Caring for your Untamed

Untamed asks for steady hydration above all, since the roses drink heavily and the hydrangea takes up water through its petals as well as its stem, so keep the vase generously filled and mist the hydrangea head lightly on warmer days. Give the woody rose and hydrangea stems a clean diagonal cut every couple of days to keep them drawing freely, and handle the gerbera's slender, top-heavy necks gently, as they bend toward the light and appreciate the support of surrounding stems. The bromeliad and carnations are the resilient backbone of this mix and need little beyond clean water, so let them set the pace once the softer blooms begin to fade. Keep the whole arrangement out of direct sun and away from cooling vents or ripening fruit, and strip any lower foliage sitting below the waterline to keep the water clear.

A note on your specific blooms

  • Bromeliad — Keep the central rosette or cut stem topped up with clean water, and display away from cold draughts, as bromeliads are sensitive to chilling.
  • Carnation — Cut stems cleanly between the swollen leaf joints rather than through them, as carnations draw water best when the node itself is left intact.
  • Gerbera — Gerbera has fragile stems — use shallow, clean water and support the heads.
  • Hydrangea — Hydrangea takes up water through its petals — mist the heads and keep the vase topped up.
  • Rose — Roses drink heavily — re-cut the stems at an angle every couple of days.

How long your flowers last

Expect Untamed to hold for roughly 5–10 days overall, with its lifespan staggered across the mix rather than ending all at once. The hydrangea is the first to soften, drinking through its petals as much as its stem and fading within 4–7 days, while the gerbera follows close behind at 5–8 days as its slender neck tires and the rose settles around 5–7 days. At the other end, the bromeliad and carnation are the long-distance holders here, staying composed for 2–3 weeks and often carrying the arrangement well past the point the softer blooms have bowed out. As stems fade, Amicis suggests lifting them out and letting the bromeliad and carnations carry on rather than discarding the whole piece. The single most useful habit is a fresh, cool water change every two days with a clean diagonal recut on the stems, which does more than anything else to keep the thirstier flowers upright.

The story behind these flowers

A closer look at the blooms gathered into this arrangement.

Bromeliad

Origin

Tropical Americas

Known to Europe

Since the early voyages to the New World

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Protection, hospitality & resilience

A cousin of the pineapple, the bromeliad belongs to a family of tropical American plants prized for their sculptural inflorescence rather than scent. Its waxy, brightly coloured bract holds for weeks, giving an Amicis arrangement a sharp architectural focal point that anchors softer blooms around it.

Carnation

Origin

Mediterranean region

Cultivated since

Antiquity, over 2,000 years

Fragrance

Sweet and clove-like

Symbolises

Fascination, distinction & love

Crowned in wreaths and garlands across the ancient Mediterranean, the carnation has been cultivated for more than two thousand years. Its tightly ruffled, fringed petals hold their form for weeks, lending an arrangement quiet structure and a warm, clove-edged scent that lingers without overwhelming.

Gerbera

Origin

South Africa

Described

By science in 1889

Fragrance

Barely scented, lightly fresh

Symbolises

Cheerfulness, warmth & innocence

The gerbera daisy brings open, sunlit colour and a graphic simplicity to a bouquet. Native to South Africa and loved worldwide, its clean single bloom adds brightness and a friendly, contemporary note to Amicis designs.

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.

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.