Caring for your Eclipse 11

Keep this arrangement out of direct sun and away from any draught or heat source, since the dahlias and hydrangea are the most sensitive to wilting and tire fastest. The roses are thirsty and drink heavily, so check the water level daily and top it up before it runs low, keeping it clean and clear. Give the hydrangea a deep drink by misting its head and, if it starts to flag, lay the whole stem in cool water for an hour, as it takes up moisture through its petals as much as its stem. Re-cut the woody protea and kangaroo paw stems on a sharp angle every couple of days so they keep drinking, and handle the calla lilies gently, as their smooth stems bruise and crease easily.

A note on your specific blooms

  • Anthurium — Anthurium prefers warmth — keep it away from the cold and wipe the leaf gently.
  • Calla Lily — Re-cut the thick, fleshy stems on an angle and keep water shallow, as callas are prone to softening if stood too deep.
  • Chrysanthemum — Chrysanthemum is sensitive to murky water — strip the lower leaves and refresh it often.
  • Dahlia — Cut the hollow stems at an angle and refresh the water every day or two, as dahlias drink heavily and wilt quickly when thirsty.
  • Hydrangea — Hydrangea takes up water through its petals — mist the heads and keep the vase topped up.
  • Kangaroo Paw — Trim the stems on a slant and keep them well submerged in fresh water; skip sugar-based flower food, which these natives prefer to do without.
  • Protea — Strip any foliage below the waterline and refresh the water every two to three days, as protea leaves foul water quickly and shorten the bloom's life.
  • Rose — Roses drink heavily — re-cut the stems at an angle every couple of days.

How long your flowers last

Expect this mix to hold beautifully for around 7–10 days, with the dahlias and hydrangea the first to soften and bow at roughly 4–7 days. The roses follow close behind at 5–7 days, while the architectural stems carry the arrangement well past the first week: anthurium can stay crisp for 2–3 weeks, with protea (10–14 days), kangaroo paw (1–2 weeks), calla lily and chrysanthemum all enduring longer than the softer focal flowers. As the shorter-lived blooms fade, simply lift them out and the remaining structure will keep the piece looking intentional rather than tired. The single most useful habit is to refresh the water and re-cut the stems on a slant every two days, which is the routine Amicis relies on to draw out the full life of a mix like this.

The story behind these flowers

A closer look at the blooms gathered into this arrangement.

Anthurium

Origin

Rainforests of Colombia & Ecuador

Documented

By botanists in the 1870s

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Hospitality, confidence & beauty

The anthurium's glossy, sculptural 'bloom' is in fact a modified leaf, with a poised tropical architecture few flowers can match. It lends Amicis designs a clean, modern edge — and one of the longest vase lives in the bouquet.

Calla Lily

Origin

Southern Africa

Cultivated since

Reached Europe in the 1600s

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Grace, purity & devotion

Native to southern Africa, the calla's signature is not a petal at all but a single furled spathe wrapped around a slender golden spadix. That clean, sculptural curve is why it reads as architecture rather than bloom – one stem lends an Amicis arrangement quiet, modern poise.

Chrysanthemum

Origin

East Asia — China & Japan

Cultivated since

Over 3,000 years in China

Fragrance

Soft, earthy and herbal

Symbolises

Longevity, joy & well-wishing

One of the oldest cultivated flowers, prized in China and Japan for three thousand years and honoured with its own festival. Its dense, textured heads bring depth and a long, dependable life to an arrangement.

Dahlia

Origin

Mexico and Central America

Cultivated since

Aztec gardens; reached Europe in the late 18th century

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Elegance, dignity & devotion

Declared the national flower of Mexico, the dahlia was grown in Aztec gardens long before it was first raised in Europe in the late 18th century, spreading widely in the decades that followed. In its ball and pompon forms, the densely layered florets curl into a near-spherical head — geometry that gives an Amicis arrangement a sculptural, architectural centre that holds the eye.

Hydrangea

Origin

Japan & the Americas

Cultivated since

Reached European gardens in the 1700s

Fragrance

Very light, fresh and green

Symbolises

Heartfelt emotion & gratitude

Named from the Greek for 'water vessel', the hydrangea carries full, cloud-like heads that shift colour with the soil — from blush and cream to deep blue. Its generous volume gives Amicis bouquets their soft, romantic fullness.

Kangaroo Paw

Origin

South-western Australia

Described

By the botanist Labillardière, around 1800

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Individuality, resilience & vibrant energy

Named for the velvety, tubular blooms that curl like an animal's paw, Kangaroo Paw is endemic to the wild southwest of Australia. Its felted stems and architectural form in tones of green, ochre and red bring sculptural texture to an arrangement, lending Amicis bouquets an unexpected, design-led edge.

Protea

Origin

South Africa's Cape Floristic region

Described

By Linnaeus, mid-1700s

Fragrance

Faint and honeyed

Symbolises

Resilience, diversity & courage

Named for Proteus, the shape-shifting sea god, the protea answers to a genus so varied it seems to change form at will. Its architectural bracts and sculptural silhouette bring weight and structure to an arrangement, holding the eye as a single, deliberate focal point.

Rose

Origin

Asia — China, Persia & the Mediterranean

Cultivated since

Over 5,000 years

Fragrance

Warm and sweet, of honey & tea

Symbolises

Love, gratitude & admiration

The most storied flower in the world, grown and gifted for five millennia. Its layered petals and soft scent have made it the universal language of affection — and the quiet anchor of almost every Amicis arrangement.