Types of flowers

Acacia - Mimosia - Woody branches, with grey, ferny leaves and tiny, yellow flowers. Lasts approx. 6-10 days, drys well.

Acanthus - Bears Breeches - Midsummer, garden plant, with deeply divided leaves with tall spires of hooded purple and white flowers. Lasts around 2 weeks.

Achillea - Yarrow - Flat yellow heads of tiny flowers, available in summer, dries very well. Lasts as fresh flowers over 2 weeks.

Aconitum - Mookshood - Little blue or violet flowers on a long spike stem. All parts of this flower and foliage is poisonous. Lasts around 6-10 days.

Agapanthus - African Lily - Trumpet shaped blooms in a ball like cluster on top of a tall stem. Blue is the usual colour, white also available. Lasts around 6-10 days.

Alchemilla - Lady's mantle - Used often as a filler in designs, this limey green and yellow plant has small flowers and curved foliage.

Allium - Ornamental onion - Globes of starry flowers on a tall stem, a very long lasting cut flower but not over popular, largest ones are difficult to use because of their size. Dry well at the seed head stage.

Alstromeria - Peruvian lily - Common florist flowers, which are seemingly soft but are long lasting. Trumpet shape flowers, around 6 on a stem top, in a range of colours, pink, white, red, purple, yellow and cream.

Amaranthus - Love lies bleeding - A half hardy annual with long tassels of tiny red or green blooms. Can also get as an upright variety from florists. Long lasting, approx. 2 weeks.

Amarylis - Belladonna lily - A plant which is now often seen in florist shops as a popular cut flower. Large trumpet like flower with blooms at the top of a large thick but hollow stalk.

Anemone - Windflower - The poppy anemone is the most common which is found in florist shops. Tends to be available around Christmas and into spring. Usually only a short vase life of up to 6 days.

Anigozanthos - Kangaroo's paw - This has iris type tall slim leaves and furry unusual shaped flower heads in red, yellow or green usually. Not too common and is often used in designs with a modern or exotic feel as they are unusual. Usually last 10 days or more.

Anthurium - painters palette - Often sold as cut flowers or as plants in florist shops. A showy flat waxy head with a spike in centre. Usually red, white, pink, green or brown. Usually last over 10 days, often used in modern and exotic designs.

Antirrhinum - Snapdragon - Most frequently seen in florist shops around summertime but available all year round, lasts around 6-10 days. Comes in yellow, pinks and whites mainly, tiny flowers on a long flower stem.

Aster - Michaelmas daisy - Available in a wide range of bright colours, mostly found in gardens but a popular country style cut flower sold in florist shops in bunches. Daisy type traditional flower, which tends to last 6-10 days.

Astilbe - False spiraea - An herbaceous border plant very popular as a cut flower now, feather plumes available in ivory white, pink and reds, lasts up to 6days usually.

Banksia - Giant bottlebrush - Cone like flower head on a woody stalk, usually quite large, often used for drying. Used in exotic and modern designs, very long lasting, up to several weeks as a cut flower.

Bouvardia - Available as a houseplant all year round, also a popular cut flower. Available in red, white and pink usually, with also single and double flowers. These are tiny and star shaped, appearing in a cluster at the top of a stem. Usually have a vase life of around 6-10 days. The leaves tend to die first, removing them from the stem can prolong the flower life.

Buxus - Box - A small leaf hedging plant, usually dark green, but can be variegated.

Last Update: 14th March 2008