Buying flowers from a store offers a convenient way to bring color and life into a home, whether the purchase is from a supermarket or a local shop. These accessible floral options represent a global supply chain that brings a wide variety of blooms to customers virtually every day of the year. Understanding the different types of flowers available helps in selecting the most vibrant and longest-lasting options for any occasion. The selection typically ranges from consistently available staples to premium blooms that appear only during certain times of the year.
Year-Round Cut Flower Staples
The foundation of most store-bought bouquets consists of a few reliably available flowers grown year-round in climate-controlled facilities. Roses are perhaps the most popular option, valued for their classic shape and wide range of colors, though their vase life often averages around five to seven days. They are a staple of the floral industry due to consistent global production.
Carnations are another frequently used flower, known for their ruffled appearance and exceptional longevity, often lasting between one and two weeks when cared for properly. Their durability and ability to absorb colored dye make them an economical choice available in nearly every shade. Chrysanthemums, often called mums, round out this category and are prized for their endurance, frequently maintaining their freshness for ten days or more. These flowers provide a variety of shapes, offering volume and texture to mixed arrangements.
Seasonal and Specialty Blooms
Many flowers are only widely available in stores during specific windows, dictated by their natural growth cycle. The arrival of spring is signaled by bulb flowers like tulips and hyacinths, which are typically available in late winter and early spring. Tulips are known for their ability to continue growing in the vase, and hyacinths offer a dense, fragrant spike of tiny blossoms.
Summer and early fall bring warmer-weather varieties, such as the large, cheerful sunflower and the intricate dahlia. Dahlias have a naturally limited season, making them a premium addition to late-summer bouquets. The short, highly anticipated season of peonies, with their large, fragrant blooms, usually peaks in late spring, creating a brief period of high demand. Lilies are frequently featured in spring and summer bouquets to highlight their dramatic, opening buds, though they are often available year-round due to greenhouse cultivation.
Essential Greenery and Filler Flowers
Arrangements are completed with supporting elements that add structure, contrast, and volume to the main focal flowers. Leatherleaf fern is one of the most common greens, offering a durable, dark green backdrop with its leathery fronds. This foliage is valued for its hardiness and long vase life, which helps to maintain the overall shape of the bouquet.
Airy, small-flowered varieties like gypsophila, commonly known as baby’s breath, serve as classic filler, creating a delicate, cloud-like texture between the larger blooms. Another popular option is statice, which adds small clusters of lavender or violet flowers on stiff stems, providing both color and a papery texture. Eucalyptus is frequently included for its distinctive leaf shape and refreshing, aromatic scent.
Keeping Store-Bought Flowers Fresh
Maximizing the lifespan of cut flowers begins the moment they arrive home with a few specific maintenance steps.
Preparing the Stems and Water
Immediately recutting the stems significantly improves water uptake, which is best done at a sharp 45-degree angle to increase the surface area. This new cut bypasses any air bubbles or blockages that may have formed during transit. Flowers should be placed in a clean vase filled with fresh water and the provided flower food packet. This packet contains a mix of sugar for energy and a biocide to inhibit bacterial growth. The biocide is necessary because sugar alone would accelerate the growth of microorganisms, which clog the stems and prevent the flowers from drinking.
Placement and Maintenance
It is important to remove all leaves that would sit below the waterline, as submerged foliage quickly decays and contaminates the water with bacteria. Flowers should be kept away from direct sunlight and heat sources. They should also be kept away from ripening fruit, as the ethylene gas released accelerates the natural aging process of the blooms.