“I must have flowers, always, and always.”

Claude Monet

Welcome the outdoors into your home with flowers. Numerous varieties thrive from late spring to early summer, offering colorful blooms and enticing aromas. During hotter months, when windows shut as air coolers cycle, seasonal florals are a perfect solution to keep living spaces vibrant. Allow the fresh scent of peonies in your entryway, carnations near your bath, or roses where you retire for the evening set the tone for beautiful interior experiences. Listed are a few classic selections popular in home gardens, with florists, and in grocery locations for easy access and affordability.

Carnations

A notable filler flower, the carnation is a stunning specimen in its own right. Its bloom cycle begins late spring to late summer. These long haulers can remain bouquet worthy 2 to 3 weeks with proper care. Keep in shady locations, remove browning leaves, wilting buds, and keep water fresh. There are 600 hundred varieties, with a suitable one for every taste or need. Most Carnations produce a subtle, spicy, almost clove-like scent. Popular fragrant varieties include the Dianthus Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit, and Romance. Carnations pair with every flower imaginable and are non-pollen-producing. Its long stem allows for easy cutting for any sized vase or display.*

Image by Tiachen Aier

Hydrangea

US Hydrangeas flower in the spring, summer, and early fall seasons. Although a summer floral, it does not thrive in extreme heat. Hues of pinks, whites, violets, and blues with large-sized bloom heads make this flower lovely filler or it can stand alone. Their beauty fades quickly, approximately 3 to 5 days. Tending their stem cut and water freshness can aid in longevity. Use ice water in vases, avoid sunlight, and gently mist petals to keep hydrated. These flowers pair well with spray roses, dahlias, and freesia, or simple greenery as filler. Not all hydrangea are scented and produce little to no allergens. These nicely accommodate more rustic displays or wide containers.*

Dahlias

The Dahlias US season begins mid-summer until fall. Certain varieties of fresh-cut Dahlias last 4-5 days, others up to 10 days. They lack variation from bud to bloom as they quickly open fully to size. More delicate, Dahlias are common for shorter-duration displays. To maximize vase life, cure it in a vase of hot water and allow it to cool at room temperature. Most dahlias are not scent producers, yet yield generous amounts of pollen. They display beautifully with Black-Eyed Susans, agapanthus, anise hyssop, or rosemary. Their blooms offer a cozy touch, a wildflower, rustic feel with their deep colors and pointed petals.* 

Image by Annie Spratt

Peonies

In many US locations, this lightly scented flower blooms from April until June, with cut stems lasting 7-10 days. It has been referred to as the rose without thorns in acknowledgment of its sweet-lingering perfume and produces low pollen. Foxglove and clustered bellflower pair well with peonies when in fuller arrangements. Peonies are sensitive to temperature, so warm or sunny spots near windows will open blooms more quickly. Keeping your water cooler will keep a tighter bud. This flower displays well in vases, teapots, or other fine display pieces.*

Roses

The hardy growing rose produces in late spring and early fall in most US regions. Rose stems prefer cool temperatures, shade, and no drafts. Keep snipped at 45-degree angles to ensure good water intake, and change the vase water every other day. Along with baby’s breath, roses pair well with lady’s mantle, lavender, sage, and pincushions. Floral lovers find roses magically blend in most arrangements due to their popularity and charm. Each variety has a distinct color, and some have a signature scent. They produce little to no allergens. Best defined in finer vase ware, these long-loved favorites can dress any container.

Image by Ifrah Akhler 

Keep your florals lasting longer! Remember to start with a clean vase, fresh water that changes frequently, flower food packet or a quarter cup of clear soda (sugar based), and place in your frig overnight if possible. Avoid heat, direct sunlight, and drafts.

Want to create long-lasting florals? Make a perfect dried flower: place in low water in a dry, cool, dark place. As water evaporates, petals will dry. 2-3 weeks to complete. 

EDITORS NOTE: *Varying parts reported toxic if ingested. We do not recommend near pets or small children.

photo credit: unsplashed: juli â¥ï, Tiachen Aier, Chantal Garnier, Liana Mikah, Ifrah Akhter

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