Lilies
“Lilies are an iconic spring flower,” says Callie Bladow, production director of BloomThat. “With their vibrant green leaves, multiple blooms, and long vase life, they are perfect for any spring arrangement.” Easter lilies are emblematic of the religious holiday, but regular lilies will look beautiful on a table as well. They stand out on their own, so you don’t need to pair these with any other flower. For some added foliage, you can mix in magnolia leaves, silver dollar eucalyptus, or branches (white cherry blossom or crab apple). For care, cut the stems at a 45-degree angle before you place in the vase, remove the pollen stems on the stamen (to reduce pollen dust and a big mess), and change the water every two days. Add flower food, lemon juice, sugar, or bleach into the water to make the blooms last longer—and keep out of direct sunlight or heat. Don’t forget to keep them away from cats—lilies are poisonous to them.
Tulips
“Easter is when tulips are at the height of their season,” says Eric Buterbaugh, chief floral designer for The Bouqs Company. “They come in lovely, attractive colors.” Tulips are tough to mix with other flowers, as some other varieties (including daffodils) can actually affect their life cycle and make them wilt faster. Luckily, they look fine on their own. These flowers are unique in that they grow in the vase—you might have to trim the stems regularly so they don’t droop. Keep these blooms out of direct sunlight and put flower food in the water to give them a longer shelf life. If you don’t have flower food, a penny at the bottom of the vase will do.
Irises
“Irises are some of the most beautiful spring seasonal flowers—they have such vibrant colors,” says Caroline Bailly, owner of L’Atelier Rouge. She suggests pairing these with blooms in shades of blue: hydrangea, thistle, or anenomes. Unfortunately, irises have a short vase life of only about three to five days. To get the most out of them, Bladow suggests cutting these fresh in the morning—trim an inch off at a 45-degree angle. Take off any excess greenery and add flower food, or a mixture of lemon juice, sugar, and bleach to the water. You’ll want to change the water every other day, too.
Daffodils
“The yellow of the daffodils makes me think of yellow Peeps!” Bailly says. “I love daffodils because they come in many different varieties and bloom sizes.” Like irises, daffodils have a short vase life as well. “Select closed daffodils that are just showing a yellow tip to ensure the longest vase life,” Bladow says. “Avoid any blooms that are fully opened, crumbled, or browning.” Trim the bottom of the stems at a 45-degree angle and place in cool water with flower food. Change the water every day and snip the stem ends to extend its shelf life. Since daffodils emit a toxin that is dangerous to other flowers, they’re best in a vase by themselves.
Hyacinth
“They’re a beautiful multi-bloom fragrant flower that come in a variety of colors, from white and yellow to hot pink, lavender, and dark blue,” Bladow says. “These flowers perform best if you leave the bulb on the stem. Our recommendation is to feature these by themselves—either do a monochromatic mix or blend all of their beautiful colors together to make a spring mix.” If they’re not in a planter, remove any extra foliage and place them in a glass container with water. Just add flower food and change the water daily to prevent a cloudy buildup.
Hydrangeas
This romantic bloom works for all occasions, so Easter would be another chance to put them on display. “The hydrangea stem is thick, so it’s important to have a very slanted cut,” Buterbaugh says. “A little known trick: If a hydrangea wilts, you can turn the flower upside down under water and it will come back to life.” If you “smash” the stem a bit, it can draw water faster—he suggests cutting and smashing the stem every day to prolong its life. While Buterbaugh prefers hydrangeas on their own in a single color, he also recommends pairing a mixture of blooms in different colors with roses.
Daisies
These are great for those who don’t have time to carefully tend to an arrangement—they tend to last long and require minimal care. “Daisies are a great flower for Easter and spring in general,” Buterbaugh says. “There’s something about looking at a daisy that evokes happiness and cheer. They’re hardy, low-maintenance, and well-priced, so a good bang for your buck.” He suggests pairing different varieties of daisies in an arrangement instead of pairing with other flowers. Place them in a vase with cool water and flower food, change the water every day and give them a fresh cut at an angle.
