The festive season is nearly upon us! Get ready for the cosiest time of the year with a symphony of celebratory stems. Introducing: the trumpet (amaryllis), tambourine (Ilex) and drumstick (cotton branch). Is your vase ready? Discover these stems in our Holiday collection.
Amaryllis
Family: Amaryllidaceae
The real name of the Amaryllis is Hippeastrum and means 'Knight’s Star', a reference to the star-shaped petals. In America she is also called the 'Naked Lady', since there are no leaves on her stem. For us, she is the queen of Christmas; watch her shine in our Holiday collection.
Gloriosa
Family: Colchicaceae
It's always a party with a Gloriosa in your vase. This flower is also known as a climbing lily. The flower curls open gracefully and pulls itself higher and higher with its small curls at the tips of the leaves. The roots of the Gloriosa lie in India, and the central and southern part of Africa. It is even the national flower of Zimbabwe, where the plant is protected and is called the fire lily.
Gossypium
If there's one stem which truly creates a cosy feeling, it's the cotton branch. Its velvety cotton balls look a bit like little snowballs in your vase, which is exactly why this branch is so popular this time of year. Also nice, is that the cotton branch is very strong which means you can keep it for weeks in a mini vase after the rest of your bunch has finished flowering.
Grevillea
Family: Proteaceae
Grevillea originally grows in warm places such as Australia and New Guinea, but it also does very well in a vase. The flower may seem deceivingly prickly, but it is actually rather soft. The flower also looks just like a small Christmas tree... with a little imagination!
Ilex
Family: Aquifoliaceae
The winterberry, which is how this stem is also known, is native to North America and South-eastern Canada. This means that the branch is extremely strong and can withstand cold, wintery conditions. As a result, the branch does very well when it comes to staying beautiful in a vase for long periods of time. When the rest of the flowers in your bunch have finished blooming, you can still enjoy the winterberry by placing the stems in separate vases.