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Quick answer: Most cut flowers last between 7 and 12 days in a vase with reasonable care. Roses and lilies sit toward the longer end. Tulips and sunflowers are shorter-lived. Chrysanthemums, alstroemeria and lisianthus are consistently the longest-lasting flowers available for delivery in Ireland.
Knowing how long different flowers last in a vase takes the guesswork out of ordering and helps you know whether your bouquet is performing as it should. The numbers below are based on flowers arriving fresh and cared for reasonably well. Care makes a real difference and is covered at the end.
Chrysanthemums consistently outlast everything else, typically two to three weeks in a clean vase. They are hardy, low-maintenance and available year-round, which is why they appear in sympathy arrangements which can be seen here: https://theflowerfactory.ie/collections/sympathy-bouquets and long-lasting mixed bouquets. If longevity is the priority, chrysanthemums are the answer.
Alstroemeria, sometimes called Peruvian lily, lasts ten to fourteen days and has the added quality of continuing to open new buds as the arrangement develops. It often looks better in the second week than the first. Lisianthus is similar, lasting ten to fourteen days with layered blooms that open gradually and give excellent value for vase life. Our wild mixed bouquet called "Wild & Wonderful" features both and can be seen here: https://theflowerfactory.ie/wild-and-wonderful-flowers?_pos=2&_sid=5c91331df&_ss=r
Gerberas are one of the most underestimated flowers for lasting power. With a clean vase and shallow water, they can go up to two weeks. Their stems are hollow which makes them slightly more sensitive to bacteria than other flowers, but a daily water change solves that entirely.
Roses last seven to twelve days with good care and are one of the most consistent performers of any cut flower. Under ideal conditions with cool temperatures and regular water changes some varieties push closer to two weeks.
The main thing that shortens rose life is warm water and warm rooms. Change the water every two days, trim the stems diagonally each time and keep them away from direct sun and fruit. Roses are sensitive to ethylene gas from ripening fruit which causes petals to drop earlier than they should. Our rose collection is available here.
Oriental lilies last eight to twelve days from when the buds begin to open, which typically happens two to three days after delivery. Because they arrive partially closed and develop over time, a lily arrangement is often at its best around day four or five and continues through to day ten or beyond.
Lily pollen stains fabric and surfaces easily. Remove the orange stamens carefully as each bloom opens, before the anthers shed. It does not affect vase life and makes them significantly easier to live with. You can browse our lily range here.
We do our very own Lilly bouquet that you can see here or by clicking the photo below: https://theflowerfactory.ie/collections/featured/products/lovely-lilies-white-bouquet
Tulips last five to seven days, shorter than most people expect. They also behave differently to other cut flowers. Tulips continue to grow after being arranged, which means stems bend and lengthen over time and the shape of the arrangement changes.
Keep tulips in cool water and a cool room. They are more sensitive to heat than most cut flowers and will open and decline quickly in a warm space. One thing worth knowing: never put tulips in the same vase as daffodils. Daffodils release a sap that shortens the life of other flowers around them, tulips in particular.
Sunflowers last seven to ten days in a vase. They drink more water than most cut flowers so check the vase level daily rather than every couple of days. A sunflower that runs low on water wilts quickly and is harder to revive than most other varieties.
Sunflowers prefer a bright spot but not direct sunlight. They are one of the hardier flowers for warm weather delivery but still benefit from cool water and regular stem trimming. Our Sunflower Smiles bouquet is available here.
Up to two weeks in a clean vase, which makes gerberas one of the longest-lasting flowers we deliver. The key is shallow water. Gerbera stems are hollow and will rot from the inside if submerged too deeply. A few centimetres of clean cool water changed every day or two is the most effective approach.
Gerberas are also one of the most practical choices for summer deliveries and events because they hold well in warm conditions better than most cut flowers.
Water. Specifically how often it is changed and how clean the vase is. A fresh bouquet placed in a dirty vase with water that sits for four days will decline in half the time of the same flowers in clean water changed every two days.
Beyond water, heat and ripening fruit are the two things that consistently shorten vase life across all flower types. A cool spot with indirect light and no fruit nearby is the best environment for any cut flower regardless of variety. The flower food sachet included with your delivery contains a mild antibacterial agent. Use it in the first fill of water.
If you are not sure whether your flowers are performing as they should, our full care guide is available here and our team is happy to help.
In need of a vase to go with your new bouquet? You can buy one directly from ourselves as an add-on with any bouquet: https://theflowerfactory.ie/collections/show-delivery-calendar/products/glass-vase?_pos=1&_sid=4105f1871&_ss=r
Fresh flowers delivered across Ireland with same-day Dublin delivery before 2pm and next-day nationwide. Browse our full range here.
