Caring for your Honey Bee

Roses are thirsty and set the pace for this arrangement, so keep the vase generously filled and top it up daily rather than waiting for the level to drop. Trim each rose stem on a slant before it goes in, and strip any leaves that would otherwise sit below the waterline and cloud the water. The trailing amaranthus is more forgiving but dislikes being crushed, so give its long stems room to fall naturally instead of packing them tight. Keep the whole bouquet out of direct sun and away from the draught of an air conditioner, and a quick stem re-cut every couple of days will keep both blooms looking their best.

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.
  • Rose — Roses drink heavily — re-cut the stems at an angle every couple of days.

How long your flowers last

Expect this arrangement of amaranthus and roses to hold for around 5–9 days, with a cool position and clean water making the difference between the lower and upper end of that range. The roses are the first to soften, typically lasting 5–7 days before their petals begin to relax. Amaranthus is the steadier of the two, holding its draping form and colour for 7–10 days and often outlasting the blooms around it. The single most useful habit is to re-cut the stems at an angle and refresh the water every two days, which keeps the roses drinking and lets your Amicis bouquet reach the top of its range.

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.

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.