Caring for your Sparkle Holidays 03

This piece pairs thirsty roses with woody evergreen stems, so re-cut the pine, fern and ilex on a sharp diagonal to keep them drinking, and trim the roses every couple of days. Keep the water clean and topped up, strip any lower foliage that would sit below the line, and stand it somewhere cool — the evergreens love it and the roses last longer for it.

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.
  • Ilex — Keep Ilex away from other cut flowers where possible – its branches release ethylene that can shorten the life of neighbouring blooms.
  • Pine — Recut the woody stems on an angle and keep the foliage misted, as pine holds best in cool, draught-free air away from heat sources.
  • Rose — Roses drink heavily — re-cut the stems at an angle every couple of days.

How long your flowers last

Expect this festive mix to hold beautifully for around 7–10 days, with the evergreens — pine, fern and ilex — easily outlasting the blooms. The roses are the first to soften, so give them a fresh angled cut and clean water every couple of days. The amaranthus drapes and dries gracefully rather than wilting, holding its colour to the end. Kept cool and away from direct heat, this Amicis arrangement stays rich and full well into the season.

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.

Ilex

Origin

Subtropical Asia

Recorded

In European winter custom for centuries

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Structure, warmth & winter cheer

Most familiar in its deciduous winterberry form, Ilex arrives not as a bloom but as a bare branch beaded in lacquered red – a genus whose lineage botanists trace back to subtropical Asia. In an Amicis arrangement it works as architecture, its glossy berries threading colour and rhythm through softer flowers and lending a composition its cool, sculptural backbone.

Pine

Origin

Northern Hemisphere forests

Recorded

In use for centuries

Fragrance

Fresh, resinous and green

Symbolises

Longevity, endurance & resilience

An evergreen conifer that has framed gatherings for centuries, pine carries a cool, resinous scent and holds its needles the year round. As cut foliage it brings deep evergreen colour and architectural lines, anchoring an Amicis arrangement with texture and a quiet sense of permanence.

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.