Choose by flower.

A quick comparison of the flowers that appear most in the studio's designs. Vase life assumes good care.

• Phalaenopsis orchids (potted): flowers last one to three months. Handle heat well indoors. Little or no scent.
• Standard roses: about five to seven days. Sensitive to heat. Light scent, depending on the variety.
• Garden roses: about four to six days. Romantic, full shape. Often strongly scented. Delicate in heat.
• Anthurium: two to three weeks. Very heat-tolerant. No scent.
• Heliconia and ginger: one to two weeks. Built for heat. No scent.
• Protea: one to two weeks, and they dry well. Hardy. No scent.
• Hydrangeas: four to seven days. Thirsty, and they wilt fast in heat. Light scent.
• Ranunculus: five to seven days. Delicate. No scent.
• Lilies: one to two weeks. Strong scent, and the pollen stains. Highly toxic to cats.

Fragrance is part of the pleasure for some people and a problem for others. Garden roses, lilies, gardenias, tuberose and stocks are strongly scented. Orchids, anthurium, heliconia, ranunculus, protea and most tropical flowers have little or none.

For hospitals, offices, small apartments, or anyone with allergies, choose low-scent flowers. Avoid lilies, which are strongly scented and shed pollen.

Most cut flowers are available year-round, because the majority of flowers sold in the US are imported, mainly from Colombia and Ecuador. But some flowers have true seasons:

Florida grows much of the country's cut foliage, especially leatherleaf fern from Pierson in Volusia County. The greenery in many arrangements may well be Florida-grown. For a month-by-month view of what's at its best here, see our page on seasonal flowers in Florida.

• Peonies: late spring, roughly April to June.
• Ranunculus and anemones: winter to spring.
• Dahlias: late summer and autumn.
• Tulips: winter to spring.
• Garden roses, orchids and tropicals: year-round.

Color often matters more than the flower itself. A few things to consider:

The studio's wrapped bouquets come in five looks, from the white and green Evergreen Pearl to the warm Bold Edit, which is a quick way to choose a palette.

• The room: a white-walled condo suits almost anything. A dark wood interior wants lighter colors that stand out.
• The light: Florida light is bright and warm. Pale pastels can look washed out in strong sun, while saturated colors hold up.
• The person: favorite colors beat any rule.
• The occasion: whites and greens for sympathy, brights for celebration, deep reds and burgundies for romance.

Because most cut flowers are imported, choosing longer-lasting flowers is one of the simplest ways to reduce waste. An orchid that flowers for two months replaces several weeks of cut arrangements. Seasonal flowers and local foliage travel less. And keeping arrangements cool and in fresh water makes them last longer, which means fewer replacements. Event flowers can have a second life too; our note on repurposing event flowers explains how.

A few rules apply to almost every cut flower:

For orchids, see our orchid care guide.

• Trim stems by about an inch at an angle before putting them in water.
• Remove leaves below the waterline, which rot and cloud the water.
• Change the water every two or three days, and top it up daily.
• Keep flowers out of direct sun and away from fruit, which releases ethylene and speeds wilting.