Which cut flowers last longest in a vase?

Thirteen popular cut flowers, ranked from the toughest to the most fleeting, with notes on getting more from each. Care at home often matters as much as the flower you pick, especially when the weather is hot.

Last updated: 3 November 2026 By: Flowers24.com.au editorial team Reading time: approx. 5 min

🥇 Carnations top the list — tough enough for around two weeks.

💧 Fresh water is the big one — daily in a heatwave, every second day otherwise.

❄️ Keep it cool — shade, no sunny windowsill, and no blast from the air-conditioner.

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Three things set the length of a bunch’s life: the flower’s own staying power, how fresh the stems were when they reached you, and what happens in your home. Two identical bunches of roses can look finished after four days or still be pretty a fortnight later, and the difference is almost always the care.

The five toughest at a glance

🥇CarnationCan reach about two weeks.
🥈SunflowerOne to two weeks if kept topped up with water.
🥉RosesOne to two weeks when trimmed and kept cool.
⭐Lily, AsiaticLong-lasting, as long as no cat shares your home.
⭐PeonyBuy in bud and enjoy the slow reveal.

How to read the figures. The day counts are typical ranges for a healthy bunch in a cool, clean-watered vase. Real results depend on the freshness of the stems, the season and the temperature of your home.

Vase life compared: 13 popular cut flowers

Longer bars mean longer vase life. Dark green is a fortnight, light green is one to one and a half weeks, amber is around a week and red is under a week.

How long each one lasts at home

Tap a flower’s name to open its full guide.

Carnation

10–14 days A tough old favourite. Re-cut the stems and swap the water every couple of days.

Sunflower

7–14 days Very thirsty. Strip the lower leaves and top up the vase daily.

Roses

7–14 days Trim under running water and keep the bunch cool on warm days.

Lily, Asiatic

10–14 days Pinch off the pollen tips before they open. Toxic to cats, so not for every home.

Daffodil, white

5–10 days Rest the stems in their own water before mixing, and avoid trimming afterwards.

Peony

7–10 days Buy while still in tight bud and let them open indoors.

Lily, Oriental

7–10 days Bigger and more fragrant than Asiatic, though usually a few days shorter.

Tulips

5–10 days They keep growing and bending in the vase. Use plenty of cool, fresh water.

Dahlia

5–8 days Pick closed or half-open heads and keep them out of the heat.

Coral Bells

5–8 days Clean water and regular re-cutting do most of the work.

Iris

5–7 days Each stem carries several buds, so remove spent blooms and the next one opens.

Daffodil, classic yellow

5–7 days The sap harms other flowers, so give the stems a separate soak first.

Hydrangea

3–7 days Loses water fast in summer. If the head sags, float it face-down in cool water for a while.

Want a bunch that goes the distance?

Browse flowers known for staying power, with delivery across Australia.

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Six habits that stretch a bunch’s life

Whatever flower you choose, these habits do most of the heavy lifting. Follow them and you will often see a clear gain over a bunch left to fend for itself in tap water.

✂️

Trim on day one

Take a few centimetres off with a sharp knife or clean secateurs, ideally with the stems under water so no air gets in.

🌿

Strip the lower leaves

Leaves under the waterline rot and fill the water with bacteria that block the stems.

💧

Swap, don’t just top up

Empty the vase, rinse it and refill with clean water, trimming the stems a touch each time. In a heatwave, do it daily.

❄️

Shade and a cool room

Hot afternoon sun, a stuffy sunroom or an air-conditioner vent all shorten the show. A calm, cool spot works best.

🍌

Away from the fruit bowl

Ripening bananas, mangoes and apples release ethylene, a gas that ages petals sooner than you would expect.

💊

Mix the flower food

The sachet supplies sugar, an acid and an anti-bacterial ingredient. Follow the directions on the packet.

Following a bunch through the days

A bunch passes through stages, from the first tight buds to the final petal drop. Here is what to do, and what to look for, along the way.

A fortnight in the life of a bunch

The schedule fits tough flowers such as roses, carnations and Asiatic lilies. Delicate types like tulips and hydrangeas move through the stages more quickly.

Day 0, arrival Trim and feedUnwrap, trim the stems, strip the lower leaves and stand them in a clean vase of lukewarm water with the flower food.

Days 1–3 Opening upThe bunch looks its best as buds open. Keep it shaded, cool and away from fruit, and check the level daily.

Days 4–7 Fresh water, fresh cutEmpty and rinse the vase, refill, and take a little more off each stem. Pick out anything that has faded.

Days 8–11 Edit the arrangementTake out blooms that are dropping petals or browning, and move the survivors into a smaller vase.

Days 12–14 The last stretchOnly the hardiest stems remain, usually carnations or lilies. Enjoy them, then treat yourself to a new bunch.

Six flowers to look for

Want something that stays pretty for as long as possible? Choose one of these, or ask for a bunch that mixes a few of them.

1 Carnation Up to 14 days Sturdy, ruffled and available in plenty of colours. Order carnations

2 Sunflower 7–14 days Big and bold, but very thirsty, so keep the vase full. Order sunflowers

3 Roses 7–14 days The classic gift, long-lasting when trimmed and kept cool. Order roses

4 Lily, Asiatic 10–14 days Bold colours. Remove the pollen tips, and skip them if a cat lives with you. Order lilies

5 Peony 7–10 days Buy in tight bud and watch it open over several days. Order peonies

6 Tulips 5–10 days Short but graceful, and they move around as they open. Order tulips

Common questions

Which cut flower stays fresh the longest?

Carnations are among the toughest and can reach about two weeks with good care. Sunflowers, roses and Asiatic lilies can also go the distance when the water is changed often and the stems are re-cut.

What is the single best habit for a longer-lasting bunch?

Clean water. Re-cut the stems when you get home, strip every leaf that would sit in the vase, add the flower food if you have it, and replace the water every day or two in warm weather. Add a cool spot out of the sun and you can often add days.

Why did my flowers die so quickly?

Common culprits are stems that were never trimmed, leaves rotting in the water, old or dirty water, a hot position in the sun, or a fruit bowl next door. Ripening fruit gives off ethylene, a gas that ages blooms faster.

Do florist flowers last longer than supermarket ones?

Often, but not always. What counts is how fresh they are and how well they were handled before you bought them. Look for firm green leaves, stems that are not slimy and buds that are still closing up, wherever you shop.

Does flower food really make a difference?

Yes. The powder supplies sugar for the blooms, an acid to adjust the water and an ingredient that holds bacteria back. Used as directed, it usually gives a clearly longer vase life than tap water alone.

How should I trim the stems?

Use a sharp knife or clean secateurs rather than blunt scissors, which squash the stem. Take off a few centimetres, ideally with the stem under water. An angled cut suits most flowers, and tulips are fine cut straight.

Is it enough to top up the vase?

Not for long. Topping up leaves old bacteria in the vase. Empty it, rinse it, refill with fresh water and trim the stems a little each time, particularly on hot days.

How hot is too hot for a bunch of flowers?

A cool, shaded room is the goal. A windowsill in the afternoon sun, a car, a sunny verandah or a spot in front of a fan or air-conditioner vent will dry out the blooms quickly. Carrying the vase to a cooler room overnight can help on a scorching day.

What does fruit have to do with it?

Bananas, apples, mangoes and tomatoes release ethylene as they ripen, and this gas makes petals and buds age faster. Keep the vase well away from the fruit bowl.

Can I use a home recipe instead of flower food?

Many tips float around, such as a pinch of sugar or a splash of lemon juice. Results vary and too much sugar feeds bacteria. A proper sachet is designed for the job, so keep the one that comes with the bunch and follow the directions.

Choose flowers that stay the course

Pick a hardy variety, give it a good start at home and enjoy it for longer. Delivery is available across Australia.

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Please note. The day counts are typical ranges, not guarantees. Actual vase life depends on the flower, how fresh it was and the conditions at home.