High summer means flower growers across the UK are in full production mode with some wonderful seasonal blooms coming your way.
Delphinium & Larkspur
Tall and magnificent, these stately flowers are a favourite of the King, no less. Perfect for large designs and installations, individual heads can also be glued. Dried larkspur makes colourful, ecofriendly wedding confetti.
Colours: White, pale and dark blue, purple, lilac, pink, salmon.
Vase Life: Approx 7 days.
Care tips:
Ideal temperature range: 2-5°C.
Stems are hollow, re-cut to a flat edge, not an angle.
Remove all foliage in contact with water.
Make sure containers are tall enough to support stems.
Sensitive to ethylene gas.
All parts are toxic, wash hands and tools after handling.
Frequent re-cutting of stems will lessen flower drop.
Celosia
There are two distinct types of celosia, ‘Cockscomb’ has a rippled, coral-like flower, while ‘Prince of Wales feather’ has upright, short plumes. Although different in form, what they both have in common is their vivid, showy colours and textural appearance, these are not flowers to fade into the background!
Colour: Vibrant red, pink, purple, salmon, yellow, orange and green.
Vase Life: 5-7 days.
Care tips:
Ideal temperature range: 5-8°C.
Stems are fleshy, re-cut stems at an angle using a sharp knife or scissors.
Remove all excess foliage to prevent the flowers from drying out.
Needs good air circulation, remove from wrappers (if any) and don’t overcrowd containers.
Display away from direct heat and change water daily.
Very susceptible to fungal growth and botrytis, leave out of cooler once conditioned.
Kniphofia
Pronounced ‘knee-PHO-fee-uh’ or more commonly known as red-hot poker or torch lily, it has a fleshy, upright stem with a rocket-like flower which changes from bright green to orange or yellow as it matures. Use in more contemporary, limited designs, where its strong outline can be appreciated.
Colour: Orange, yellow, green.
Vase Life: Approx 7-10 days.
Care tips:
Ideal temperature range: 8-10°C.
Re-cut stems at an angle using secateurs or sharp scissors.
Use flower food and change water every 2-3 days.
Flowers will turn naturally upwards if left lying flat for any amount of time.
Keep out of warm draughts and direct heat sources.
Opens from the bottom up, remove unsightly flowers as they die.
Images: thejoyofflowers
Want more? See a full list of British Grown Flowers and Foliage for Early Summer here.
Su Whale is a florist and freelance writer with over twenty-five years' experience in the floristry industry. She is the author and publisher of three best-selling books: Cut Flowers, 4th edition (2020) Cut Foliage, 2nd Edition, (2021) and Houseplants (2019), all bookshelf essentials for the professional florist.
