Caring for your Holidays 03

Keep this arrangement in cool, filtered light and away from direct sun or any draught, since amaranthus dislikes heat and tends to wilt quickly once its water runs low. Give it a generous, clean vase of water, as the long amaranthus tassels drink steadily and fade fast when left thirsty. Recut the stems on a slant before they go in, and make sure no foliage or fern fronds sit below the waterline where they can cloud the water. The fern is the more forgiving of the two and asks mainly for that clean water and a gentle misting to hold its colour. Change the water before it turns and the texture of both will stay crisp far longer.

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.
  • Fern — Keep fronds out of direct sun and mist them occasionally, as ferns lose moisture through their leaves faster than most cut greenery.

How long your flowers last

Expect this pairing of amaranthus and fern to hold for roughly 7–10 days as an arrangement. The fern is the quiet endurer here, often staying fresh for 7–14 days, while the trailing amaranthus is the first to soften and drop its tone after about a week. Because the two age at slightly different rates, the bouquet will read its best in the first several days, then settle into a looser, more textural form as the amaranthus relaxes. The single most useful habit is to refresh the water every two days and trim a little from the stems each time, which is how Amicis keeps a mix like this looking considered for as long as possible.

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.

Fern

Origin

Worldwide, in shaded woodlands and wetlands

Recorded

In the fossil record for hundreds of millions of years

Fragrance

Faint and green

Symbolises

Texture, depth & natural movement

One of the oldest plant lineages on Earth, ferns flourished long before the first flowering plant unfurled. In an arrangement their feathered, architectural fronds soften hard edges and lend a quiet woodland depth, the green foil that lets Amicis blooms read clean and considered.