Caring for your Kiss Me Softly

Keep this arrangement somewhere cool and out of direct sun, since both the roses and the hydrangea drink heavily and tire quickly in warm rooms. The hydrangea draws water partly through its petals, so a light misting of the heads alongside topping up the vase keeps it from wilting early. Recut the woody hydrangea and rose stems on an angle whenever you change the water, which lets them draw freely and keeps the thirsty roses from bowing at the neck. The amaranthus and anthurium ask for less, but clear any lower foliage below the waterline so the vase stays clean and the whole mix holds its shape.

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.
  • 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

Kiss Me Softly typically holds its form for 5–7 days indoors, with the hydrangea setting the early limit and the anthurium carrying the arrangement well past the rest. The hydrangea is the first to soften, usually fading after 4–7 days as its dense heads lose water faster than the other stems. Roses follow a similar 5–7 day window, while the amaranthus drapes on for 7–10 days, and the anthurium is the quiet endurer here, often staying crisp for two to three weeks. To get the longest life from this mix, recut every stem at a sharp angle and refresh the water every two days, a small habit that does more for an Amicis bouquet than any additive.

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.

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.