Caring for your Eclipse 6

Keep this bouquet in clean, cool water away from direct sun, fruit and heat, as the hydrangea and roses are the heaviest drinkers and will wilt fast once the vase runs low. Give the hydrangea a deep drink and mist its head occasionally, since it takes up much of its water through the petals rather than the stem alone. Re-cut the woody, fibrous stems of the bird of paradise and the rose at a sharp angle with a clean blade so they draw water freely, and strip any lower foliage that would otherwise sit below the waterline. Handle the anthurium's glossy spathes gently, as they bruise more easily than they look, and top up the water daily so the whole arrangement stays balanced as the firmer tropical blooms outlast the softer ones.

A note on your specific blooms

  • Amaranthus — Recut the stems at an angle and keep the water shallow, as amaranthus drinks heavily and the lower stem softens quickly when submerged too deep.
  • Anthurium — Anthurium prefers warmth — keep it away from the cold and wipe the leaf gently.
  • Bird of Paradise — Recut the woody stem at an angle and refresh the water often, as this thirsty flower drinks heavily and lasts longest in a deep vase.
  • Chrysanthemum — Chrysanthemum is sensitive to murky water — strip the lower leaves and refresh it often.
  • 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 this Eclipse 6 arrangement to hold for roughly 5–10 days overall, with the bouquet shifting in character as its softer blooms give way to its architectural ones. The hydrangea is the first to tire, drinking quickly and softening within 4–7 days, while the roses follow close behind at around 5–7 days. The amaranthus and chrysanthemums sit comfortably in the middle, and it is the anthurium and bird of paradise that carry the display longest, often staying composed for two weeks or more after the rest have faded. To get the fullest life from the mix, refresh the water every two days and re-cut the stems each time at an angle, which keeps the thirsty roses and hydrangea drinking and lets the Amicis arrangement age gracefully rather than all at once.

The story behind these flowers

A closer look at the blooms gathered into this arrangement.

Amaranthus

Origin

Tropical Americas (Andes & Mesoamerica)

Cultivated since

For thousands of years by Andean & Mesoamerican peoples

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Immortality, unfading love & endurance

Grown across the Americas for millennia as both grain and ornament, amaranthus is best known for its long crimson tassels that spill downward in soft, trailing ropes. Its name comes from the Greek for unfading, a nod to blooms that hold colour and form even as they dry. In an arrangement it adds movement and weight, draping over the edge of a vessel to break a clean silhouette and lend an Amicis piece an unhurried, sculptural fall.

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.

Bird of Paradise

Origin

South Africa

Described

By science in the late 1700s

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Freedom, joy & magnificence

Named for its likeness to a tropical bird in flight, Strelitzia reginae was carried from the South African coast to Kew in the late 1700s and dedicated to Queen Charlotte. Its orange crest and blue tongue give any arrangement an architectural lift, holding their shape long after softer blooms have faded.

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.

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.