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How long do cut flowers last? Vase life of 251 flowers

Every entry in our open Flower Encyclopedia carries an expected vase life — the days a stem stays fresh with standard florist care: a fresh cut, clean water and flower food, a cool room. We ranked all 244 fresh cut flowers from longest to shortest, and set the 7 dried, everlasting materials apart.

8.5 d
Median vase life of 244 fresh cut flowers
104
Flowers that last 10 days or more (of 244)
10.5 d
Median for budget flowers (55)
6.5 d
Median for premium flowers (39) — price does not buy days

How many flowers last how long

Fresh cut flowers grouped by the midpoint of their vase-life range.

Up to 5 days
18
6–9 days
122
10–14 days
56
15–21 days
44
More than 3 weeks
4

Longest-lasting cut flowers

  1. Cymbidium orchid21–42 days
  2. Chinese Lantern14–30 days
  3. Curly Willow14–30 days
  4. Phalaenopsis orchid14–30 days
  5. Anthurium14–28 days
  6. Bird of paradise14–28 days
  7. Craspedia14–28 days
  8. Galax14–28 days
  9. Ilex (winter berry)14–28 days
  10. Leucadendron14–28 days

Shortest-lived cut flowers

  1. Hibiscus1–2 days
  2. Gardenia2–5 days
  3. Sweet pea3–5 days
  4. Oriental Poppy3–5 days
  5. Lily of the valley3–5 days
  6. Jasmine3–5 days
  7. Crocus3–5 days
  8. Stephanotis3–6 days
  9. Poppy3–6 days
  10. Passionflower Vine3–6 days

By price tier and design role

Median vase life. The surprise for buyers: premium flowers are the most delicate group — the price pays for rarity, scent and form, not for days in the vase.

Price tierFlowersMedian days
Budget5510.5
Mid-range1508.5
Premium396.5
Design roleFlowersMedian days
Focal flowers769
Fillers798.5
Line flowers418.5
Greenery2010.5

All 244 fresh cut flowers

FlowerBotanical nameVase life
Cymbidium orchidCymbidium21–42 days
Chinese LanternPhysalis alkekengi14–30 days
Curly WillowSalix matsudana 'Tortuosa'14–30 days
Phalaenopsis orchidPhalaenopsis14–30 days
AnthuriumAnthurium andraeanum14–28 days
Bird of paradiseStrelitzia reginae14–28 days
CraspediaCraspedia globosa14–28 days
GalaxGalax urceolata14–28 days
Ilex (winter berry)Ilex verticillata14–28 days
LeucadendronLeucadendron14–28 days
Magnolia LeafMagnolia grandiflora14–28 days
Monstera LeafMonstera deliciosa14–28 days
Philodendron LeafPhilodendron bipinnatifidum14–28 days
RuscusRuscus hypoglossum14–28 days
SkimmiaSkimmia japonica14–28 days
StaticeLimonium sinuatum14–28 days
Ti LeafCordyline fruticosa14–28 days
AlstroemeriaAlstroemeria14–21 days
AspidistraAspidistra elatior14–21 days
CarnationDianthus caryophyllus14–21 days
Eucalyptus Baby BlueEucalyptus pulverulenta 'Baby Blue'14–21 days
Eucalyptus GunniiEucalyptus gunnii14–21 days
OrnithogalumOrnithogalum thyrsoides14–21 days
Pineapple LilyEucomis comosa14–21 days
Pussy WillowSalix caprea14–21 days
SalalGaultheria shallon14–21 days
Schubert AlliumAllium schubertii14–21 days
AlliumAllium10–21 days
Areca palm frondDypsis lutescens10–21 days
BanksiaBanksia10–21 days
Bay LaurelLaurus nobilis10–21 days
BoxwoodBuxus sempervirens10–21 days
ChrysanthemumChrysanthemum10–21 days
EryngiumEryngium10–21 days
Fatsia LeafFatsia japonica10–21 days
Globe amaranthGomphrena globosa10–21 days
GypsophilaGypsophila paniculata10–21 days
IvyHedera helix10–21 days
King ProteaProtea cynaroides10–21 days
Leatherleaf FernRumohra adiantiformis10–21 days
Ming FernAsparagus retrofractus10–21 days
Ozothamnus (rice flower)Ozothamnus diosmifolium10–21 days
ProteaProtea10–21 days
Red GingerAlpinia purpurata10–21 days
Seeded eucalyptusEucalyptus populus10–21 days
Silver dollar eucalyptusEucalyptus cinerea10–21 days
ThistleEchinops10–21 days
WaxflowerChamelaucium uncinatum10–21 days
CostusCostus barbatus10–18 days
HeliconiaHeliconia10–18 days
Pincushion ProteaLeucospermum10–18 days
LisianthusEustoma grandiflorum10–14 days
PittosporumPittosporum tenuifolium10–14 days
Torch GingerEtlingera elatior10–14 days
AgapanthusAgapanthus africanus7–14 days
AmaranthusAmaranthus caudatus7–14 days
AmaryllisHippeastrum7–14 days
Aranda OrchidAranda (Arachnis × Vanda)7–14 days
Asiatic LilyLilium (Asiatic hybrids)7–14 days
AsterSymphyotrichum7–14 days
BeautyberryCallicarpa bodinieri7–14 days
Bells of IrelandMoluccella laevis7–14 days
BroomcornSorghum bicolor7–14 days
Calathea LeafGoeppertia (syn. Calathea)7–14 days
Calla lilyZantedeschia7–14 days
Canary GrassPhalaris canariensis7–14 days
CelosiaCelosia argentea7–14 days
CotoneasterCotoneaster horizontalis7–14 days
Crab AppleMalus sylvestris7–14 days
Dendrobium OrchidDendrobium7–14 days
Dicranopteris fernDicranopteris linearis7–14 days
EchinaceaEchinacea purpurea7–14 days
Foxtail LilyEremurus7–14 days
Greater Quaking GrassBriza maxima7–14 days
GrevilleaGrevillea7–14 days
HonestyLunaria annua7–14 days
HuckleberryVaccinium ovatum7–14 days
Hypericum BerryHypericum androsaemum7–14 days
Kangaroo PawAnigozanthos7–14 days
LeucothoeLeucothoe fontanesiana7–14 days
LiatrisLiatris spicata7–14 days
Lotus PodNelumbo nucifera7–14 days
MedinillaMedinilla magnifica7–14 days
Mokara OrchidMokara (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Vanda)7–14 days
MuehlenbeckiaMuehlenbeckia complexa7–14 days
MyrtleMyrtus communis7–14 days
NerineNerine bowdenii7–14 days
Olive BranchOlea europaea7–14 days
Oncidium OrchidOncidium7–14 days
Oriental lilyLilium (Oriental hybrids)7–14 days
Pink PepperberrySchinus molle7–14 days
PistaciaPistacia lentiscus7–14 days
PyracanthaPyracantha coccinea7–14 days
RosehipRosa canina7–14 days
Sea BuckthornHippophae rhamnoides7–14 days
SmokebushConospermum7–14 days
Sprengeri FernAsparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri'7–14 days
Standard roseRosa hybrida7–14 days
StrawflowerXerochrysum bracteatum7–14 days
Sweet WilliamDianthus barbatus7–14 days
Sword FernPolystichum munitum7–14 days
Triplet LilyTriteleia laxa7–14 days
TuberosePolianthes tuberosa7–14 days
Vanda OrchidVanda7–14 days
AchilleaAchillea millefolium7–12 days
ForsythiaForsythia × intermedia7–12 days
Foxtail MilletSetaria italica7–12 days
FreesiaFreesia7–12 days
GladiolusGladiolus7–12 days
HebeHebe speciosa7–12 days
MarigoldTagetes erecta7–12 days
OatsAvena sativa7–12 days
SnapdragonAntirrhinum majus7–12 days
SunflowerHelianthus annuus7–12 days
AngeloniaAngelonia angustifolia7–10 days
AstrantiaAstrantia major7–10 days
Baltic ParsleyCenolophium denudatum7–10 days
Blue Lace FlowerTrachymene coerulea7–10 days
BrodiaeaBrodiaea hybrida7–10 days
Bugle LilyWatsonia borbonica7–10 days
BupleurumBupleurum griffithii7–10 days
Dusty MillerJacobaea maritima7–10 days
Easter LilyLilium longiflorum7–10 days
GodetiaClarkia amoena7–10 days
IxiaIxia hybrida7–10 days
MatthiolaMatthiola incana7–10 days
Ornamental OreganoOriganum vulgare7–10 days
Peacock OrchidGladiolus murielae7–10 days
Privet BerryLigustrum vulgare7–10 days
Red Hot PokerKniphofia uvaria7–10 days
Shasta DaisyLeucanthemum × superbum7–10 days
SnowberrySymphoricarpos albus7–10 days
SolidagoSolidago canadensis7–10 days
Spray roseRosa hybrida (multiflora)7–10 days
Summer HyacinthGaltonia candicans7–10 days
ThroatwortTrachelium caeruleum7–10 days
TweediaTweedia caerulea7–10 days
Viburnum TinusViburnum tinus7–10 days
AgeratumAgeratum houstonianum6–10 days
MonkshoodAconitum napellus6–10 days
RudbeckiaRudbeckia hirta6–10 days
VeronicaVeronica spicata6–10 days
AkebiaAkebia quinata5–10 days
AmmiAmmi majus5–10 days
Asparagus FernAsparagus setaceus5–10 days
Banana LeafMusa × paradisiaca5–10 days
Caladium LeafCaladium bicolor5–10 days
Cattleya OrchidCattleya5–10 days
ChamomileMatricaria chamomilla5–10 days
Chinese Silver GrassMiscanthus sinensis5–10 days
ClematisClematis5–10 days
CrocosmiaCrocosmia x crocosmiiflora5–10 days
DaffodilNarcissus5–10 days
DelphiniumDelphinium5–10 days
Garden roseRosa (David Austin & similar)5–10 days
GerberaGerbera5–10 days
Gloriosa LilyGloriosa superba5–10 days
HelleboreHelleborus5–10 days
HopsHumulus lupulus5–10 days
HyacinthHyacinthus orientalis5–10 days
LavenderLavandula angustifolia5–10 days
LupineLupinus5–10 days
RosemarySalvia rosmarinus5–10 days
SmilaxAsparagus asparagoides5–10 days
Star JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoides5–10 days
Switch GrassPanicum virgatum5–10 days
ViburnumViburnum opulus 'Roseum'5–10 days
ZinniaZinnia elegans5–10 days
HydrangeaHydrangea macrophylla4–10 days
Blue Lace FlowerTrachymene coerulea6–8 days
CalendulaCalendula officinalis6–8 days
AstilbeAstilbe × arendsii5–8 days
BouvardiaBouvardia longiflora5–8 days
CamassiaCamassia leichtlinii5–8 days
Canterbury BellsCampanula medium5–8 days
ClarkiaClarkia unguiculata5–8 days
Culver's RootVeronicastrum virginicum5–8 days
Daucus (False Queen Anne's Lace)Daucus carota5–8 days
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea5–8 days
FritillariaFritillaria imperialis5–8 days
Great BurnetSanguisorba officinalis5–8 days
Guelder Rose BerriesViburnum opulus5–8 days
Harlequin FlowerSparaxis tricolor5–8 days
HeleniumHelenium autumnale5–8 days
LarkspurConsolida ajacis5–8 days
MintMentha spicata5–8 days
Mountain FleecePersicaria amplexicaulis5–8 days
NicotianaNicotiana alata5–8 days
NigellaNigella damascena5–8 days
Obedient PlantPhysostegia virginiana5–8 days
PenstemonPenstemon5–8 days
PeonyPaeonia5–8 days
RowanSorbus aucuparia5–8 days
SalviaSalvia nemorosa5–8 days
ScabiosaScabiosa atropurpurea5–8 days
SidalceaSidalcea malviflora5–8 days
AgrostemmaAgrostemma githago5–7 days
Blackberry BranchRubus fruticosus5–7 days
CerintheCerinthe major5–7 days
Chocolate CosmosCosmos atrosanguineus5–7 days
CoreopsisCoreopsis5–7 days
CornflowerCentaurea cyanus5–7 days
DillAnethum graveolens5–7 days
Double tulipTulipa (double-flowered varieties)5–7 days
FeverfewTanacetum parthenium5–7 days
GaillardiaGaillardia5–7 days
OrlayaOrlaya grandiflora5–7 days
PaperwhiteNarcissus papyraceus5–7 days
PhloxPhlox paniculata5–7 days
RanunculusRanunculus asiaticus5–7 days
SalpiglossisSalpiglossis sinuata5–7 days
SaponariaSaponaria officinalis5–7 days
Scented GeraniumPelargonium graveolens5–7 days
SnowflakeLeucojum aestivum5–7 days
Sweet RocketHesperis matronalis5–7 days
Tall VerbenaVerbena bonariensis5–7 days
TithoniaTithonia rotundifolia5–7 days
TulipTulipa5–7 days
AnemoneAnemone coronaria4–7 days
CamelliaCamellia japonica4–7 days
Cherry BlossomPrunus serrulata4–7 days
CosmosCosmos bipinnatus4–7 days
DahliaDahlia4–7 days
Grape hyacinthMuscari4–7 days
IrisIris4–7 days
Lamb's EarStachys byzantina4–7 days
LilacSyringa vulgaris3–7 days
MagnoliaMagnolia grandiflora3–7 days
Virginia CreeperParthenocissus quinquefolia3–7 days
Iceland PoppyPapaver nudicaule4–6 days
SquillScilla siberica4–6 days
Garden nasturtiumTropaeolum majus3–6 days
Honeysuckle VineLonicera periclymenum3–6 days
Maidenhair FernAdiantum raddianum3–6 days
Passionflower VinePassiflora caerulea3–6 days
PoppyPapaver3–6 days
StephanotisStephanotis floribunda3–6 days
CrocusCrocus vernus3–5 days
JasmineJasminum3–5 days
Lily of the valleyConvallaria majalis3–5 days
Oriental PoppyPapaver orientale3–5 days
Sweet peaLathyrus odoratus3–5 days
GardeniaGardenia jasminoides2–5 days
HibiscusHibiscus rosa-sinensis1–2 days

Dried & everlasting materials

Rated in months rather than days — they are used dried, so they are kept out of the fresh-flower statistics above.

  1. Cotton365–730 days
  2. Pampas grass365–730 days
  3. Lagurus (bunny tail grass)21–365 days
  4. Wheat14–90 days
  5. Feather Grass14–60 days
  6. Poppy Pod14–60 days
  7. Teasel14–60 days
Method. Vase-life ranges come from each encyclopedia entry and assume standard florist care (fresh cut, clean water with flower food, a room below about 22 °C). Groups use the midpoint of each range. Real-world life varies with freshness at purchase and conditioning — see how to make flowers last longer.
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The full table (vase life min–max, botanical name, design role and price tier for all 251 flowers) as CSV — free to reuse and cite with a link, for non-commercial and editorial use. Column names are in English.

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