Caring for your Metallic Chivalry

Keep the arrangement in cool, indirect light and well away from any draught or heat, which the hydrangea especially will not forgive. That hydrangea drinks through its petals as much as its stem, so a light daily misting of the head keeps it plump alongside a full vase; pair this with a recut on the thirsty roses, which take up water quickly and sulk the moment the level drops. The orchid asks for the least and gives the most, needing only clean water and a stem trim, while the amaranthus prefers its trailing form left undisturbed rather than crowded. Refresh the water every couple of days and lift out any rose or hydrangea as it fades, so the orchid and amaranthus can carry the piece on.

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.
  • Hydrangea — Hydrangea takes up water through its petals — mist the heads and keep the vase topped up.
  • Orchid — Keep orchid stems in cool, clean water away from ripening fruit, whose ethylene gas makes the blooms drop early.
  • Rose — Roses drink heavily — re-cut the stems at an angle every couple of days.

How long your flowers last

Expect this arrangement to hold beautifully for around 5–7 days, the natural midpoint of a mix this varied. The roses and hydrangea are the first to soften, with hydrangea in particular signalling thirst before the rest of the bouquet shows any change. The amaranthus, with its trailing plumes, sits comfortably through 7–10 days, while the orchid is the quiet endurer here, often staying fresh well past two weeks after its companions have been edited out. The single most useful habit is a fresh diagonal cut on every stem with a full water change every two days, which lets each bloom in this Amicis composition reach the upper end 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.

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.

Orchid

Origin

Tropical regions worldwide

Cultivated since

Prized in Asia for centuries; carried to Europe across the 18th and 19th centuries

Fragrance

Most cut varieties virtually scentless

Symbolises

Refinement, luxury & rare beauty

Among the largest plant families on earth, orchids took root across the tropics of Asia and the Americas, cultivated in Asia long before reaching the West. Victorian collectors then chased them across the globe, fuelling a famous European craze. Their arched stems and sculptural blooms bring quiet architecture to an arrangement, holding their form for weeks where softer flowers fade.

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.