Autumn bouquets: which flowers to choose and how

Autumn is one of the most picturesque seasons in floristry: warm burgundy, terracotta and mustard tones, berries, grasses and big chrysanthemum and dahlia heads. These bouquets suit 1 September, Teachers’ Day, birthdays or simply a cosy home. Here is which flowers to choose in autumn and how to make a bouquet that lasts.

Autumn bouquets: chrysanthemums and flower baskets.

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What goes into an autumn bouquet

• Chrysanthemums — the star of autumn: endless shapes and shades, lasting up to two or three weeks.
• Dahlias — gorgeous but short-lived when cut: about 4–6 days.
• Asters and gerberas — bright and affordable.
• Hydrangea — in autumn its heads take on elegant “vintage” tones.
• Sunflowers — a sunny accent for an informal bouquet.

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Berries and natural decor

• Branches of hypericum, rosehip or guelder rose berries.
• Physalis with its orange “lanterns”.
• Wheat ears, ornamental grasses, amaranthus.
• For home arrangements — cones, dried orange slices, mini pumpkins.

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Making it last

• Recut the stems and remove leaves below the waterline.
• Change the water every 1–2 days; daily for dahlias.
• Keep the bouquet cool: in a warm, heated flat flowers age faster.

For garden flowers that bloom in autumn see Autumn-flowering plants, and for gerberas see Gerbera bouquet.

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FAQ

Which autumn flower lasts longest?

Chrysanthemums: with fresh water and cool conditions, spray chrysanthemums last two to three weeks.

What should I give a teacher in autumn?

A bright but neat medium-sized bouquet — chrysanthemums, gerberas and berries, for example — easy to hold and put in a vase.

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Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.