Last Updated on November 3, 2022
Discover How To Extend the Vase Life of Cut Anemones. Pretty Simple If You Fpllow These Tips.
Anemones, or windflowers, are a trending choice for wedding bouquets and many other floral arrangements.
Dating back to ancient Greek mythology, they have long been a flower associated with love, romance, purity, innocence, and beauty.
Many consider anemones to be the flower of true love because they bloom only once in their lifetime.
Combined with their beauty, fragile nature, and romantic history, it’s no wonder anemones are one of the most sought-after wedding flowers by brides today.
Anemone Varieties and Availability
Anemone flowers come in various colors, shapes, and sizes and are generally available from August through May. They are at their peak from late autumn to spring.
The types of anemones that most people are most familiar with as cut flowers are the ‘Mistral’ and ‘Marianne’ varieties (Anemone coronaria).
The poppy anemones, often referred to as ‘Marianne,’ are available in bright colors, including red, blue, purple, and white, with striking dark centers.
Here’s a picture of a bridal bouquet we recently did featuring the white Panda anemone, a ‘Marianne’ variety.
Panda anemones are striking flowers featuring a contrasting black center and pure white petals. It’s one of the trendiest flowers for wedding bouquets today.
‘Mistral’ anemones feature colorful blooms from pinkish-orange through yellow to deep burgundy shades.
You’ve undoubtedly seen these varieties in their full glory if you’ve checked out any floral design pages on Instagram or Pinterest. Beautiful blooms like this are pretty hard to miss!
How to Care for Cut Anemones
The vase life of cut anemones is not very long, only about 5 to 8 days. Because they are short-lived, purchase anemones closer to the bud stage rather than more open.
Caring for cut anemones is easy if you follow these three simple steps.
Upon arrival, especially if shipped dry, condition your anemones before using them. Remove all packaging and rubber bands holding the flower bunches together.
Remove any foliage and trim about an inch off the stems using a clean, sharp floral knife or another cutting tool.
Cutting the stems at a 45° angle will allow more surface area for the flowers to absorb water.
Place flower stems in a clean vase of lukewarm water (100° to 110° F) mixed with a clear flower food solution. We use Floralife Crystal Clear® at the shop, but other commercial flower food products will do the job too.
Let them hydrate for one to two hours or until the water reaches room temperature.
If you plan to use floral foam, use the same solution to soak the foam.
Keep all flowers in a cool spot until it’s time to begin working with them. Anemones are heavy drinkers. Check the water level daily. Add additional water and solution as often as needed.
One other quick tip. Anemones will continue to “stretch” or grow after being cut like tulips and other flowers produced from bulb-like corms.
Remember to factor this in when using them in wedding bouquets or floral arrangements.
Displaying and Maintaining Anemones At Home
As with all arrangements, when choosing a vase, it’s important to consider the stems’ height and the blooms’ size. Anemones have delicate stems that need support, so a vase with a narrow neck is ideal.
A clear glass vase is a classic choice that allows the beauty of the flowers to shine through. However, a colored or patterned vase can add color pop and personality to your arrangement.
To create a visually interesting display, get creative with your arrangements. Anemones look stunning in a simple, single-flower arrangement but pair well with other flowers in mixed bouquets.
Consider pairing them with contrasting flowers like roses or ranunculus or mixing them with other anemone shades for a monochromatic look.
You can also play with different heights and vase shapes to create a dynamic display. With a little creativity, you can showcase the fragile marvels of anemones in a truly dazzling way.
Maintaining Your Arrangement Of Anemones
Changing the water and trimming the stems regularly are important to keep your arrangement fresh. Anemone flowers absorb water quickly, so I recommend changing the water every other day.
Frequently changing the water prevents the development of bacteria, which can shorten the lifespan of your flowers. Remember to add the proper amount of flower food when changing the water.
Another important tip is to avoid placing your anemone arrangement in direct sunlight. These fragile marvels are sensitive to heat and direct sunlight, which can damage the flowers or cause premature wilting.
Displaying them in a cool area of your home, away from any heat sources or direct sunlight, will help prevent this.
With these simple steps, you can ensure that your anemone arrangement stays fresh and beautiful for as long as possible. Here are the steps again:
- Change the water every other day
- Avoid direct sunlight
- Display them in a cool area of your home
- Trim the stems every few days
Where to Buy Anemones
If you plan to purchase anemones for a wedding or special event, I strongly suggest sourcing them through a local florist, especially if you need fewer than 50 stems.
Anemones are fragile flowers that don’t always ship well. Trust me on this one. I’ve had my share of “less than satisfactory” experiences. Combine that with their shorter vase life, and you could have a problem if anything goes south.
You might pay a little more per flower, but sourcing through a local florist will be more cost-effective overall.
If you need a larger quantity of flowers, more than 50 stems, I would again contact your local florist about quantity pricing. You can check sites like BloomsByTheBox.com, among others, for availability and pricing.
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