Australian natives bring movement, sculptural shape, colour and texture to your space, and best of all, they last. With a little TLC, your wild flowers can keep their beauty for weeks - and in many cases, even be dried for keeps. Here’s how to maximise their wild kind of beauty.
Clean Cuts
Every great arrangement starts with a great trim. “A general rule for florists is to cut all stems at a 45° angle with clean, sharp snips,” says Isabelle Ibrahim, florist and founder of Oxytocin Floral. “The slanted cut ensures optimal hydration without the risk of obstructing the plant tissue that draws water up the stem,” she adds. For woody stems and hardy natives, ditch the scissors in favour of secateurs - and wear gloves if you’re working with anything thorny or
spiky.
Water Wise
Once trimmed, pop your stems straight into fresh water, then keep it that way. “Cut flowers are still living plant matter, and the better you care for them, the longer they’ll last,” says Ibrahim. That means refreshing the water regularly, placing flowers somewhere cool and shaded (avoid direct sunlight), and thoroughly cleaning your vase between arrangements.
Natives are Nice
The good news for native flower lovers? They’re naturally long-lasting and low-maintenance. “Native Australian flowers are adapted to the local climate and can last for weeks with minimal water,” says Isabelle. They also dry really beautifully too. “Just be aware that they typically lose a bit of their colour and vibrancy and may require checking for dust and mould to keep your home safe and clean,” she adds.
Making Arrangements
Wildflowers may be prized for their resilience, but beautiful local blooms can be fragrant too. “Fragrance is one of the most alluring characteristics of flowers,” says Ibrahim, “but it’s often overlooked in favour of visual impact.” She recommends choosing at least one bloom with a scent you love. “Working fragrance into an arrangement to enrapture all of the senses is part of the magic of working with plants and flowers,” she explains.
Not sure which fragrant blooms to choose, or when? “In the cooler months, natives with a honeyed scent, like grevillea or flowering gum paired with lemon geranium foliage, are at their peak and create a sensory cocktail,” says Ibrahim. “In warmer weather, soft, perfume-rich flowers like lilac, rondeletia, and daphne offer beautiful impact.” Her current dream combo for the table? “Water lily flowers with lilacs, local roses, peonies and hydrangea. It gives a sweet, soft, powdery perfume that lingers beautifully.”
Scent and Substance
To capture the beauty of wild flowers without the usual maintenance, try a home scent instead. The combo of bold florals in our new Australian Wild Flowers is a genius way to bring the outdoors in. It’s a vibrant, spicy floral you won’t soon forget, with notes of apple, magnolia, iris and violet.
Explore Australian Wild Flowers, and the rest of our fresh Farm collection.