"Statice is the Best: What Makes Some Flowers Last Longer Than Others?"

2019.08.22 published

Flowers to decorate your home. Flowers for bouquets.

I use Hibiya Kadan's subscription flower service "Hananohi," and I receive flowers every day.*

➡︎Here is an article introducing Hananohi

I have subscribed to both a plan that allows me to receive one flower daily for 1187 yen and another plan that allows me to choose 1300 yen worth of flowers six times a month for 3987 yen, so I'm enjoying decorating with various flowers.

I was shocked to realize that "the longevity of flowers varies greatly depending on their type, even if managed in the same way...!" so I decided to write an article about it.

First, hydrangeas wilt quickly....!

Hydrangeas are incredibly cute, but they require proper care (like water uptake, removing leaves, and changing water daily) to enjoy at home, making them a bit challenging.

If you don't take care of them properly, they wilt and sag very quickly...

One reason hydrangeas wilt so quickly is that each stem with a bloom is quite thin, resembling capillaries.

When cut, their ability to uptake water weakens, so if you don't adjust it properly, within a few hours of arranging them in a bouquet, the petals will droop and point downward...

(I really think nature is amazing...)

This also applies to other flowers with thin stems.

Small flowers like feverfew and chamomile, which have thin stems, tend to lose their vitality much quicker.

That's why, for weddings, bouquets are often kept submerged in water right up until the last moment.

About the amount of water you should put in a vase.

When I consulted with a florist, saying, "I'm so sad that my hydrangeas wilt so quickly ＞＜," they advised me, "Filling the vase with a lot of water may help them recover," and when I tried it, it indeed helped!

However, the amount of water suitable for flowers varies by type; for example, hydrangeas prefer a lot of water in the vase, but tulips do better with less water... The optimal amount of water differs for each flower.

This means that (though there are blooming seasons, etc.) it’s quite challenging to arrange tulips and hydrangeas together if you're aiming for longevity...!

Doesn't that sound like a "Gahーーーn!!" moment??? I certainly thought "Gahーーーn!!!"...

Arranging flowers of different qualities together, without considering their longevity or cost-effectiveness, really highlights that "Ikebana and flower arrangement" is an art form!

So, which flowers have good longevity?

Flowers like baby's breath and statice, which are suitable for dried arrangements (as they are not originally high in moisture), can be used without worrying about their water uptake.

In conclusion, they wilt less and maintain a similar appearance to when you bought them for a longer time.

(At our home, statice can be displayed with very little change in appearance for about two to three weeks.)

Flowers referred to as "wildflowers," such as those from South Africa and Australia, tend to be more resilient to heat and have longer-lasting qualities.

(Examples include proteas, pincushions, leucadendrons, brunias, and waxflowers, which have a branch-like appearance.)

I’m reminded of the incredible vitality of life that thrives in the African landscape...!

By the way, while roses are known for being "delicate flowers," African roses remain upright and vigorous even when left outside in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.

There is a florist that specializes in "African roses," and their roses remain beautiful for about a week even without much care, making them highly recommended for gifts.

Let’s learn about the nature of flowers＊

It has been about three months since I started using Hibiya Kadan's "Hananohi."

As I live with flowers, I’ve realized that all flowers are different and how their characteristics reflect their background (origin) and structure (stem thickness) while taking care of them. It feels enjoyable, as if I’m connecting with nature through these cut flowers.

While the combination of flowers in wedding bouquets may strongly emphasize aesthetic aspects, having prior knowledge that hydrangeas and small flowers may struggle to maintain vitality in heat is definitely important.

(Not knowing and having them wilt on the day would be too sad!)

I want to lead a life with flowers while continuing to learn about them＊