will open in the vase.
Seven ways to make any bouquet last longer
- Start with a clean vase. Bacteria in the water block the stems. Wash the vase with warm, soapy water before you use it.
- Re-cut the stems. Trim about 2 cm off each stem at an angle with a sharp knife or scissors when the bouquet arrives, and again every few days.
- Remove low leaves. Any leaf below the waterline will rot and cloud the water.
- Change the water. Top it up daily and replace it completely every two or three days.
- Use flower food. If a packet comes with your bouquet, mix it into the water. It feeds the flowers and slows bacteria.
- Keep them cool. Heat speeds up wilting. Keep flowers away from heat vents, sunny windows, appliances and fireplaces.
- Keep them away from fruit. Ripening fruit gives off ethylene gas, which makes flowers age faster.
For more detail, read our guide on how to keep a bouquet fresh longer.
Choosing a long-lasting gift
If you want flowers that stay beautiful for as long as possible, choose designs built around carnations, mums, alstroemeria, lilies or orchids. Our lilies open over several days, and our orchids include cut orchid bouquets and potted orchids that can bloom for weeks. Roses are always a favourite, and with fresh water and a trim every few days they will reward you. See our roses.
For a gift that lasts even longer, a potted plant or orchid keeps going long after a bouquet is finished. Our guide on how to care for an orchid explains how to help one bloom again.
Fresh from our studio
Every bouquet is hand-arranged in our Mississauga studio. We offer same-day delivery of fresh flowers across the GTA, delivery is free on orders over $50, and every order includes a free handwritten card. If you have questions about caring for your flowers, call our studio at 905-677-9999.