Caring for your Salver 02

Keep this bouquet in a clean vase with fresh, room-temperature water, and stand it away from direct sun, draughts, and any nearby fruit, which the dahlias and peonies are especially quick to react to. The roses and dahlias are heavy drinkers, so check the water line daily and top it up before it drops below their stems. Handle the gloriosa and the peonies with a light touch, since their stems are slender and their petals bruise easily, and give the peonies a little room to open rather than crowding them. Strip any leaves that sit below the waterline so the anthurium and carnation stay clear of bacteria, and a cool overnight spot will reward the whole arrangement with extra days.

A note on your specific blooms

  • Anthurium — Anthurium prefers warmth — keep it away from the cold and wipe the leaf gently.
  • Carnation — Cut stems cleanly between the swollen leaf joints rather than through them, as carnations draw water best when the node itself is left intact.
  • Chrysanthemum — Chrysanthemum is sensitive to murky water — strip the lower leaves and refresh it often.
  • Dahlia — Cut the hollow stems at an angle and refresh the water every day or two, as dahlias drink heavily and wilt quickly when thirsty.
  • Gerbera — Gerbera has fragile stems — use shallow, clean water and support the heads.
  • Gloriosa — Handle stems with care and keep them away from pets and children, as every part of the plant is toxic if ingested.
  • Peony — Cut the stems on an angle and use cool, fresh water, as warmth forces the heavy blooms open too quickly.
  • 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 for roughly 5–10 days, with the bouquet's longevity shaped by its mix of short- and long-lived blooms. The dahlia, peony, and rose are the first to soften, each settling in around the 4–7 day mark, so they set the early pace of the display. Holding steadily behind them are the anthurium and carnation, which can stay composed for two to three weeks, while the gloriosa and chrysanthemum bridge the middle of that range. To carry the arrangement toward its longer end, the single most useful habit is to change the water every other day and re-trim the stems on an angle each time, the same routine the Amicis studio follows to keep a mix like this looking considered.

The story behind these flowers

A closer look at the blooms gathered into this arrangement.

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.

Carnation

Origin

Mediterranean region

Cultivated since

Antiquity, over 2,000 years

Fragrance

Sweet and clove-like

Symbolises

Fascination, distinction & love

Crowned in wreaths and garlands across the ancient Mediterranean, the carnation has been cultivated for more than two thousand years. Its tightly ruffled, fringed petals hold their form for weeks, lending an arrangement quiet structure and a warm, clove-edged scent that lingers without overwhelming.

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.

Dahlia

Origin

Mexico and Central America

Cultivated since

Aztec gardens; reached Europe in the late 18th century

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Elegance, dignity & devotion

Declared the national flower of Mexico, the dahlia was grown in Aztec gardens long before it was first raised in Europe in the late 18th century, spreading widely in the decades that followed. In its ball and pompon forms, the densely layered florets curl into a near-spherical head — geometry that gives an Amicis arrangement a sculptural, architectural centre that holds the eye.

Gerbera

Origin

South Africa

Described

By science in 1889

Fragrance

Barely scented, lightly fresh

Symbolises

Cheerfulness, warmth & innocence

The gerbera daisy brings open, sunlit colour and a graphic simplicity to a bouquet. Native to South Africa and loved worldwide, its clean single bloom adds brightness and a friendly, contemporary note to Amicis designs.

Gloriosa

Origin

Tropical Africa and Asia

Described

By Linnaeus in 1753

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Glory, boldness & passion

Also called the flame lily, Gloriosa is a tendril-climbing plant whose reflexed petals curl backward into a flickering wave of red and gold. That swept-back, almost weightless form gives an Amicis arrangement movement and a single point of drama that few other blooms can match.

Peony

Origin

China

Cultivated since

Over 2,000 years in China

Fragrance

Sweet, soft and rosy

Symbolises

Prosperity, romance & honour

Cultivated in China for more than two thousand years, the peony was crowned the King of Flowers and favoured by emperors long before it reached a Western garden. Its tight bud opens into a deep, ruffled bloom that brings volume and quiet drama to an arrangement – a single stem is often enough.

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.