Caring for your The Royale

Keep The Royale away from direct sun, which fades applied blue tones faster than natural pigment. Water at the base of the vessel rather than over the flowers, and mist the hydrangea heads lightly rather than spraying the roses. Re-cut the rose and delphinium stems at an angle every two to three days, since they are the heaviest drinkers here and will bow first. The carnations and chrysanthemum need very little attention. If a rose softens, lift it out rather than leaving it in, as it will pull the water quality down for the rest of the arrangement.

A note on your specific blooms

  • Rose — Roses drink heavily — re-cut the stems at an angle every couple of days.
  • Hydrangea — Hydrangea takes up water through its petals — mist the heads and keep the vase topped up.
  • Delphinium — Keep the tall stems in deep, fresh water and out of draughts, as Delphinium drinks heavily and wilts quickly if the vase runs low.
  • 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.
  • Craspedia — Give each stem a fresh diagonal cut and stand it in clean water; the bare stems need little else, and the golden heads hold for weeks.
  • Anthurium — Anthurium prefers warmth — keep it away from the cold and wipe the leaf gently.
  • Asparagus Fern — Mist the delicate fronds and keep them out of direct sun, as the fine foliage dries and yellows faster than the flowers it accompanies.

How long your flowers last

Expect roughly 7 to 12 days. The delphinium goes first, usually by day 5, and the blue roses follow at around day 6 to 8. The hydrangea holds well if it is kept hydrated, and the carnations, chrysanthemum and craspedia are the durable core of this piece, often lasting a full two weeks. The dendrobium orchid and anthurium can run to 2 to 3 weeks. Note that the blue on the roses and some of the foliage is applied rather than natural, so avoid soaking the petals directly, since the colour can transfer when wet.

The story behind these flowers

A closer look at the blooms gathered into this arrangement.

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.

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.

Delphinium

Origin

Native across the Northern Hemisphere, through Europe and Asia

Cultivated since

In European gardens for centuries

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Openness, lightness & positivity

Named from the Greek for dolphin, after the shape of the flower itself, Delphinium carries blooms in graduated spires of cobalt, violet and white. That vertical line is what makes it indispensable in an arrangement - it draws the eye upward and gives an Amicis design its sense of height and architecture.

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.

Craspedia

Origin

Australia and New Zealand

Described

By science in the late 1700s

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Good health, optimism & cheer

A wildflower of Australian grasslands and alpine meadows, Craspedia carries a single perfect sphere of densely packed golden florets on a slender, leafless stem. That graphic, button-round form brings rhythm and a flash of warm colour to an arrangement - and because it dries beautifully, it holds its shape long after the rest has faded.

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.

Asparagus Fern

Origin

Southern Africa

A florist staple since

The Victorian era

Fragrance

Fresh and green

Symbolises

Softness, depth & airy texture

Not a true fern at all, but a southern African relative of the edible asparagus, its feathery sprays became a fixture of the European florist trade from the nineteenth century onward. The fine, cloud-like fronds soften an arrangement and add depth between blooms, which is why Amicis reaches for it as a quiet structural foil rather than a focal point.