Scented Spring

There is no shortage of scented cut flowers in spring, but don’t overlook early flowering scented shrubs, which are one of the joys of this time of year. Whether you're looking for plants to sell or cut stems for designs, why not consider a few of these?

Lilac (Syringa)

Upright and elegant, lilac’s tightly packed clusters of flowers are highly fragrant. One of the few tall, spring blooms in delicate shades of pink, lilac and purple, also pure white.

Availability: October – June, peaking May – June.

Vase Life: 5-10 days.

Conditioning tip: On first conditioning, wrap the flower heads in paper to support them and place in deep water, preferably leaving overnight before using. Syringa is a thirsty flower so always keep containers topped up. It is very sensitive to ethylene gas so keep it away from possible sources.

Cherry blossom (Prunus)

Who can resist pretty and delicate boughs of flowering cherry? Perfect for decorating large venues and for spring weddings or to add a burst of colour and life to shop interiors.

Availability: February - April.

Vase Life: 3-5 days.

Conditioning tip: Remove any blossom and leaves below the water line and don’t mist branches as this can mark the flowers.

Viburnum

There are two lovely spring flowering Viburnum, V. tinus with clusters of white, star shaped flowers and V. bodnantense, an ornamental winter flowering shrub that carries its highly scented pink flowers on bare branches.

Availability: January - March.

Vase Life: 3-5 days.

Conditioning tip: Remove any blossom and leaves below the water line and don’t mist branches as this can mark the flowers.

Conditioning Woody Stems

• Re-cut stems at an angle with a sharp knife or, if the stem is particularly thick, with secateurs.

• Condition initially in deep water in a cool spot to allow the stems to have a good drink.

• Re-cut every other day to keep a good flow of water along the stem.

• Woody stems will last much longer in water than in floral foam.

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Su Whale is a florist and freelance writer with over thirty 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.